title: Bioethics in Serbia: institutions in need of philosophical debate.
abstract: This paper is structured in three sections. The first discusses the institutional framework pertaining to bioethics in Serbia. The functioning of this framework is critically assessed and a number of recommendations for its improvement presented. It is also emphasized that philosophers are underrepresented in public debate on bioethics in Serbia. Second, this underrepresentation will be related to two issues that figure prominently in Serbian society but are not accompanied by corresponding bioethical discourses: the first is abortion and the second is the largely unrestricted use of neuropharmacology since the 1990s, both for therapeutic and for cosmetic/recreational purposes. Finally, the perspective of bioethics in Serbia is addressed. It is asserted that this perspective can be based on the enhancement of public philosophical debate on bioethical issues, especially those with notable features in Serbian society (such as abortion and neuropharmacology). Such enhancement would also strengthen the corresponding institutional and legal frameworks
authors.affiliation: Institute for Philosophy and Social Theory and Center for Ethics, Law and Applied Philosophy at the University of Belgrade, Serbia.
authors.forename: Vojin
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rakić
authors.forename: Petar
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bojanić
mesh_terms: D000028:Abortion, Induced / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D026683:Advisory Committees; D026688:Bioethical Issues / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D001675:Bioethics / Q000639:trends*; D003249:Constitution and Bylaws; D006077:Government Agencies; D006801:Humans; D007880:Legislation, Drug; D010684:Philosophy; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs; D012067:Religion; D012068:Religion and Medicine; D055771:Serbia; D026712:Value of Life
chemical_list: D011619:Psychotropic Drugs