Perception of ethical issues, encountered in under graduate medical and dental education

ABSTRACT

Bioethics has recently gained importance in the developing world. It's teaching in Medical Schools needs careful attention. The aim of this study was to assess the conceptual knowledge for adequacy of the current system of bioethics education and to identify the learning needs of Pakistani medical and dental students. The present study included 114, third year medical students, who had been provided introductory course on bioethics in 1[st] and 2[nd] years. A questionnaire containing 20 clinical situations was answered and assessed against standards. Thirty six percent of participants had forgotten the term bioethics. Patient's opinion and life saving research was recognized as most important where as performing surgery and informing patients about doctor's mistakes was considered as not worthy of obtaining consent. A wide range of gap in knowledge and attitude was identified in bioethics