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Task Force on Ethics and Professionalism

Summary

The Task Force on Ethics and Professionalism was formed in 2018 to evaluate current professional standards and ethics, assess curricular designs and make recommendations to further strengthen every aspect of the osteopathic medical education system and professional standards. 

Led by Chair Margaret Wilson, DO, dean, A.T. Still University Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine and Co-Chair Timothy Kowalski, DO, vice provost for professional and public relations, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, the task force completed its charge in 2022.

 

AACOM Model Policies

The AACOM model policies were created as templates and can be customized by institutions. 

Curricular Resources

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Understanding Sexual Victimization

Introduction

Sexual victimization is unfortunately an occurrence every medical practitioner will encounter. Further, recent events have demonstrated that medical providers themselves occasionally prey on the vulnerability of patients. It is essential, though uncommon, that students in training have the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed to address victimization across the lifespan and use trauma informed care principles to best provide appropriate, compassionate and holistic care. This set of resources can help set the stage for such conversations and curricula.

A. Psychology of Victimization

1. Identification
  1. Define victimization
  2. List psychological consequences of victimization
  3. Explain the concept of complex personhood in the physician-patient relationship
2. Stages of trauma/recovery
  1. Describe the core stages of trauma: helplessness, isolation, loss of power and control
  2. State the barriers to disclosure by trauma harmed
  3. Describe trauma-informed care and vision ways to implement within medical practice

B. Sexual Victimization and Violence Across the Lifespan

1. Screening for sexual or other physical violence
  1. Describe protocols for screening for abuse across the lifespan
  2. Compare and contrast violence against: children, intimate partners, elders, persons with disabilities
  3. Describe direct and indirect methods of screening for sexual abuse  
  4. Discuss duty to report
  5. Identify appropriate referral for collection of evidence and treatment
  6. Describe indicators of human trafficking victim behavior
2. Long term sequelae for sexual assault and victimization
  1. Describe psychological impact on assault survivors
  2. Discuss gender differences in psychological outcomes following victimization

Selected Resources

 

Obtaining Consent and Understanding Victimization/Boundary Violation by Physicians

1. Identification

  1. Define victimization
  2. List psychological consequences of victimization
  3. Explain the concept of complex personhood in the physician-patient relationship

2. Stages of trauma/recovery

  1. Describe the core stages of trauma: helplessness, isolation, loss of power and control
  2. State the barriers to disclosure by trauma harmed
  3. Describe trauma-informed care and vision ways to implement within medical practice

The Development of Core Professional Values

Introduction

The character strengths and values needed to enter the ethical and professional practice of medicine must be learned and/or reinforced across the educational continuum. Professional identity formation is the process of internalizing the core values, beliefs, and behaviors of medicine; however, few curricula focus on this aspect in an explicit way. This set of resources is a starting point for schools to identify extant elements for enhancement or to vision a path toward guiding professional identify formation of medical students and trainees.

A. Professional Identity Formation

  1. Identify stages of identify formation across the medical education continuum
  2. Describe various power differentials and the process of trust development
  3. Discuss the impact mentors and role models on physician (in-training) socialization
  4. Discuss the impact of clinical and non-clinical experiences on physician (in-training) socialization
  5. Reflect on the concept of communities of practice within healthcare

B. Physician Contract with Society

  1. Describe the two roles of physician: professional and healer
  2. Identify society’s expectations of a physician
  3. Discuss the impact of the hidden curriculum on development of core values
  4. Describe the impact of self-care on the ability to fulfill the societal contract

Selected Resources