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Guidelines for the Responsible Use of Deception in Simulation: Ethical and Educational Considerations
Aaron W Calhoun1, May Pian-Smith, Anjan Shah
1From the Department of Pediatrics (A.C.), University of Louisville School of Medicine, Louisville, KY; Department of Anesthesia (M.P.-S.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA; Department of Anesthesia (A.S., A.L., S.D., A.G.), Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY; Department of Anesthesia (D.G.), Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA; and Department of Psychiatry and Center for Bioethics (E.M.), Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Healthcare simulation ethics are complex. This study examines deceptive practices in simulation, offering guidance to educators on ethical boundaries and psychological safety for learners.
Area of Science:
- Healthcare Simulation
- Medical Ethics
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Deceptive techniques are prevalent in healthcare simulation.
- These practices raise ethical concerns and potential psychological effects on learners.
- Existing codes of ethics address deception but require practical guidance for educators.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore educational practices identified as deceptive in healthcare simulation.
- To analyze the benefits and detriments of these deceptive techniques.
- To provide ethical guidelines for implementing deception safely in simulation-based education.
Main Methods:
- Review of commonly used deceptive techniques in simulation.
- Analysis of potential psychological impacts on learners.
- Evaluation of practices against the Healthcare Simulationist Code of Ethics and APA Code of Conduct.
Main Results:
- Deceptive practices in simulation present both educational benefits and psychological risks.
- Certain decision points and high-risk situations require careful ethical consideration.
- Ethical boundaries and learner psychological safety are paramount.
Conclusions:
- Deception in healthcare simulation necessitates careful ethical navigation.
- Guidelines are proposed to ensure deception is used responsibly and safely.
- Upholding ethical standards protects learners and enhances simulation effectiveness.
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