Beninese therapeutic pluralism. Historical roots and bioethical issues

Retracing the history of the spread of modern medicine in the former Kingdom of Dahomey, now the Republic of Bénin (sub-Saharan Western Africa), aims to provide a peculiar perspective of colonial domination that, as well known, has dramatically passed through the form of controlling bodies that is not wrong to define as "biopolitical". The aim of the essay is attempting to show how the gesture aimed at trampling the cultural identity of the people of Benin. Passing through the denial of traditional therapeutic culture - which is disregarded, as to this day the primary medical reference remains that of traditional medicine - re-proposes itself in forms that are apparently opposites in the attempt, only theoretical, of contemporary politics to recover and defend the local therapeutic tradition, conjecturing hypothetical forms of peaceful and equal coexistence between traditional and modern medicine. The angle of intercultural bioethics, far from the long-standing multiculturalism, will allow us to have a glimpse into the emerging ethical-political dilemmas regarding this issue, as well as underline how the defense of therapeutic traditions, ascribable to the right of cultural identity, represents a form of guarantee of the human and of his rights. A true "white man's burden", to consider responsibly in the perspective of an inclusive citizenship, on which in today's times it’s urgent to reflect upo

Pascal, un moderno agostiniano

<p>Il presente articolo si propone di indagare la versione pascaliana dell’agostinismo, sovente intesa dalla faziosa ermeneutica come anacronistico arroccamento nel medievalismo religioso, che, invece, proprio in virtù nella sua natura inattuale, e della matrice così straordinariamente inesauribile del pensiero agostiniano, si rivela profondamente moderna. Pascal, infatti, addolorato dalla vista di un esistente dibattentesi come una canna tra i venti delle configgenti istanze culturali e religiose del suo tempo, tra le rinnovate forme di eresia e l’imperante libertinismo, non vede in Agostino l’immagine aurea e pacifica di un Santo lontanissimo, non trova in lui il rifugio in un passato rassicurante, bensì di quegli recupera gli elementi drammatici, l’attenzione alla sofferta inquietudine dell’uomo dilaniato dalle dicotomiche alternative, disperatamente disperdentesi nelle malìe dell’esistere, cui entrambi i pensatori indicano il ritorno all’interioritas, a quel cuore non senza (R)ragione. Tale ricerca ha messo in luce la riduttività dell’accostamento di Pascal ad Agostino solo per la via del religioso, perché, in fondo, è la problematicità e la problematizzazione del religioso che da Agostino giunge a Pascal e, confrontandosi con la crisi dei valori del 600, perverrà ad avere effetti disattesi.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p><em>This article aims to investigate Pascal version of augustinism, often considered from the partisan hermeneutic as anachronistic entrenchment in religious medievalism, </em><em>which, precisely because of its outdated nature, and so extraordinarily inexhaustible kind of Augustine's thought is revealed to be profoundly modern.</em> <em>Pascal</em><em>, in fact,</em> <em>saddened by the sight of an existent floundering like a reed in the wind of conflicting religious and cultural needs of his time, including the renewed forms of heresy and the prevailing libertinism, don’t see in Augustine the image of a peaceful ancient Holy, donr’ find in him refuge in a past reassuring, but of those recovers the dramatic elements, the attention to the suffering of man torn by the dichotomous alternatives, desperately dispersing in bad of living, which both philosophers indicate the return at interioritas, at the heart that is not without (R)right. This research has highlighted the oversimplification of the combination of Pascal at Augustine only by the way of religious, because, after all, is the problematicity and the problematization of the religious that comes from Augustine to Pascal and, dealing with crisis of value of ‘600, will arrive to have unexpected effects.</em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em> </em></p><p><em>Cet article vise à étudier la version pascalienne de l'augustinisme, souvent compris par l'herméneutique partisane comme anachronique retranchement dans médiévisme religieuse, qui, cependant, précisément en raison de sa nature obsolète, et de la nature extraordinairement inépuisable de la pensée d'Augustin se révèle profondément moderne. Pascal, en fait,  attristé par la vue d'un existant qui bouge comme un roseau dans le vent des questions religieuses et culturelles contradictoires de son temps, entre les formes renouvelées de l'hérésie et le libertinage en vigueur, ne voit pas en Augustin l’image pacifique d’un Saint loin, ne trouve pas en lui refuge dans un passé rassurant, mais de ces récupère les éléments dramatiques, l’attention à l’inquiétude de l’homme déchiré par les alternatives dichotomiques, qui se perd désespérément dans les sorcellerie de l'existence, qui les deux penseurs indiquent le retour all'interioritas, à ce cœur qui n'est pas sans (R)raison. Cette recherche a mis en évidence le réductionnisme de la combinaison de Pascal à Augustin seulement pour la religion, parce que, après tout, est la problématique et la problématisation du religieux qui vient d'Augustin à Pascal, face à la crise des valeurs 600, arrivera à avoir effets inattendus.</em></p

The inadequacy of regulatory frameworks in time of crisis and in low-resource settings : personal protective equipment and COVID-19

COVID-19 pandemic is plaguing the world and representing the most significant stress test for many national healthcare systems and services, since their foundation. The supply-chain disruption and the unprecedented request for intensive care unit (ICU) beds have created in Europe conditions typical of low-resources settings. This generated a remarkable race to find solutions for the prevention, treatment and management of this disease which is involving a large amount of people. Every day, new Do-It-Yourself (DIY) solutions regarding personal protective equipment and medical devices populate social media feeds. Many companies (e.g., automotive or textile) are converting their traditional production to manufacture the most needed equipment (e.g., respirators, face shields, ventilators etc.). In this chaotic scenario, policy makers, international and national standards bodies, along with the World Health Organization (WHO) and scientific societies are making a joint effort to increase global awareness and knowledge about the importance of respecting the relevant requirements to guarantee appropriate quality and safety for patients and healthcare workers. Nonetheless, ordinary procedures for testing and certification are currently questioned and empowered with fast-track pathways in order to speed-up the deployment of new solutions for COVID-19. This paper shares critical reflections on the current regulatory framework for the certification of personal protective equipment. We hope that these reflections may help readers in navigating the framework of regulations, norms and international standards relevant for key personal protective equipment, sharing a subset of tests that should be deemed essential even in a period of crisis