The Teaching of Ethics
SUKHIT PHAOSA VASDI, MD*, SURASAK TANEEPANICHSKUL, MD*, YUEN TANNIRANDORN, MD*, CHUMSAK PRUKSAPONG, MD*, PIN IT KULLA VA NIJA YA , MD**
Affiliation : * Member of Thai Medical Association. ** President of the Royal College of Physicians of Thailand. Secretary General of Medical Council.
In the past 5 years, The Medical Association of Thailand (MAT) appointed the ethical com-
mittee to oversee ethical activity which has been divided into :
1. The Ethics of Human Research.
2. The Teaching of Ethics.
3. Ethical effects of medical practice from new legislations.
The teaching of ethics is under supervision of many organizations, namely : The Ministry of
Education, Ministry of Public Health, Royal Colleges, Medical Council. medical schools as well as
medical associations of all specialties. They have joint responsibility and are involved because of
several new legislations especially the National Bill on Education.
The MAT ethical committee has been monitoring the teaching on ethics for the medical
students with the hope that the new graduates can practice appropriately even though there are many
social limitations.
One activity that clearly showed benefit appeared in the report from the workshop on the
development of medical ethics describing detail of the plan according to priority of the mission as well
as persons responsible for carrying out the mission to reach the ultimate goal. It also consists of
performance index and assessment by external committee.
An example of accomplishment from this workshop is the organization of a workshop to pro
vide the medical faculty members necessary knowledge and skill in teaching of medical ethics and the
communication skill.
According to the medical ethics master plan implemented in 2002, 60 per cent of the new
academic members of the faculty are required to attend the workshop by the year 2004 and all 100 per
cent by 2008. The subject matters on medical ethics are listed for medical students (6 years) as well as
for the residents (3 years).
There will be teaching materials created for this purpose, useful external classroom activities
by the medical students will be encouraged to promote the learning and understanding of medical
ethics, medical personnels of high ethical standing will be honored, the examination on ethics will be
done to assess the learning.
As for the teachers, the teaching of medical ethics will be included as credit necessary for
academic promotion as well as annual stipend promotion.
Thus, the conclusion from the workshop can be applied and assessed as well as can be a
model for other medical institutions to follow.
Keywords : Teaching, Ethics
