[Background and current status of bioethics in Colombia].

Rapid advances in medicine have placed modern-day man in a situation characterized by perplexity and dangerous confusion. At the same time, they have underscored the need to analyze such advances and evaluate their negative consequences for individuals and communities. As scientific and technological innovations reach developing countries such as Colombia, their incorporation into daily medical practice also prompts the need to examine their impact in the light of ethical principles. This article discusses issues related to organ transplantation, human reproduction, terminally ill patients, abortion, AIDS, and medical publications.