The Significance of the Hidden Curriculum in Medical Ethics

Abstract

The need to teach medical professionalism, especially medical ethics, has been emphasized by medical educators. The aim of medical ethics education is providing the basic knowledge regarding ethical analysis, enabling the students to develop the analytical skills for resolving the ethical dilemmas in clinical practice. But, a more important aspect is the assimilation of the core values of the profession by the students. The hidden curriculum, “the informal learning in which the students engage and which is unrelated to what is taught” (Harden, 2001, p.16) has a greater role in imparting education regarding the humanistic aspects of medical practice than the formal curriculum. Experiences of the medical students in the clinical setting should be considered significant for ethics education by the teachers. A review of the experiences of the students and the ethical dilemmas they face during the clinical clerkships is provided and their impact on the moral development of the students is analysed.