Medical Ethics Education: An Interdisciplinary and Social Theoretical Perspective

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xvii

   PDF

2. Some Relevant Concepts

   • Nathan Emmerich

   Pages 1-20

3. Sociological Perspectives on Medical Education

   • Nathan Emmerich

   Pages 21-39

4. Medical Ethics as an Aspect of Medical Education: A UK Perspective

   • Nathan Emmerich

   Pages 41-58

5. Prof. W. G. Irwin: A Case Study in the Development of Medical Ethics Education in the UK

   • Nathan Emmerich

   Pages 59-71

6. Medical Ethics Education from a Socio-Cultural Perspective

   • Nathan Emmerich

   Pages 73-95

7. Conclusions

   • Nathan Emmerich

   Pages 97-111

There is a diversity of ‘ethical practices’ within medicine as an institutionalised profession as well as a need for ethical specialists both in practice as well as in institutionalised roles. This Brief offers a social perspective on medical ethics education. It discusses a range of concepts relevant to educational theory and thus provides a basic illumination of the subject. Recent research in the sociology of medical education and the social theory of Pierre Bourdieu are covered. In the end, the themes of Bourdieuan Social Theory, socio-cultural apprenticeships and the ‘characterological turn’ in medical education are draw together the context of medical ethics education. ​

• bourdieuan social theory
• educational theory
• ethics and education
• medical ethics education
• pierre bourdieu
• socio-cultural apprenticeships

From the reviews:

“The author presents a sociocultural perspective of medical ethics education, the characteristic feature of which is to consider medical ethics as an aspect of medical education. … The book is written primarily for those involved in medical ethics education, especially at the undergraduate level. … the subjects it covers also may be interesting to medical students, medical educators, and teachers and educators in general.” (Shahram Ahmadi Nasab Emran, Doody’s Book Reviews, February, 2014)

“It serves as an overview of the theoretical perspectives one might use to study what medical ethics education is. … For those of us interested in aligning medical ethics education with the needs and interests of the patients this book is a useful guide to the theories and challenges ahead.” (Jonathon Tomlinson, somatosphere.net, February, 2014)

• , Visiting Research Fellow, Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom

  Nathan Emmerich

Policies and ethics