Bioethics, Forced Disappearances, and the Right to Truth: Ethical Dilemmas in the Healthcare Context of Latin America

Reencon OC, Mujica B, Braeu V, Lirious CG, Velazuqez RA, Morra FJV, Bulderas WIA and Ugartte AVB

Published on: 2025-11-03

Abstract

Forced disappearances constitute a profound ethical challenge in Latin America, intertwining violations of human rights, medical complicity, and the erosion of trust in public health systems. This study examines the intersection between bioethics and the right to truth among families of the disappeared in Mexico. Through a qualitative approach involving interviews with healthcare professionals, forensic staff, and relatives of victims, ethical dimensions such as autonomy, dignity, and justice were analyzed. Results show that medical personnel often face moral distress due to institutional pressures to conceal or manipulate forensic data. Findings underscore the need for a bioethical framework centered on human dignity and restorative justice to guide healthcare responses in post-violence contexts.