Changes in Medical Students’ Opinions and Narratives in Medical Ethics Using Case-Based Discussions

Abstract

The importance of medical ethics education is increasingly emphasized in medical schools. To improve students’ problem-solving skills, various medical ethics cases are developed and discussed in medical ethics. In this study, based on actual cases of telemedicine and doctors’ strikes, we aim to reflect on medical students’ narratives and identify changes in shared thoughts. The study included 83 students, with responses from 75 students, excluding insincere responses, analyzed. Changes in opinion during discussions were examined using Giorgi’s phenomenological analysis. There was a significant difference in the pros and cons of telemedicine and doctors’ strikes before and after the discussion. The pros of telemedicine were analyzed as ‘expanding healthcare coverage,’ ‘preparing for emerging infectious diseases like coronavirus disease 2019,’ and ‘efficiency of care for certain conditions.’ The cons included ‘high likelihood of misdiagnosis,’ ‘premature implementation and possible abuse of the system,’ ‘risk of healthcare system collapse,’ ‘issues with rural internet and medical devices, and privacy leaks.’ The pros of the doctors’ strike included ‘the need for policies with expert inputs,’ ‘telemedicine may not benefit patients,’ and ‘Korean Medical Association endorsement.’ The cons focused on ‘lack of legitimacy, even if the system is flawed,’ ‘negative image,’ and ‘ignoring doctors’ personal opinions.’ As future doctors, today’s medical students will encounter more complex ethical issues. Medical ethics cases help determine whether they can effectively persuade others with evidence when faced with ethical dilemmas in actual practice.