Teaching ethics to trainees

Medical events contain many sources of uncertainty. Instruction in medical ethics gives trainees vital knowledge that assists them with some of the sources of uncertainty. Instruction to provide this knowledge is not available from the usual science curriculum. From an understanding of the principles of ethics flows an application of those principles to timely ethical issues. Ethics education has become a mandated feature in accredited residency training programs. A flexible curriculum in ethics can be developed for trainees in child neurology. The education program encourages thoughtful caregivers and teaches the methods for resolution of ethical issues and conflicts. Selection of topics is based on faculty and trainee interest and on situations of current relevance in the training program. Ethics education results in trainees who become capable of ethical reasoning and capable of resolving many of the clinical situations where issues arise that require decisions based on ethical principles.