Teaching medical ethics symposium. Reflections from New Zealand

The Medical Faculty of the University of Otago, New Zealand is experimenting with a new approach to the teaching of medical ethics, making it an integral part of several courses in all years of the medical curriculum. During the author's twelve-month period as a visiting professor in the faculty, trial runs in ethics have been introduced in the preclinical sciences, in behavioural science and medical-decision analysis and in every clinical attachment. Proposals for permanent course requirements will be considered by the faculty after a full evaluation of these experiments by both students and teaching staff. If such courses are to be implemented and maintained, medical facilities will need to appoint specialists in ethics, at least on a part-time basis.