Press release: 11-9-2017

“Bioethics is highly dynamic. New situations create unique dilemmas and demand unique and new responses” (Jesús Etayo, Superior General of the Hospitaller Order)

Madrid, 10-9-2017.- A group of people with disabilities from the Saint John of God Centre in Valladolid inaugurated the First World Bioethics Congress of the Hospitaller Order of St John of God this morning at El Escorial, with a performance entitled, “Capaces con alma”. It was watched by 500 people, and for the next 4 days the Congress will be addressed by over 26 experts in the fields of health care, economics, ethics, poverty and the environment , debating and reflecting days on such highly topical issues related to bioethics as the right to health and to live with dignity, poverty and the challenges of the environment.

As Brother Jesús, the Superior General of the Hospitaller Order, pointed out today in his inaugural address to the Congress, “Bioethics is a discipline which studies the ethical dilemmas that arise in human life. They are becoming increasingly more numerous in every field, driven by the enhanced protagonism of individuals in the matter of decision-taking regarding their own health and advances in medical science which are offering new ways of intervening in human life, from its beginning to its natural end”.

He also recalled that the mission of the Order of Saint John of God was Hospitality. Quoting the words of Pope Francis, he said that Hospitality meant “caring for the fragility of the world”. Therefore “Hospitality is the core principle, value, virtue and ethical benchmark of our Institution”.

After welcoming the delegates, the opening addresses to the Congress were delivered by José María Bermejo OH, Congress President; Mgr. D. Carlos Osoro, Cardinal Archbishop of Madrid; Mrs. Maravillas Izquierdo Martínez, Deputy Director General with the Portfolio of the NHS and the Cohesion Fund of the Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality, and Mrs. Blanca Juárez Lorca, Mayor of San Lorenzo de El Escorial.

Brother María Bermejo said in his speech that “bioethics must be an open door to the world, open to dialogue, to meeting others, to the freedom and to respect for all people regardless of language, culture, social condition or beliefs”.

The second paper this morning was given by Professor Francesc Torralba under the title “Ethics and the dignity of the human person”. Professor Torralba emphasised the fact that “human dignity cannot be a mere aesthetic concept, empty of substance, or an embellishment of a text.. and on the question of human dignity, we cannot remain indifferent”.

The last paper of the morning entitled “Critical ethical questions in the life of the Order” was delivered by the Italian doctor, María Teresa Iannone

THE WHOLE CONGRESS WILL BE RE-STREAMED ON www.congresobioetica.com

CONSULT THE PROGRAMME ON: https://www.congresobioetica.com/programa/

INFORMATION ON THE SPEAKERS: https://www.congresobioetica.com/ponentes/

For more information and requests for interviews with the speakers:

Adriana Castro. Tel.: 630 44 95 23

Javier C.  Tel.: 636 96 09 72                                                                                    

Comunicación Fundación Juan Ciudad: comunicacion@juanciudad.org