Case-Based Ethics Education for Medical Students: Discussing Reproductive Health Ethics in a Changing Landscape.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Bioethics
• Reproductive Health

Background:

• Discussing reproductive health ethics, including abortion access, presents challenges in educational settings due to diverse personal views.
• The overturning of Roe v. Wade in 2022 necessitates enhanced medical education on reproductive healthcare ethics.
• Limited curricula exist for teaching reproductive health ethics in medical education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To design and evaluate an active-learning curriculum for medical students on reproductive health ethics.
• To prepare students for caring for pregnant patients amidst evolving reproductive healthcare landscapes.
• To address ethical dilemmas in reproductive healthcare within a bioethics pre-clerkship context.

Main Methods:

• An active-learning, small-group session was developed for medical students.
• Authentic cases involving pregnant patients were used to explore ethical dilemmas.
• Interdisciplinary faculty facilitated discussions, and a retrospective pre-post survey assessed student learning.

Main Results:

• 178 students participated, with 128 completing the post-session survey.
• A statistically significant improvement in understanding ethical dilemmas was observed (p < .0001).
• Students found the session engaging, relevant, and valuable for understanding physician responsibilities.

Conclusions:

• The novel curriculum was highly valued by students, with recommendations for its continuation.
• Students appreciated the dedicated space for discussing complex ethical considerations in reproductive health.
• The session effectively enhanced students' preparedness for ethical challenges in clinical practice.