The teaching of medical ethics has undergone a sea change over the past 50 years. In the immediate post-WWII period, the view of medical ethics - and of medical conduct generally -remained inward-looking, hierarchical and male dominated. This was the era of 'ethical osmosis' when junior doctors and medical students were supposed to learn the right thing to do, simply by observing the actions and decisions of the great men of medicine. A quote from Dr Hawthorne, a towering figure in the medical scene and chair of the central ethics committee of the British Medical Association (BMA) between the wars conveys the ambience perfectly:While certain established customs and even rules are written and must be written, the principal influence to be cultivated is that of good fellowship. Most men know what is meant by 'cricket' and the spirit of the game. Difficulties and differences will arise but most of them can be successfully met by mutual goodwill and recognition of the other fellow's point of view (BMA 1974, p. 12).
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