The Medicine and Human Rights special study module: a Physicians for Human Rights (UK) initiative

Abstract

Human rights have been much neglected in medical education. An attempt to fill this gap was made by introducing a 'Medicine and Human Rights' special study module into the undergraduate programme at Dundee. It covers issues such as physician participation in torture and the death penalty, rape in war, and the physical and psychological results of torture.V arious teaching methods were used, with an emphasis on self-directed learning. Assessment was by students' participation in the programme, including a formal presentation to the class. An evaluation of the programme showed it to be appreciated by tutors and students. As a subject, human rights is worthy of in-depth study by medical students; its study also helps them acquire a variety of important generic competences. Some aspects of human rights may merit inclusion in the core programme, 'Man in Society'.