An approach to teaching ethical, legal, and psychosocial aspects of gynecologic oncology in a residency program

An approach to teaching ethical, legal, and psychosocial issues in gynecologic oncology has been integrated into an obstetrics and gynecology residency program. Teamteaching is used, involving gynecologic oncology faculty members and a medical ethicist with experience teaching in the clinical setting of obstetrics and gynecology. The teaching takes place as part of ongoing teaching rounds in the division of gynecologic oncology. Articles from clinical journals are used to inform and stimulate discussion of clinical ethical, legal, and psychosocial issues. Integrating the teaching of ethical and legal aspects of gynecologic oncology into residency education is challenging, given the competing demands on the residents' time and the need for teaching to be clinically relevant. The program described in this article illustrates that such teaching can be carried out in a manner that covers main issues and has practical value for residents.