Scientific advances, especially in medicine, have brought and are still bringing considerable improvements to humanity. However, a risk of making inappropriate use of academic achievements, as a result of which fundamental values related to human rights will be violated, is inextricably linked to this progress. In view of this fact, the Council of Europe has developed a number of legal instruments within the scope of bioethics, taking into account one of the aims of its existence, which is protection of dignity and basic rights referring to the use of biology and medicine. Standards developed by the Council of Europe with respect to bioethics, both soft law and hard law, are of crucial nature. This article presents an analysis of normative and doctrinal aspects thereof.