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Antecedents and Consequences of Medical Students' Moral Decision Making during Professionalism Dilemmas

Year: 2017

Type: article

Abstract: Medical students often experience professionalism dilemmas (which differ from ethical dilemmas) wherein students sometimes witness and/or participate in patient safety, dignity, and consent lapses. When faced with such dilemmas, students make moral decisions. If students' action (or inaction) runs counter to their perceived moral values-often due to organizational constraints or power hierarchies-they can suffer moral distress, burnout, or a desire to leave the profession. If moral transgressions are rationalized as being for the greater good, moral distress can decrease as dilemmas are experienced more frequently (habituation); if no learner benefit is seen, distress can increase with greater exposure to dilemmas (disturbance). We suggest how medical educators can support students' understandings of ethical dilemmas and facilitate their habits of enacting professionalism: by modeling appropriate resistance behaviors.

Source: The AMA Journal of Ethic

DOI: 10.1001/journalofethics.2017.19.6.medu1-1706

Authors: Lynn Monrouxe, Malissa Shaw, Charlotte Rees

Institutions: Chang Gung University, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Monash University

Language: English

Topic: Ethics in medical practice

Subfield: General Health Professions

Field: Health Professions

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Quality education, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2621388682