Are we teaching psychiatrists to be ethical?

The authors conducted a nationwide survey of ethics education during psychiatry residency. Of the 136 program directors and 95 chief residents responding, nearly all agreed that ethics should be a part of the core curriculum. Program directors reported that most programs (60%) did offer a formal seminar series or course. However, 26 programs (19%) had no planned discussion of ethics in any seminar and fewer than 30% of all programs held seminars on the issues considered most worthy of formal attention, including psychiatrist-patient sexual contact, confidentiality, and forced treatment. The discrepancy between what program directors and chief residents believe should be taught and what is actually being taught indicates a need to focus attention on the teaching of psychiatric ethics.