Kortner, Ulrich H.J.2023-10-092023-10-092023-03Körtner, U.H.J., 2023, ‘Ethics in medicine: Challenges in the 21st century’, HTS Teologiese Studies/Theological Studies 79(2), a8254. https://doi.org/10.4102/hts.v79i2.8254.0259-9422 (print)2072-8050 (online)10.4102/HTS.V79I2.8254http://hdl.handle.net/2263/92749This research is part of The research project ‘Understanding Reality (Theology and Nature)’, directed by Prof. Dr Johan Buitendag, Department of Systematic and Historical Theology, Faculty of Theology and Religion, University of Pretoria.DATA AVAILABILITY STATEMENT : Data sharing is not applicable to this article as no new data were created or analysed in this study.The article provides an overview of important topics in contemporary medical ethics. Methodologically, it is a literature review. The article addresses only a limited selection of the problematic areas, which are, however, related to each other: digitisation of medicine, genome editing, personalised medicine as well as ethical problems and dilemmas of allocation in healthcare. The global COVID-19 pandemic has emerged as a focus and trigger. Reflections on human rights and justice in medicine are fundamental not only on the individual and social level but also on a global scale. The fundamental question is how society as a whole can be involved in the complex biopolitical and bioethical debate. The social and cultural consequences of life increasingly being understood as a technical product rather than a gift are serious.en© 2023. The Author. Licensee: AOSIS. This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.Ethics in medicineDigitisation of medicineGenome editingLife sciencesReformed theology and heritagePersonalised medicineAllocationDilemmas in medicine and healthcareSDG-03: Good health and well-beingArticle