VII. Moral Reasoning and Ethical Judgment

Competency Director: Meg Gaffney, M.D.

The competent graduate recognizes the ethical issues of medical practice and health policy; identifies alternatives in difficult ethical choices; analyzes systematically the conflicting considerations supporting different alternatives; and formulates, defends, and effectively carries out a course of action that takes account of this ethical complexity. The graduate combines a willingness to recognize the nature of the value systems of patients and others with commitment to his/her own system and the ethical choices necessary to maintain his/her own ethical integrity.

• Criteria for Assessment
• Levels of Achievement
• Knowledge Base
• Assessment Toolbox
• Resources

Assessment Toolbox

• Likert Scales- Level 1, Level 2, Level 3
• Example Assessments
  1. Short answer and essay responses to case sceneries or questions. See Pharmacology example in “experiences.”
  2. Multiple choice questions on exam, eg: Genetics gives three lectures related to genetic testing, counseling, and therapy. On the final exam there are several “ethics questions.”, e.g., Which of the following is an ethical issue in prenatal testing:
  1. Possibility of discrimination for those with disabilities
  2. Respect for individual’s values
  3. Possible termination of pregnancy based on “ambiguous” information
  4. All of the above