[Professional practice and ethics in the context of health policies]

This work addressed the professional practice in healthcare in the context of social policies in a municipality of São Paulo State, Brazil. It aimed at determining the influences of such policies on professional practices and on the observance of ethical principles and legal precepts established by the Unified Health System. Healthcare professionals responsible for the elaboration of health policies in the municipal district and for coordination of health institutions were interviewed. A fatalistic perception of the health system and a mechanicist vision of facts influenced by the liberal conception was verified. Thus, alternatives for solution of problems are looked at individually, not always in terms of law or ethics.