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Journal of Medical Ethics logoLink to Journal of Medical Ethics
. 1983 Mar;9(1):5–7. doi: 10.1136/jme.9.1.5

Teaching medical ethics as a practical subject: observations from experience.

A G Johnson
PMCID: PMC1060839  PMID: 6834404

Abstract

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.

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