Education in ethics.

Abstract

Ethics is the system of thought that analyzes moral judgments. Among the key features of ethics are: (1) it must be translatable into moral action; (2) it is a public system rather than a private activity, and no one can act morally without reference to other individuals; and (3) the fundamental ethical principles underpinning medical ethics are those of society in general. Among the purposes of education in ethics are the development of consistent, critical, and reflective attitudes to ethical decision-making; increasing awareness of ethical dilemmas in one's own practice and that of others; and reinforcement of best practices in clinical and research governance. Ethics is the system of thought that analyzes moral judgments. Among the key features of ethics are: (1) it must be translatable into moral action; (2) it is a public system rather than a private activity, and no one can act morally without reference to other individuals; and (3) the fundamental ethical principles underpinning medical ethics are those of society in general. Among the purposes of education in ethics are the development of consistent, critical, and reflective attitudes to ethical decision-making; increasing awareness of ethical dilemmas in one's own practice and that of others; and reinforcement of best practices in clinical and research governance.