Publications

This review article describes the current scope, methods and content of teaching medical ethics in medical schools in Western English-speaking countries (mainly the UK, US and Australia). It assesses the strengths and weaknesses of current ...

The prevailing conception of medical ethics taught in UK and US medical schools is pointless at best and dangerous at worst. While it is commendable that medical schools have now given medical ethics a safe place...

The Rebalance and Integrate Medical Education (PRIME) project was convened in May 2010, and undertook the first critical evaluation of the definitions, aims and objectives of teaching medical ethics and the humanities. The authors describe the formation of a nationwide expert panel ...

This article highlights that medical professionals need a good understanding of specific codes of ethics because of the potential consequences of their actions. Over the past thirty years there has been an increase in the breadth and depth of ethics teaching in the medical profession....

This article stresses that autonomy is a central value in Western medicine and medical ethics, but what role medicine should give to patient autonomy seems somewhat unclear. It is likely that autonomous individuals are often at their best ...

The purpose of this article was to characterise undergraduate medical ethics programmes in the UK and to identify opportunities and threats to teaching and learning. Completed responses were received from 22/28 schools (79%). Seventeen...

Narrative contributes to medical ethics through the content of stories (what patients say) and by analysing their form (how they are told and why it matters). The study of fictional and fact-based stories can be an important aid to understanding...

The most important recent advance has been the focus on quality of care at the end of life and how to improve it. Although the most frequently cited studies on end-of-life care published since 1998 deal with euthanasia and assisted suicide, concerns...

The changing pattern in the doctor-patient relationship is becoming an increasing challenge for healthcare professionals. It is believed that for a healthy and effective doctor-patient relationship, trust and communication play a key role. The aim of this literature review ...

The doctor-patient relationship is central to healthcare delivery. In the past, the relationship was seen as one between the 'healer' and the patient. Nowadays, however, this relationship is seen as an interaction between provider and...

Doctors recognise that accurate diagnosis depends on the provision of accurate information by patients and family members, and that timely, insightful and compassionate care depends on effective two-way communication (between patient and...

The aim of this article was to review research on emotional communication in medical interviews in terms of predictors, physiological correlates and effects of clinicians' responses to patients' signals and concerns, and individual differences between patients. Four questions were examined...

This article explores the terms of the trust relationship between patients and doctors. Trust relationships are not usually negotiated overtly. This study relies on a combination of interviews and observations. The study involved 16 patients and eight GPs from...

Both doctors and patients may see the Internet as a potential challenge to existing therapeutic relationships. This article explores patients' views on the impact of the Internet on their relationships with doctors. Eight focus groups were conducted ...

The boundaries of the doctor-patient relationship is an important concept to help healthcare professionals navigate the complex and sometimes difficult patient-physician experience, where intimacy and power must be balanced towards benefiting...