The Internet is described as a source of opportunities and threats to the human being. Cancer, in particular the breast cancer, appears as privileged subject for the dissemination of information in the cyberspace. The cancer patient has revealed special interest for this media. Due to virtues and vicissitudes that cyberspace world has been presenting, it was intended to characterize the information about the diagnostic of breast cancer, “propagated” in web sites - Oncolink, CancerBACUP, Rochenet e Grupo de Patologia Mamária do Hospital de S. João – and its implications with the ethical principles, respect for autonomy, beneficence, nonmaleficence and justice. It is about an exploratory and qualitative study in which, appealing to the content analysis, were analysed 300 pages of written information, about the diagnostic of breast cancer, in four web sites, intentionally selected and common to Google, Yahoo and Altavista. From this analysis emerged the potentialities of information to the exercise of autonomy, to provide benefits and the susceptibility to cause harm. On the first one, it was shown a greater expressiveness, the news about: disclosure, understanding, decision and consent. On what refers to the information about the possibility of provide benefits it has been highlighted the promotion of preventive behaviours and the illness control. Regarding the information susceptible to cause harm it was enhanced the possibility for harm or to put in risk of harm and the strategies to prevent harm. It is finished with some suggestions, which tend to put in perspective changes on the publication and use of health information on cyberspace.
"Internet" e cancro da mama: implicações bioéticas da informação veiculada
Pinto, F. M. M. C. (Student). 2007
Student thesis: Master's Thesis