To commemorate this milestone, the CEA held an event on October 2nd to review its history and discuss the role of ethics in current and future healthcare, under the theme "the will to care better".
The CEA's origins date back to November 1996, with the establishment of a bioethics steering committee, formally recognized as an Ethics Committee in October 2001 by the Directorate General of Health Resources.
Ethics committees are multidisciplinary advisory bodies that help analyze complex clinical situations, offering diverse perspectives to aid decision-making without replacing professional responsibility or individual autonomy.
“"Stopping to think is also a way of caring. Faced with complex situations, ethics helps us listen, share different viewpoints, and assess what is most appropriate, considering not only clinical aspects but also the values, rights, and preferences of each person."
Committee chair Maite Carretero emphasizes that "these 30 years are also the story of many people who have believed that dedicating time to deliberation is an essential part of care." In an era of constant scientific and technological advancements, ethical reflection is crucial for addressing new questions about action and integrating innovations while keeping the individual at the center.
The commemorative event featured a lecture on "Philosophy of Care" by Josep Maria Esquirol, Professor of Philosophy at the University of Barcelona, and "Conversations around the 30 years of the CEA," which reviewed the committee's evolution across three stages (1996-2005, 2006-2015, 2016-2026).
This journey has highlighted how ethical reflection has evolved alongside changes in healthcare, and how scientific progress raises new questions about care and decision-making. Shared deliberation remains a necessary tool for integrating medical advancements while respecting the people receiving care.
