How can we teach and assess professional ethics to the undergraduate medical students?

Abstract

Professional ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgements to the practice of medicine. These moral principles regulate the acts and practices of doctors in their everyday practice of medicine. For instance, in providing treatment to the patients, dealing with colleagues, teaching medical students and carrying out medical research. These moral principles are derived from a diverse array of social, cultural, legal and religious values. The core principles of the ethics related to patients’ care include the patient’s autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice, patient’s dignity, truthfulness and honesty. These core ethics are deeply embedded in all important medical ethical codes, including the Hippocratic Oath and the Helsinki’s declaration. Professional ethics is imperative to be taught to the medical students. As they progress through their education and later on in their professional career, they inevitably encounter situations that entail a variety of ethical issues, conflicts or dilemmas. They need to be taught ethics, in order to render them competent in this vital domain of their profession. This will enable them to identity and address ethical issues amicably. This need is all the greater owing to the every-day advances in medical technologies and ever-changing cultural and societal norms.

Keywords

• professional ethics
• medical ethics
• role modelling