Key Issue | Curricular Objectives | Paradigm Case | Pedagogic Method |
|---|
Truth Telling | - To be able to use arguments supporting truth telling
- To recognize exceptions to truth telling
| Don’t tell my husband he has cancer | Standardized patient (SP)
discussion |
Consent and Capactiy | - To know the ethical, legal and policy justifications for consent, and the elements of consent
- To be able to negotiate a refusal of life-sustaining treatment
| Refusal of
amputation | SP
discussion |
Disclosure | - To know the elements of disclosure, and the standards for disclosure
- To be able to perform a competent disclosure regarding a proposed treatment
| Carotid
endarterectomy | SP
discussion |
Substitute Decision-Making | - To know the justification for substitute decision-making
- To be able to perform substitute decision-making, including in an emergency
| Blood transfusion for an unconscious child of a Jehovah’s Witness | SP/Case
discussion |
Confidentiality | - To know the basis for fiduciary duties
- To understand the duty to treat
- To understand the obligation of confidentiality
- To understand the exceptions to confidentiality
| Elevator talk
HIV | Case
discussion |
Conflict of Interest | - To understand fiduciary duties
- To know the distinction between primary and secondary interests
- To be able to discuss methods of resolving or managing conflicts of interest
| Finder’s fee for
research | Case
discussion |
Surgical Competence | - To know the definition of surgical competence
- To know the standard of competence
- To be able to describe the appropriate management of deficiencies of competence
| Dr. I has a problem
in the operating room | Case
discussion |
End of Life | - To become familiar with the definitions, distinctions, and legal status of euthanasia, assisted suicide, palliative care, and decisions to forego life-sustaining treatment
- To develop a framework for managing end of life issues in surgical patients
| Morrison | Case
discussion |
Resource Allocation | - To be able to discuss resource allocation and justice
- To recognize morally relevant criteria for resource allocation
- To recognize legally proscribed criteria for resource allocation
| Transplantation
No beds in ICU | Case
discussion |
Research Ethics | - To develop a framework for understanding the ethical issues raised by performing research in human subjects
- To understand the concept of clinical equipoise
- To understand the procedural requirements for conducting a clinical research study
| Trial of a new
laparoscopic fixation
technique | Case
discussion |
