Ethics and Attitude- From Seed to Sapling: Perspective from India

Abstract

Ethics and attitude are important attributes in one’s life. These values have to be taught from the childhood in schools and should be reinforced during the adolescent phase in college life. Methods to impart these values can vary in different phases of life and in different professions, but it is mandatory that these values have to be given paramount importance in the curriculum of primary education in schools and in the medical undergraduate curriculum. Parents, teachers have to be the role models for the young children to imbibe the right attitude and ethical principles. Two professions (among others) i.e., teachers and doctors require the values of empathy, compassion, kindness and humility. School teachers and medical college faculty have to be the role models for their students. If the former sows the seeds, the latter converts the seeds to saplings. Hence it is important to have structured program in the school curriculum and medical undergraduate and postgraduate curriculum for imparting the ethical principles, values and the right attitude. Realising this need for transformation, Samsidh Group of Schools based at Karnataka state has introduced a structured Character Development Programme intertwined with Academics. MCI has now introduced into its revised competency based undergraduate MBBS curriculum, an AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics and Communication) module where Ethics is taught using several case scenarios. This review article highlights the importance and need of incorporation of Ethics education in school and college curriculum.

Keywords

• attitude ethics and communication
• curriculum
• ethics in school
• medical education