Are we teaching students that patients don't matter?

Abstract

Medical students may fear that their training leeches away the caring attitudes which attracted them to medicine. Some research suggests they are right. The medical school has a duty to support and encourage their values, but the reverse may happen. Students are taught about legal consent but not ethical consent. They may see or participate in concealment of medical mistakes and learn to practise deceit. The use of unconscious females for gynaecology teaching may encourage the wrong attitudes to patients. Trainee GPs may learn that the doctors' rights are more important than those of the patient. Measuring patients' views should be included in research protocols.