Bioethics, culture and infanticide in Brazilian indigenous communities: the Zuruahá case

Abstract

This article analyzes the practice of infanticide in indigenous communities in Brazil. Taking as a reference point a specific case involving two children of the Zuruahá people, it takes a broader look at the issue and discusses how infanticide is understood among other indigenous peoples. A debate focusing specifically on this topic that took place during a public hearing held in the Brazilian National Congress in December 2005 has also been taken into consideration in this discussion. In view of the positions adopted as a result of the hearing, this paper seeks to identify the ethical problems and moral dilemmas relating to the subject, by putting them into context and analyzing them in the light of respect for cultural pluralism. Seeking to contribute to the debate, the authors analyze the possibilities for intervention in the traditional practices of infanticide, while rejecting those positions that are not anchored in an attitude of profound respect for other people's cultures or that do not create conditions for dialogue between individuals or groups with different moralities.

Zinc isotope variations in archeological human teeth (Lapa do Santo, Brazil) reveal dietary transitions in childhood and no contamination from gloves

“…The permanent first molars (M1) form their crown during the first three years of life, and therefore likely record the isotope signature associated not only with breastfeeding, but also with the introduction of solid food in the infant's diet. The crown of the first premolar (P3) initiates around 1.5 years of age, when most huntergatherer infants still breastfeed [38][39][40][41] although solid food has already largely been introduced in their diet. Zinc absorption in infants feeding on mother milk is also much higher (around 40%) than that of individuals with omnivorous diet (around 24%, [36,42]) because Zn absorption is inhibited by phytates contained in plants, notably in high amounts in cereals [43].…”

Reflexões sobre questões morais na relação de indígenas com os serviços de saúde

“…A pouca bibliografia disponível foca a questão do infanticídio 5,[19][20][21][22][23][24] e a ética em pesquisa 25 .…”

15. Combatting infanticide in Bashada and Hamar

“…As one Kara man said after years of awareness raising and discussions with the government, NGOs and educated Kara men: 'We do not want to be known for killing our children anymore!' 54 Yet, as Feitosa et al (2010) have suggested, such discussions should probably be done in a more participatory way, and not provide all the answers from the beginning.…”

“…Others emphasize that universal human rights should be given priority, stating that 'culture is not the greater good to be preserved, but the human being is' (Barreto 2006in Scotti 2017. Feitosa et al (2010) propose a middle way, suggesting that external agents (individual or institutional) should only intervene in indigenous societies in a way that allows and persuades the people to deliberate on certain cultural practices. External agents should stay out of the issue except to offer information and raise awareness, thereby providing the conditions for discussion.…”