Introduction to Clinical Ethics

These modules are currently unavailable, as they are undergoing revision. We hope to make them available again soon.

Clinical ethics pedagogy is a necessary and essential part of medical education for both residents and medical students. Faced with limited resources for teaching clinical ethics, and limited classroom time available for residents and medical students, the UK Program for Bioethics developed this novel multimedia computer-based-learning series designed to meet both ACGME guidelines in Ethics and Professionalism, as well as LCME guidelines in bioethics. This series comprises documentary-style modules, each approximately 1 hour long and focusing on a core bioethics principle.

This series uses the most innovative concepts in clinical ethics pedagogy, including the use of film as a teaching aid. These modules use over 100 separate film clips to illustrate several concepts in clinical ethics and to demonstrate various ethical issues and dilemmas that are essential for medical ethics education. The modules are created in approximately 15- to 20-minute segments to work specifically with residents' and medical students' busy schedules. Additionally, the modules are in compliance with the Fair Use Guidelines for Educational Multimedia, in accordance with the Copyright Act of 1976.

Please note: The “Introduction to Clinical Ethics” modules are hosted on CECentral. You must enroll in a module in order to view it. To enroll, you must register for a CECentral account. (There are no fees for enrolling in these modules or for registering for a CECentral account.)

 

Autonomy/Respect for Persons

Objectives: 

  1. Define the major elements and concepts of autonomy/respect for persons.
  2. Give examples of how the principle of autonomy/respect for persons is applied in the clinical setting.
  3. Identify situations in the clinical setting where a clinical ethics consultation should be called when questions surrounding autonomy/respect for persons arise.

View the Autonomy/Respect for Persons module. 

Beneficence

Objectives: 

  1. Define the major elements and concepts of beneficence.
  2. Give examples of how the principle of beneficence is applied in the clinical setting.
  3. Identify situations in the clinical setting where a clinical ethics consultation should be called when questions surrounding beneficence arise.

Click here to view the Beneficence module. 

Nonmaleficence

Objectives: 

  1. Define the major elements and concepts of nonmaleficence.
  2. Give examples of how the principle of nonmaleficence is applied in the clinical setting.
  3. Identify situations in the clinical setting where a clinical ethics consultation should be called when questions surrounding nonmaleficence arise.

Click here to view the Nonmaleficence module. 

Justice

Objectives: 

  1. Define the major elements and concepts of justice.
  2. Give examples of how the principle of justice is applied in the clinical setting.
  3. Identify situations in the clinical setting where a clinical ethics consultation should be called when questions surrounding justice arise.

Click here to view the Justice module. 

Professionalism and Humanism

Objectives: 

  1. Define the major elements and concepts of professionalism and humanism.
  2. Recognize how the professionalism and humanism are applied in the clinical setting.
  3. Identify situations in the clinical setting where lapses in professionalism and humanism may exist.

Click here to view the Professionalism and Humanism module.