Revisiting medical oaths: how student-driven ethical codes reflect changing values
Background Medical oaths and ethical codes play a crucial role in guiding physicians through their professional responsibilities. This study extends prior research on ethical codes created by students at the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) by analysing codes from the years 2007 to 202...
| Authors: | ; ; |
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| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Interlibrary Loan: | Interlibrary Loan for the Fachinformationsdienste (Specialized Information Services in Germany) |
| Published: |
2025
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| In: |
Journal of medical ethics
Year: 2025, Volume: 51, Issue: 10, Pages: 679-683 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) Volltext (lizenzpflichtig) |
| Summary: | Background Medical oaths and ethical codes play a crucial role in guiding physicians through their professional responsibilities. This study extends prior research on ethical codes created by students at the Medical School for International Health (MSIH) by analysing codes from the years 2007 to 2022. Objective The objective of this study is to evaluate changes in the ethical principles emphasised by MSIH students over time and to compare these with previous cohorts. Methods Ethical codes from MSIH classes (2007-2022) were analysed using the framework developed by Baker. This framework categorises oaths into four sections: preamble, covenant, code of duties to patients and peroration. The focus was primarily on the code of duties to patients. Quantitative analysis was used to assess the prevalence of specific ethical principles. Results The study found an increased emphasis on principles such as "respect for patients" and "cultural competence/sensitivity", while traditional values like "benevolence" and "honesty" were mentioned less frequently. New themes, including "patient autonomy" and "cultural competence", emerged, reflecting a shift towards patient-centred care and justice, though emerging issues like artificial intelligence ethics were not addressed. Conclusions MSIH students' ethical codes have evolved to emphasise patient respect and cultural competence. The findings suggest a maturation in the ethical perspectives of medical students, though gaps remain in addressing contemporary challenges. Future studies should explore how ethical codes can incorporate emerging issues in healthcare. |
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| ISSN: | 1473-4257 |
| Contains: | Enthalten in: Journal of medical ethics
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| Persistent identifiers: | DOI: 10.1136/jme-2024-110460 |
