Clinical Ethics–Challenges of the Past, the Present, and the Future

This contribution provides an overview of clinical ethics, examining the evolution of the field and its philosophical foundations. The evolution from the mid-1970s to the present day highlights clinical ethics as an interdisciplinary field where experts often collaborate to solve complex medical problems. Clinical ethics is embedded in medical practice, positioned at the intersection of medicine and philosophy, and grounded in various ethical and bioethical theories. Some problems in clinical ethics stem from underlying shortcomings within the healthcare system, while future challenges for the field are also underlined.