Learn how to approach professional issues arising from medical practice

This course is one of two ethics courses that are mandatory for HST (The other Ethics course is specific to your speciality).

You will learn how to approach ethical issues related to professionalism, law and research.

About this course

This is a blended course which consists of online content and virtual tutorials. The tutorial element of this course covers professionalism, legal and research ethical scenarios.

You must complete the online content and case studies prior to the virtual tutorial as the tutorial builds on the completed case studies.

Please note: This course is for RCPI HST Trainees only. If you are a NCHD who is not on a RCPI HST training scheme, please click here to book on your course.

Format of course delivery 

This is a blended learning programme. There are three units to complete:

1. Ethics Foundation online unit – Available in RCPI Brightspace, 1 hour
2. Ethics Foundation (Professionalism, Law and Research) case study review and completion– Available in RCPI Brightspace, 2 hours
3. Ethics Foundation tutorial – Takes place virtually via Zoom, 3.5 hours

A laptop, PC or tablet with a strong and stable internet connection is required. Participants should not use their mobile phones.

Please note: Participants must be available throughout full duration of course and cannot be working while attending the virtual tutorial. Participants are required to keep their camera on for the full duration of the tutorial. Participants need to access Brightspace to complete the online content. Pre-course work must be completed on Brightspace in advance of the virtual session.

What you will learn

By the end of this course you should be able to

• Identify and appropriately respond to professional issues relating to confidentiality, consent, and data protection
• Manage your own health and ill health appropriately and support colleagues in need  by following best routes of care for doctors
• Communicate professionally and ethically with patients and colleagues
• Follow the guide to professional conduct and ethics for registered medical practitioners
• Consider and discuss real cases and develop strategies to prevent, anticipate and manage ethical dilemmas
• Identify the meeting points between medicine, ethics and law, and where they differ
• Outline the working mechanism of the Fitness to Practice Committee of the Irish Medical Council
• Identify and  anticipate the ethical dilemmas from an ethical/legal framework
• Describe the role of a Research Ethics Committee
• Consider what makes research ethically sound
• Outline key considerations when applying for research ethics approval
• Describe how to protect vulnerable groups in research