Ethical codes: between theory and health care practice

Apart from legal norms, medicine is also governed by a broad array of ethical norms. Historically, ethical codes are a translation of these ethical norms. They are designed to assist the individual professional in the ethical aspects of his or her professional life. Ethical codes are however subject to different critiques. This contribution focuses on two critiques: (1) ethical codes neglect the pervasiveness of morality and the complexity of moral issues by presenting a set of specific ethical norms that need to be applied (outside in perspective); (2) ethical codes do not take into account the fragmentation of ethics and the decreasing homogeneity of the professional group (middle ground position).