Teaching Human Rights in Surgical Curriculum

Abstract

The relatively new academic discipline of health and human rights builds upon international efforts to support universal human rights education. I propose that teaching of human rights, both in domestic and international situations, could be part of a structured curriculum along with medical ethics, professionalism, role-modeling, and mentoring for surgeons in training. I suggest a pilot course of human rights be taught to global and humanitarian surgeons as an initial step before widespread inclusion for all surgeons.