Medicine is originally biology of human being in a wide sense. Being a field of natural science, it is founded on logics and it has nothing to do with ethics in itself. Therefore, there is a possibility that techniques derived from medical science develop antiethical results, when they are applied to medical practice without giving due ethical consideration. This is also the case in science and technology. Science is irrelevant to ethics, but technology, if uncontrolled, can cause a catastrophe such as nuclear disasters.
Previously medical ethics was rather the morals for doctors in their profession, as was shown in the oath of Hippocrates. However, it is not medical ethics but bioethics that should be taken into consideration in order to control the application of recent scientific advances to medical practice.
Bioethics is primarily based on the respect of human life. It should be a matter of deep concern for doctors in medical practice, when they are going to apply newly-developed medical knowledge and technique to patients.
An urgent subject concernig bioehtics seems to be an organ transplantation from a brain-dead patient. It should be emphasized that such a procedure is done only after a social consensus is reached.
It is not a great doctor but a good doctor who is now expected by patients.
In conclusion the words of Dr. Kussmaul are presented.
"Nur guter Mensch kann ein guter Arzt sein."
