This review article describes the current scope, methods and content of medical ethics teaching in medical schools in Western English-speaking countries (mainly the UK, US and Australia). The strengths and weaknesses of current medical ethics curricula, students' satisfaction with the various teaching methods, and their reported difficulties in learning medical ethics concepts and applying them to clinical practice are assessed. Three main challenges for medical ethics education are identified: counteracting the ill effects of the 'hidden curriculum', teaching students how to apply ethical knowledge and critical thinking to real cases in clinical practice, and shaping the right character of future doctors through ethics education. Based on this analysis, practical guidelines are proposed for the design, implementation, teaching and evaluation of a medical ethics programme in a four-year medical course.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1471-
8731.2004.00065.x?casa_token=s3rTc0bs5n0AAAAA:ykvcxi1LrDP9P_QeyR7d-4CbOm1v4xvRQ6GdV-yJ1Fn0nvyN9GvsetdZWoElByOwY3uSvtBKakBNdA