An ethics core curriculum for Australasian medical schools

Teaching ethics incorporates teaching of knowledge as well as skills and at titudes. Each of these requires different teaching and assessment methods. A core curriculum of ethics knowledge must address both the foundations of ethics and specific ethical topics. Ethical skills teaching focuses on the development of ethical awareness, mo ral reasoning, communication and collaborative action skills. Attitudes that are important for medical students to develop include honest y, integrity and trustworthiness, empathy and compassion, respect, and resp onsibility, as well as critical self-appraisal and commitment to lifelong e ducation.