Ethically based medical decision making in the intensive care unit: residency teaching strategies

It is important that educators in the intensive care unit (ICU) provide physicians in training with the guidance and experience requisite in developing foundational skills in value-based medical practice. This article discusses the underlying philosophy of ethically based medical decision making and describes the components of an educational program in medical humanities for the ICU. In particular, the authors focus on the central role of a relationship between the patient and the caregiver.