title: [Persons with disabilities and Brazilian healthcare policies: thoughts about bioethics].
abstract: The purpose of this article is to analyze the dilemma of allocation of public funds to the healthcare of people with disabilities in Brazil from a bioethical standpoint. The concept of disability and the legal framework are presented; the question of budgetary constraints and theoretical bioethics references about this issue are discussed; and the role of Bioethics of Protection and Bioethics of Intervention is stressed. It is concluded that, because of their vulnerability, people with disabilities should be protected by the state and funds must be allocated to guarantee their access to healthcare services. However, in spite of the existing legal basis, the actual destination of public funds to people with disabilities still depends on other factors, among others social and political participation of the disabled persons themselves in the negotiation of healthcare policies.
authors.affiliation: Coordenadoria Nacional para Integração da Pessoa Portadora de Deficiência, Secretaria Especial dos Direitos Humanos, Presidência da República, Brasília, DF, 70064-900. liliane.bernardes@sedh.gov.br
authors.forename: Liliane Cristina Gonçalves
authors.initials: LC
authors.lastname: Bernardes
authors.forename: Izabel Maria Madeira de Loureiro
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Maior
authors.forename: Carlos Humberto
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Spezia
authors.forename: Tereza Cristina Cavalcanti Ferreira
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: de Araujo
mesh_terms: D026688:Bioethical Issues / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001938:Brazil; D006233:Persons with Disabilities / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D006801:Humans