La Academia Nacional de Medicina es una entidad civil sin fines de lucro y su autonomía es importante porque ofrece la posibilidad de trabajar e investigar con continuidad en un medio totalmente ajeno a los vaivenes políticos, a las influencias gubernamentales y a los intereses personales, dedicándose exclusivamente a lo científico.
Los objetivos de la Academia están claramente expresados en los Estatutos y pueden resumirse así: estudia cuestiones científicas y técnicas relacionadas con la medicina; evacua las consultas que le formulan los poderes públicos; dedica preferente atención a los problemas relacionados con la salud pública; promueve la investigación científica; expresa opinión sobre asuntos de interés trascendente de carácter médico; establece relaciones con las instituciones relacionadas con la ciencia médica, nacionales y extranjeras, fomenta por todos los medios a su alcance el culto de la dignidad y la ética en el ejercicio profesional y ofrece su tribuna a todos los expertos que deseen exponer sus temas de investigación.
La Academia Nacional de Medicina, preocupada por la conducta humana en el campo de las ciencias de la vida y del cuidado de la salud, ha efectuado varias declaraciones en torno a problemas clásicos en medicina con el fin de contribuir a humanizar la relación médico – paciente, ya que esa relación está basada en los derechos que tiene el paciente y, por ende, en el respeto a la persona humana desde la concepción hasta su muerte, ya que la medicina tiene al hombre como principio y fin de todo acto y, cuando se olvidan los valores morales, se pone en riesgo el bien del paciente.
English version
The National Academy of Medicine was founded in Buenos Aires in 1822 during the Presidency of Bernardino Rivadavia, concomitantly with the School of Medicine. Presumably, it is the oldest medical Academy in Argentina.
The Academy is a prestigious medical and scientific institution always prepared to assess government departments, judges, public health officials and the media on relevant medical matters. It remains in close contact with national and foreign Academies and with medical and scientific institutions promoting research and inviting outstanding scientists to lecture on their field of expertise. It attempts by all available means to uphold the dignity of medical practice and the quality of medical education.
Academic members are elected by the vote of their peers through a rigorous selection process that includes an exhaustive study of the candidates´ moral and ethical background, publications, scientific and academic achievements and leadership in his field of special interest.
There are only thirty-five full members, all residing in Buenos Aires and each representing different areas of medicine. The academic tenure is held for life and ad honorem; nevertheless, members who wish to retire may do so and become Emeritus Academy Members.
Corresponding National and International Academy Members are elected each year on the same basis as full Members. The appointment of Honorary Corresponding Members is exceptional and only awarded to outstanding candidates.
The National Academy of Medicine is an autonomous non-profit institution where critical medicine and research can be carried out free of political influences or personal interests.
Basic and clinical research projects are carried out in three institutes supported and financed by the Academy, in Hematology (the largest and best known), epidemiology and oncology. Prizes and fellowships are awarded annually.
A well stocked and up-to-date medical library provides the means to carry out bibliographic research to all individuals related to medical sciences.
