The Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights: a reference for Health Surveillance in Therapeutic Communities

Abstract

The serious problem of psychoactive substance abuse may require the temporary admission of dependents. As a result, governments resort to therapeutic communities, which, although criticized by some, host thousands of extremely vulnerable individuals in Brazil, making this sector propitious to the contribution of bioethics. Although they are not part of the public mental health care network, these facilities are governed by RDC 29/2011 of the National Health Surveillance Agency, responsible for their licensing, supervision and health safety requirements. However, in the performance of their duties, parameters of evaluation essential for an ethical reception compatible with the protection of citizenship and respect for the rights of dependents were not employed. The presence of Therapeutic Communities is therefore analyzed in the Brazilian context and the responsibilities of Health Surveillance in these inspections are identified, with the proposal of applying the principles of the Universal Declaration of Bioethics and Human Rights to strengthen and enrich these procedures.