[Introduction to bioethics in contemporary medicine].

The author makes a historical revision of his 50 years experience in medical ethics as a student and physician. In 1944, medical ethics was traditional and resolved simple problems based on Hippocrates postulates and christian humanism. The present scientific and cultural revolution has impelled the rise of bioethics defined as "the systematic study of human behavior in life sciences, based on moral principles". The bioethical methods attempt to facilitate the application of universal ethical principles to the solution of complex cases, generated by the new medical technology. These ethical problems were posed in Chile in 1962 by the french professor Jean Cheymol, who reported the serious human rights abused derives from new scientific experiments. Later in 1973, Dr. Motulsky predicted the advent of "a brave new world" and the need to create a new biological ethic. These challenges were faced by the professors of the faculty of Medicine, who created ethics commissions in 1975 and edited medical ethics code texts. There are three players in the bioethic context. Physicians apply beneficence; patients defend their autonomy: the State and the society defends justice. A conflict of values lies in the bottom of bioethics. The author vindicates the coherence of traditional medical ethics. Philosophers, theologians and lawyers can only help physicians, but are not responsible. Bioethics must allow a frank dialogue between these professionals, respecting their roles and responsibilities.