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Design of a Platform to Discuss Ethical Considerations of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: a Case for Integration of Ethics in Foundational Science Medical Curriculum

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Abstract

The creation of an integrated basic science curriculum is a major goal in medical education. However, there is little consensus on how this can be effectively accomplished. One route is to utilize clinical problems that integrate multiple disciplines. This study describes an approach to utilize a large group case-based discussion (CBD) integrating ethics and medical genetics that has been administered to two consecutive classes. In this CBD, first-year medical students were provided the opportunity to apply and transfer knowledge to a novel clinical scenario utilizing content previously covered in two courses (“Genes, Molecules and Cells” and “Ethical Foundations in Medicine”) that run concurrently. Students were presented with preimplantation genetic diagnosis results for an X-linked disorder and asked to decipher embryo genotypes and make group recommendations on which embryo(s) they would transfer to achieve a “healthy” pregnancy. In addition to genotype considerations, students were asked to consider the three fundamental ethical principles in healthcare and shared medical decision-making when making their embryo transfer recommendations. This study reports the details of the integrated activity, facilitator feedback, and discusses modifications made to the activity to improve integration and knowledge transfer. Furthermore, this study reports positive feedback from students for this integrated discipline CBD and a significant improvement in learning outcomes following the intervention.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Period One Coordinator Ana C. Morales for her assistance with the statistical analysis and for helping to organize and set up this CBD activity.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Human and Molecular Genetics, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, AHC1-418B, 11200 SW 8th St, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    H. G. Tempest & T. Weiler

  2. Division of Ethics, Humanities and the Arts, Department of Medicine, Family Medicine, and Community Health, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    M. Gillis

  3. Department of Cellular Biology and Pharmacology, Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine, Florida International University, Miami, FL, 33199, USA

    J. Fortun

Authors
  1. H. G. Tempest
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  2. M. Gillis
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  3. T. Weiler
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  4. J. Fortun
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to H. G. Tempest.

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Tempest, H.G., Gillis, M., Weiler, T. et al. Design of a Platform to Discuss Ethical Considerations of Preimplantation Genetic Diagnosis: a Case for Integration of Ethics in Foundational Science Medical Curriculum. Med.Sci.Educ. 26, 213–219 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-016-0234-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40670-016-0234-y

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