"Absence of introspection now permeates our community, with significant detrimental impacts"
Doctor Manuel Martínez-Sellés, well-known in the medical field and author of thought-provoking essays, has recently published his latest work titled Uncomfortable Truths for Independent People (Rialp, 2025).
Martínez-Sellés heads the cardiology department at Gregorio Marañón Hospital in Madrid and has held positions such as president of the Illustrious College of Physicians of Madrid and the Spanish Society of Cardiovascular Infections. He has accrued 21 national and international awards for both bioethics and cardiology, and his personal life includes a marriage and eight children. He participated in the opening of the Fourth Congress on Bioethics held in Madrid in December 2022.
This interview reveals his motivations behind the book, which delves into 15 essential topics such as life, death, and human dignity, among others. Martínez-Sellés discusses how a warped understanding of these topics may be damaging the way we interact with each other and live our lives.
Question. In the past, you've addressed urgent topics like euthanasia and family. What was the urgency that prompted the writing of this book?
Answer. Various aspects of society have led me to write this book. Specifically, I've noticed that more and more people have stopped questioning the messages they receive. In Uncomfortable Truths for Independent People, I collect 15 topics that warrants reflection, and often, people have never thought about these ideas before. Encouraging critical thinking and self-reflection is crucial in today's socio-digital world, where mindless consumption and entertainment reign supreme.
Q. You refer to these truths as uncomfortable. When did these truths become uncomfortable, and why?
A. When we realize that certain truths contradict our lifestyles, it can be uncomfortable. For example, many people know deep down that human life begins at fertilization. However, acknowledging this fact would mean altering our actions, such as abstaining from research on embryos or refraining from artificially preserving them for in vitro fertilization purposes. Identifying uncomfortable truths can result in significant personal, familial, and social changes and shifts in worldview.
Q. With euthanasia being legalized in Spain and under debate in France, I suspect we're losing the value of human life in our society. What are your thoughts on this issue?
A. Euthanasia is currently only legal in a handful of countries, including Spain and the Benelux countries. Elsewhere, it's under discussion, but not yet approved. In essence, we are setting ourselves apart by accepting the idea that human life has no inherent value. This notion stems from an incorrect belief that human dignity is subjective and can be determined based on a person's 'quality of life.'
True, humane medicine adheres to principles that date back centuries and explicitly opposes euthanasia. In fact, the Hippocratic Oath, originally stated over 500 years ago, prohibited both euthanasia and abortion. Euthanasia is absolutely incompatible with our medical ethics, and the manipulation of language to make it seem more acceptable is misleading and unethical.
Q. What long-term consequences do you foresee if we don't address this issue?
A. The message we send by enabling euthanasia is that certain lives are not worth living. This devalues the doctor-patient relationship and the sense of dignity that elderly and sick individuals hold. Additionally, the quality of life concept becomes biased, and questionable decisions about who deserves to live or die are made.
Q. You advocate for independent thinking. What do you mean by that?
A. Knowing and questioning the truth leads to becoming a free thinker. It's about being open-minded, questioning societal norms, and reaching one's own conclusions. Key issues like pornography and consumerism often dress up discontent and dissatisfaction under the pretense of offering hope. I encourage people to seek another way of living, one that rejects the frantic pace and constant advertisements telling them that they are lacking something.
Q. What role do new technologies like artificial intelligence play in this?
A. Technological advancements can be beneficial, but they should not replace the human component in certain aspects of life, especially in the medical field. My concern is that the human touch and compassion in healthcare may vanish as technology takes over. I'm an advocate of optimal use of technology but worry that, in the long run, we may lose the essence of what it means to be a human being.
Q. Who do we need as role models to create a more humane and ethical society?
A. People should find role models in their own field or industry. As for me, I admire figures like Edmundo Pellegrino and Jérôme Lejeune. However, society as a whole requires a critical mindset rather than blind acceptance of information. Ultimately, we must be strong-willed, seeking the truth even when it challenges conventional wisdom or social norms. Sticking to our convictions is essential if we want a healthier, more ethical, and conscientious society.
Q. What role does faith play in this search for truth?
A. For me, faith serves as a guiding light in my pursuit of truth. My work centers on concepts such as human dignity, the sanctity of life, and the importance of free will. These ideas are inseparable from religious beliefs for me and have an even more profound influence on my actions and insights. Faith acts as a catalyst, encouraging a relentless pursuit of truth, self-discovery, and a deeper understanding of the world.
- Doctor Manuel Martínez-Sellés, in his latest work Uncomfortable Truths for Independent People, touches upon numerous topics that warrant reflection, including fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and sports.
- Martínez-Sellés of Gregorio Marañón Hospital, a proponent of workplace-wellness and health-and-wellness, discusses the importance of critical thinking and self-reflection in today's socio-digital world.
- As the author of thought-provoking essays, Martínez-Sellés highlights the urgent need for education-and-self-development, personal-growth, and career-development through skills-training in addressing modern societal issues.
- In Uncomfortable Truths for Independent People, Martínez-Sellés emphasizes the role of therapies-and-treatments in maintaining our physical and mental well-being, highlighting their importance in our daily lives.
- Since euthanasia is currently legal only in a limited number of countries, including those in Europe such as Spain, Martínez-Sellés advocates for a constraint on its expansion, citing the potential for long-term damage to the values of human life and the patient-doctor relationship.
- The author encourages readers to explore various fields, including sports and sports-analysis, to broaden their perspectives, expanding their understanding of their roles in society and fostering independent thinking.
