Ethics teaching and learning in pediatric training: development of a curriculum

The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada has stated that residency programs "must provide opportunities for residents to gain an understanding of the basic principles of biomedical ethics as it relates to the specialty." This article presents the steps taken to develop a curriculum for teaching and learning biomedical ethics in Canadian pediatric residency programs, and to provide a model for teaching ethics in this context. Using literature reviews, and opinion surveys of departmental chairpersons, pediatric residents, and practising pediatricians across Canada, we have developed a teachers' handbook to help faculty members in teaching ethics. It can also be used as a tool to enhance faculty development in ethics. The manual is to be distributed to all pediatric training programs throughout Canada in 1997, and its use will be evaluated over the subsequent year. It offers a prototype that is adaptable to Royal College programs other than pediatrics.