María F. Velasco

El objetivo principal de este trabajo es dar a conocer las reflexiones del filósofo alemán Robert Spaemann en torno al concepto de dignidad humana. Para ello, nos detendremos a considerar qué van antes, si los derechos humanos o la dignidad; los tipos de dignidad: ontológica y moral; así como los problemas que lleva consigo el concepto de dignidad humana. A continuación, abordaremos la argumentación de Robert Spaemann en torno a la dignidad en tres apartados: la capacidad de autotrascendencia del ser humano, el ser potencialmente moral, y el poder representar a lo Absoluto.

It is unknown whether hospital-based medical professionals in Spain educate patients about advance directives. The objective of this research was to determine the frequency of hospital-based physicians’ and nurses’ engagement in AD discussions in the hospital and which patient populations merit such efforts. A short question-and-answer-based survey of physicians and nurses taking care of inpatients was conducted at a university hospital in Madrid, Spain. In total, 283 surveys were collected from medical professionals, of whom 71 per cent were female, with an average age of thirty-four years. Eighty-four per cent had never educated patients about ADs because of lack of perceived responsibility, time, or general knowledge of ADs. Patient populations that warranted AD discussions included those with terminal illnesses, chronic diseases, and elderly patients. Regarding degree of AD understanding in medical professionals: 57 per cent of medical professionals claimed sufficient general knowledge of ADs, 19 per cent understood particulars regarding AD document creation, and 16 per cent were aware of AD regulatory policies. Engagement in AD discussions was considered important by 83 per cent of medical professionals, with 79 per cent interested in participating in such discussions themselves. The majority of hospital physicians and nurses do not educate their patients about ADs, despite acknowledging their importance. Patient populations of highest priority included those with terminal diseases or chronic illness or who are of advanced age.

El objetivo principal de este trabajo es dar a conocer en lengua castellana un texto del profesor Thomas Buchheim acerca de la «última prueba» de la existencia de Dios a partir del futurum exactum de su maestro, Robert Spaemann. Para ello se analiza en primer lugar el argumento del futurum exactum del «haber-sido». Seguidamente se exponen las objeciones contra el argumento presentado de esta forma. A continuación, la presentación del argumento a partir del futurum exactum de la verdad. Finalmente se plantean los rasgos personales de la capacidad de verdad que dan pie a considerar la necesidad de una conciencia personal para poder hablar de verdad en sentido propio.

El objetivo principal de este artículo consiste en presentar el contenido inédito del ensayo La razonabilidad de la creencia en Dios, escrito por el filósofo contemporáneo alemán Robert Spaemann. Con este fin, en primer lugar, expondré una introducción aclaratoria al respecto, para facilitar su mejor comprensión. En un segundo momento, aportaré una interpretación literaria y no tanto literal de este trabajo, en el que destacan como cuestiones centrales la existencia de Dios, su relación con la capacidad humana para conocer la verdad, y la razón como facultad por medio de la cual se puede llegar a esa verdad. Finalmente, el artículo recoge el último argumento de Spaemann realizado desde categorías racionalesen favor de la existencia de Dios.

Eight focus groups were conducted in four public hospitals in Madrid to explore healthcare professionals’ perceptions of advance directives in order to improve the understanding of their lack of success among physicians and patients. A purposive sample of sixty healthcare professionals discussed ADs and reasons for their infrequent use. Three main themes were identified: perceptions about their meaning, appraisals of their use in clinical practice, and decision-making about them. Healthcare professionals perceived a lack of clarity about their definition and implementation. There is insufficient awareness of their efficacy in improving the quality of clinical relationships and decision-making, and they are often perceived only as a bureaucratic procedure. Advance directives are not integrated in the clinical practice of Madrid’s healthcare specialist services because their application is exceedingly complex, because of insufficient education about them, and because of lack of procedural clarity. Consequently, healthcare professionals are not aware of how ADs could improve clinical decision-making, of when and for whom their use is appropriate, and of who has responsibility for providing ADs-related information to patients. These circumstances contribute to patients’ lack of interest in completing these documents and to physicians’ sceptical views about their usefulness.