Teaching medical ethics as a practical subject: observations from experience

The author, head of a teaching hospital surgical unit, argues that the medical curriculum must ensure that all students are exposed to a minimum of ethical discussion and decision-making. In describing his own approach he emphasises the need to show students that it is 'an intensely practical s...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of medical ethics 1983-03, Vol.9 (1), p.5-7
Main Author: Johnson, A G
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioethics
Clinical medicine
College instruction
Curricula
Curriculum
Decision Making
Education, Medical, Undergraduate
Ethical Analysis
Ethical instruction
Ethics, Medical
Focus
Medical education
Medical ethics
Medical schools
Medical students
Nursing students
Political ethics
Teaching - methods
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Summary:The author, head of a teaching hospital surgical unit, argues that the medical curriculum must ensure that all students are exposed to a minimum of ethical discussion and decision-making. In describing his own approach he emphasises the need to show students that it is 'an intensely practical subject'. Moreover, he reminds them that moral dilemmas in medicine--perhaps a better term than medical ethics--are unavoidable in clinical practice. Professor Johnson emphasises the need for small group teaching and discussion of real cases, preferably chosen and 'worked up' by individual students. He suggests that ethical issues could profitably be introduced into written, oral and clinical examinations.
ISSN:0306-6800
1473-4257
DOI:10.1136/jme.9.1.5