The use of cinema in teaching ethics to physicians: a teaching resource that facilitates learning

Abstract

Instruction on ethics for physicians and medical students is associated with the humanistic perspective required in medical training. In today’s world, teaching ethics and fostering humanism demands innovative solutions, inasmuch as teaching theory alone is not enough. The broad field of human emotions opens up new and promising of possibilities for emotional education to support ethical training in a way that is consistent, modern and efficient. This is the reason for using the humanities in medical education. Cinema goes well with young students´ universe, which is one immersed in a culture of images and emotions. When used with a method that is becoming more and more consistent —clips of scenes, simultaneous comments by the facilitator and discussion groups – cinema emerges as an attractive alternative for teaching ethics. It facilitates learning by encouraging students to contemplate and reflect, which is the real basis for philosophical exercise of the medical profession.