The article defines the term ‘bioethics’ taking into account the common regulatory act, shows the interrelation between bioethical and legal regulations, and defines the mechanisms that enhance and improve effectiveness of ethical standards by turning them into legal regulations. Basic regulatory legal acts such as laws and subordinate acts in health regulation are reviewed and analyzed for the presence of an ethical constituent. Critical areas in the regulatory acts are specified; certain ways of their ethical transformation are mentioned. Insufficient ethical substantiation of regulatory provisions in the body of legislation and lack of universal declarative regulations are found. The role of a new subject of bioethics and law (future generations), which significantly expands the area of ethical issues, including applied medical sciences, has been denoted. The conflict between modern ethics and interests of future generations can be a complex issue and should be solved immediately on a constant basis. Ethical and legal principles of future generations — precaution and non-regression — were introduced. It is indicated that the standards of ethical and legal regulation of interests of future generations should be developed.