BC med students having discussions about doctor-assisted dying
Posted May 3, 2016 6:48 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Physicians of tomorrow are already learning how to navigate the tricky waters of doctor-assisted dying, as MPs race to pass a bill before next month’s Supreme Court deadline.
UBC is re-working its medical programs in anticipation of Ottawa’s controversial legislation.
Even without a bill in place, Assistant Dean of Curriculum Adem Peets says they have begun the conversation with a session earlier this year.
“First-year students were the ones that we presented this talk to… it’s never too early to get them thinking about these very important topics. We’ll be revisiting it again. The College of Health Disciplines is currently creating an ethics module for the health professions that also deal with this,” says Peets.
“Anytime there is a brand-new, evolving topic that does have certain controversies surrounding it, it’s going to be a challenge to integrate. Our real mandate is to make sure students are prepared for what’s coming in five, 10, 15 years,” he adds.
Peets says the curriculum will be updated over time, with mandatory specialty training for residents once an initial policy is in place.
