[Modern ethics. Various considerations, particularly based on hospital experience].

The four basic principles of modern medical ethics are presented and discussed. The historic evolution of the hospital is analysed concerning the organisation and the social function of the hospital. The author presents some considerations about the relation between the patient and the hospital, clinical investigation and informed consent, confidentiality and technological progress. The problems of the end-of-life of the hospitalised patient is discussed, with an overview of the do-not-resuscitate orders.