- Janusz H Skalski: Department of Pediatric Cardiac Surgery, Jagiellonian University Medical College, Kraków, Poland. jskalski@usdk.pl.
The paper entitled "Ethics in cardiac surgery, the new times. Philosophy in the background" concentrates on the currently most preoccupying issues of medical deontology which are related to practicing the profession of a cardiac surgeon. In the background of his considerations the author refers to the philosophy of medicine. The paper discusses the dilemmas resulting from the lack of understanding of the essence of camaraderie, excessive ambition and responsibility in everyday activity in cardiac surgery. The article ends with sad reflections on the constant problems with which the Polish medicine has to struggle when faced with the degradation of the profession of a physician, excessive bureaucracy, endless haste, legal requirements obligatory in the modern highly commercialized world, underfinancing of the health care sector and shortage of personnel.