L'enseignement de l'éthique au cours des premier et deuxième cycles des études médicales. État des lieux dans les facultés de médecine françaises

We realized an inventory of medical ethics education during the first and second cycles of the medical studies in France. To do it, the curriculum was consulted and a questionnaire was sent to all of the 39 metropolitan faculties. Medical ethics benefits from a specific education in 38 of 39 faculties. This education takes place mostly in the first year (PCEM1), more rarely in the later years. The hourly volume accumulated by the compulsory courses is variable, going from 0 to 112 hours (mean 34 hours). Tackled issues are the doctor-patient relation (82 %), philosophic concepts (70 %), actuality questions (70 %), deontology (66 %), medical law (53 %). The teachers are mainly hospitable doctors, but philosophers, psychologists, sociologists, jurists, historians and theologians often participate in the educational team. If the traditional shape by lectures still has its place, notably in the first years, numerous more interactive courses are experienced in the medical schools. These experiences testify of the vitality of a matter in full development, which, today, forms full part of medical education.