Bioethics Curricula – Summary

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