Exploring the perceived medical ethics and law training needs of UK foundation doctors

Med Teach. 2020 Jan;42(1):92-100. doi: 10.1080/0142159X.2019.1665636. Epub 2019 Sep 26.

Abstract

Foundation doctors (FDs) encounter a wide range of ethical and legal issues during their first two years of work. Despite ethics being a key part of most modern undergraduate curricula, FDs can struggle with the issues they see. This study is based on results from an on-line survey answered by 479 UK FDs regarding their medical law and ethics learning needs, and their undergraduate training in this area. Over two-thirds stated they would wish to receive MEL training as an FD on self-discharge against medical advice (∼71%), sedating patients (∼70%), decision making in emergency medicine (∼67%), and withholding and withdrawing treatment (∼66%). Over half of all respondents want MEL training during their Foundation Programme on DNACPR orders (∼63%), dealing with patients with suicidal intent (∼59%), Mental Health Act (∼55%), Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards (∼54%), and end of life care (∼53%). We therefore propose a minimum curriculum for ethics and law training for FDs based on these topics, as well as cases brought by the FDs themselves.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Attitude of Health Personnel*
  • Decision Making*
  • Education, Medical, Undergraduate / methods*
  • Ethics, Medical / education*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Jurisprudence
  • Male
  • Needs Assessment
  • Physicians / psychology*
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Terminal Care
  • United Kingdom
  • Young Adult