Five ethical doctrines for medical education.

In recent years a relative barrage of journal articles has surfaced concerning the formal instruction of medical ethics in our medical schools. Philosophical debates usually ensue over either the conspicuous absence (or, in some cases, the questionable need (I) (2) of a formal ethics course, or the manner and method by which ethics is to be taught (3). There is, however, a paucity of literature as to what constitutes ethical medical 'pedagogy'. Germane is the principle that the physician-teacher should strive to be ethical both in what he or she teaches as well as the manner in which it is taught. This is also to review medical ethics from a broader perspective including the institution of instruction itself. The following discourse focuses upon five doctrines which would augment the medical curriculum by adding to the mere instruction of facts and skills a respect for the human values and rights innate to the practice of medicine.