Isabel Morales, lecturer and researcher for the UIC Barcelona Faculty of Humanities, presented the latest results from the research project “Ethical conflicts in the management of risks to human health in the face of scientific uncertainty”, funded by the BBVA Foundation and led by Juan José Guardia, principle investigator and vice dean of the UIC Barcelona Faculty of Law. The presentation took place as part of the 24th International Bioethics Conference held on 27 and 28 October in Madrid.

The research presented consisted of a qualitative analysis based on the opinion of different experts in the field of legislation, medicine and pharmacy both from the public and private sector as well as scientific committees and universities. Ignacio Macpherson, Faculty of Humanities lecturer, also participated in this study and the results assess the emergence of risk as an essential issue that requires focusing research and political actions towards its management and prevention. “Right now, it is hard to calculate the exact chances that a threat might emerge, so we must take it to the next level and to listen to the experts. The weight of risk has to do with human action,” the Humanities lecturer explained.

Some of the most mentioned risks in the research are food and water contamination, soil toxicity, temperature changes, genetic manipulation, experimental drugs and chronic diseases derived from harmful consumption habits, among many others. Morales pointed out that all experts agree that these risks are not isolated but they are connected to each other.

According to the research, the bioethical objective that must be set as a priority is the protection of life and human health. “Risk management for the coming years will require coordination of the different sectors and caution and prudence in decision-making to seek the best for future generations,” the researcher pointed out.

This paper is part of the project “Conflictos éticos en la gestión de los riesgos para la salud humana ante la incertidumbre de la ciencia [Ethical conflicts in the management of risks to human health in the face of the scientific uncertainty] (EIC21-1-208)” funded by the BBVA Foundation and conducted by the research team made up by Ignasi Belda, (Biomedicine lecturer), Isabel Morales, Ignacio Macpherson and Juan José Guardia as Principal Investigator.