NEW CHALLENGES FOR HUMANISM IN THE PRACTI CE OF MEDICINE

This work is a review of the philosophical analisys surrounding the co ncept of ''humanism'' and what it means to be a human being, in relati onship to daily life, education and medicine. The authors establish a direct relationship between humanism and bioethics as they relate to t he new trends acquired through the development of institutional medici ne and the increasing application of technological innovations in the health field. Both of these conditions tend to depersonalize the pract ice of medicine, and transform an ill person into a clinical file. Ref lections are made about current topics, such as the knowledge and mani pulation of human genoma, assisted reproduction, abortion, survival of premature infants, organ transplants, technological innovation, eutha nasia and disthanasia. Concepts and ideas are reviewed in relation to medical institutions and the sick, the physician and the community, an d the physician and the government.