[Medicine and humanism: clinical ethics and the community dimension of geriatrics].

Clinical ethics is generally related to the clinical bedside activity. Clinical ethics constitutes one aspect of bioethics. In particular, its aim consists in facilitating the solving of conflicts of values in practical care. By encouraging effective communication and discussion within the interdisciplinary team, geriatricians will be able to make adequate diagnostic and therapeutic interventions, in accordance with the fundamental desire of the patient and her or his family.