Challenges of Catholic doctors: from ethics to bioethics

The objectives of my paper are to have better understanding about the spe­cific challenges of Catholic doctors and about their problems in considering every medical decision from the perspectives of Ethics and Bioethics, offer­ing some suggestions how to face them. It is a library research, a critical analysis of relevant sources on Ethics and Bioethics, to collect information related to the challenges and how to face them. The analysis revealed that Catholic doctors face three kinds of challenges related to Ethics. The first one is the Department's ambiguity towards the subjects of Medical Ethics since humanistic subjects do not have a strong position in the academic world. The second one is that Catholic doctors cannot develop themselves to become moral subjects since they are always struggling with moral questions: Which regulation or norm or principle do they have to comply with? The third one is that Ethics is facing the imbal­ anced development that modern Ethics is merely based on principles and obligations. In relation to Bio-Ethics, the doctors also face three kinds of challenges. Firstly, Bioethics seems problematic to consider ethics as an applied science. Secondly, doctors are very much affected by empirical attitude. Thirdly, they have to face the death culture. It requires clear thinking that the doctors have to make time to reflect on Ethics and Bio-Ethics in order that they can rearrange the strategy that has been carried out, will be or are necessary to be done. In addition, there should be pluralistic dialogs among Ethics com­mittees to give profound ethical evaluation on basic matters. In conclusion, despite all the distractions, Catholic doctors should make time for reflection to make it a habit in considering their medical practices in view of Ethics and Bioethics that they may develop a rational morality and deepen their moral conscienc