Ethics Course

The Medical Council of India with the WHO aims to incorporate the study of ethics into the curriculum of medical schools in India. Most schools have not begun to do this. Major problems are shortage of staff trained in medical ethics and the need for training and development. Introducing ethics into the training of doctors can have a major impact on women's health. Reproductive health can be a cause of domestic violence against women in India; poor ethical practice, such as the insistance of spousal consent and lack of confidentiality, can be a major factor in preventing access to health care. Lack of informed consent in medical practice remains a problem.

In association with our colleagues at the Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, we have set up a short course on Ethics in Women's Health to

• develop understanding of medical ethics
• foster ethics in clinical practice
• build capacity in medical ethics teaching and scholarship

Introduction to Medical Ethics is a booklet used in the short course in medical ethics in medical schools in India. It gives an introduction to the principal tools of ethical analysis with worked examples and case scenarios used in facilitated teaching workshops. This was first used in the short course run at the Alluri Sitarama Raju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, Andhra Pradesh, in December 2007 and again in September 2008 supported by funding from the British Council UKIERI.

Professor Vandana Kanamury (left) announces the names of students receiving certificates for successful completion of the ethics course at ASRAMS in December 2007. Right: The class of students and staff at ASRAM in September 2008.

Downloads

• Course booklet
• Workshop Presentation
• Workshop example
• Staff and Students September 2008

Links

1. UCL Press Release
2. Medical Council of India Code of Ethics