BIOETHICS IN ROMANIA

The first attempts at establishing medical ethics in Romania appeared after the fall of communism in 1989. Namely, during the communist dict atorship, it had not been possible to discuss the ethical aspects of m edical practice, which enabled a great deal of medical abuse for polit ical purposes. Despite aggravating circumstances, such as the non-exis tence of a health-care law, after the 1989 revolution, positive change s finally occurred including the establishment of bioethical committee s at the Academy of Medical Sciences, and the Ministry of Pubic Health , and of the Bioethical Center at the Institute for Hygiene and Public Health, which develops its regional centers throughout Romania. They are dealing with new bioethical issues concerning the treatment of pat ients with AIDS, transplant procedures etc. A survey of debates is als o given pertaining to the issue of assisted conception and education. The author reports about the religious communities' views on bioethics , bioethical periodicals, scientific gatherings and legislation. He al so portrays the bioethical committees' attitudes toward classical ''mo ral'' issues such as homosexuality and transsexuality.