**Abstract**

Health Care Ethics Committees (HCECs) advise health personnel and patients in making morally difficult decisions. This work aims to analyze in a general way the current situation of the HCECs. The methodology used was a literature review. A low level of knowledge about HCECs was found, and internal and external conflicts were identified for their development. As they are beneficial organisms in hospitals, their role in facing current ethical dilemmas in health care is highlighted.

**Keywords:** bioethics, ethics committees, clinical ethics committees, medical ethics, review
