Abstract

MARTIN PINATE, Felipe. De Razetti a Potter. Gac Méd Caracas [online]. 2005, vol.113, n.4, pp.506-518. ISSN 0367-4762.

In this paper, the author wants to give emphasis to the moral, ethics and bioethics legacy of two different personalities, both born in the Americas. Both became a main reference for mankind trough our days, in the field of the relationship between the different disciplines of science, many solutions and answers, to several problems faced by the every day life of the medical profession. Without these contributions, we could be confused, and without the drive force to understand current topics and problems, been debated in our days, with the point of view of the bioethics. With them we were able to understand the meanings and evolution of all the regulations created by mankind to control his own work and accomplishments. Since antiquity, the description contained in the "Hammurabi code" where punishement was established for the physician, who neglected taking care of patients. Also, with Hyppocrates- The father’s of scientific medicine- in Grece around V. century B.C; He was the author of the definition of ethics in the patient- doctor relationship. The hyppocratic conduct code, from the ethics point of view, have two directions: One signaling and defining group of doctors as professional corporations incorporating all personnel related to health care, almost as families. The other directions in this code is related to the practice of the principles of justice, autonomy, doing good and no harm to patients.These principles endured the passage of time, since antiquity through our modern times; directing the action and professional conduct of doctors at large. We do not intend to analyze the details of "Corpus hypocraticus", but would like to remark and give emphasis to the enormous influence on the adoption of the hyppocratic code, in the Americas trough the work, teaching and lives of this two giants: Luis Razzeti and Van Rensselaer Potter.

Keywords : Moral; Ethics; Bioethics.