Journal of the Korean Medical Association (대한의사협회지)

Korean Medical Association (대한의사협회)
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Medical ethics education in the medical school curriculum

의과대학에서의 의료윤리교육

  • Kim, Jang Han (Department of Medical Humanities and Social Sciences, University of Ulsan College of Medicine)
  • 김장한 (울산대학교 의과대학 인문사회의학교실)
  • Received : 2016.11.19
  • Accepted : 2016.12.02
  • Published : 2017.01.20
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Abstract

In the past 30 years, medical ethics education has emerged as a high-priority subject in Korea. This article provides a general overview of medical ethics education in the medical school curriculum. The author supports the idea that the goal of medical ethics education should be to equip physicians with a knowledge base for analyzing and resolving ethical dilemmas as a core element of the profession. The core elements already have been delineated by the textbook of medical ethics that is in use, and can be applied in contexts including theoretical work, specific areas of application, and problematic clinical cases. This field requires a multidisciplinary approach and should be integrated throughout the entire curriculum of medical school. Ethical theory and knowledge-based approaches should be studied as a basic course, and case studies and ethical debates should incorporated into applied clinical training courses. The grade system is suitable for the knowledge-based approach, while pass-fail evaluations are suitable for small-group discussions of case studies. A team-based approach including both ethicists specializing in philosophy and physicians would be helpful in teaching medical ethics. Progress in ethics education may depend on medical schools to invest in faculty development and to allocate resources accordingly. Ethics education should be treated as a course in professionalism, and should also be incorporated into continuing medical education programs after graduation from medical school.

Keywords

References

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