Electronic roundtables for medical ethics

Electronic mail creates special opportunities and burdens for academicians and others. This article first describes e-mail and how it works in a university setting. It then presents the transcript of an electronic exchange of the issue of multiple or repeat abortion. The debate was inspired by a case presented during "ethics rounds" for students at a university medical center. The value of e-mail in this case is considered, and the electronic medium is found to be useful for sharing ideas and stimulating debate about issues in medical ethics, as well as for educational purposes.