Abstract

The following two papers, the first from Sweden, the second from the United States of America, form the first of a series on the teaching of medical ethics.

In Sweden the teaching of medical ethics is not obligatory but many professors and clinical teachers include it in their approach to the practice of the different branches of medicine. In the United States hundreds of formal courses are being offered and research projects and the tools of research are beginning to emerge.

Dr Blomquist defines the concept of medical ethics, and proposes criteria for its application, for example, to euthanasia. Dr Veatch and Miss Fenner outline the courses and provision for the teaching of medical ethics to undergraduate and postgraduate students both in the medical schools of America and in other university schools.