Medical ethics and bioethics as requirements of the moral being: teaching humanitarian skills in medicine

Abstract

This paper aims at pointing out the importance of teaching medical ethics and bioethics in order to promote the moral development of medical students. In this sense, a historical-philosophical review was performed, which identified the emergence of the conception of moral man, recognizing his/her evidence on the basis of the origins of Medicine. It also discusses the possibility of teaching values, virtues and ethical principles, recognizing the need to promote students’ humanitarian skills. Nevertheless, it was recognized that moral training does not define the character, but enhances and directs young people whose nature is positive, signifying his/her willingness to help others, to not do evil, to recognize the individuality and autonomy of others, respecting them as equals. In conclusion, it was emphasized the need for humanitarian training of future physicians, while recognizing the limitations of its scope, unable to transform psychopath minds.