1. The Ethics of Being a Medical Student
Walter S. Davis, MD
Center for Biomedical Ethics
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation

2. What kinds of issues are we talking about?
Issues related to role and status as a student
Patient care and procedures issues
Evaluation (grading) issues
Issues related to professional and personal relationships

3. Ethical issues related to role and status as a student
Identification and consent
Continuity of care, structure of medical education
Providing information to patients
Bedside teaching and “roundsmanship”

4. Ethical issues related to patient care and procedures
Dealing with a patient’s refusal to allow care by a student
Practicing procedures on fellow students
Practicing procedures on dead or incapacitated patients
Personal moral convictions and professional “requirements”

5. Ethical issues in evaluation and grading
Fear that a refusal to participate in some aspect of clinical practice will result in a poor grade or evaluation
Meeting “quotas” for procedures and clinical activities
The role of personality and “style” in clinical performance

6. Ethical issues in professional and personal relationships
Sexual harassment and exploitation
Racial, ethnic, religious, gender issues
Abuse of the supervisory or educational role
Confidentiality
Observation or knowledge of unethical or illegal behavior by superiors or fellow students