Bioethics and sociology: the place of social studies of science and technology

Abstract

The social sciences have integrated the analytical and normative practices of bioethics. However, with some exceptions, the proposals have been epistemically limited to the methodological scope and strictly directed to biomedical care practices. Taking some data on the strategies of production of new drugs by the pharmaceutical industry, this essay intends to demonstrate the possible contributions of the social studies of science and technology to a theoretical-methodological foundation of bioethical analyzes around global health issues, such as the production and distribution of technologies. We conclude that at least three types of analyzes would benefit from this proximity: analyzes of the epistemological integrity of the health sciences; ethical-political analyzes around the access and security of new and old health technologies; and ethical-philosophical analyzes of harmful attitudes of the scientific community and health professionals in relation to health care.