Overview

VCOM and the Institute of Consultative Bioethics proudly partner to offer a 1.50-hour CME on the Foundation of Medical Ethics.

Healthcare professionals train for situations ranging from fact-based, logical decision-making in non-urgent cases to triage in critical life-and-death scenarios. This education is essential for practitioners, who often lack training for ethical triage situations.

Today’s society is diverse, with varied values and ethical ideals. Medically speaking, what place does ethics play in patient care? How can physicians and health care professionals determine which values or ethical dilemmas require immediate attention?

"Patient- and family-centered care is becoming an integral component of modern medicine due to forces from within the profession and external pressures. This approach is grounded in the ethical value of embracing patients and families as 'essential partners.' It systematizes this ethical imperative by enabling clinicians to uncover issues important to patients and devise genuinely patient-centered solutions, ultimately translating ethical good intentions into ethical conduct" (Journal of Ethics, American Medical Association, 2022).

This CME consists of eight topics essential for the foundation of medical ethics.

The Topics are:

Belmont Report
Human Dignity
Principle of Double Effect
Principle of Respect for Autonomy
Principle of Beneficence
Principle of Nonmaleficence
Principle of Justice
Principlism and Other Approaches

The course is completed with an assessment.

Target Audience

The enduring CME is designed for anyone seeking more knowledge in this critical communication element. It benefits alumni, faculty, and staff who want to expand their understanding of medical ethics.

Learning Objectives

Evaluate the history of the Belmont Report and its connection to the National Research Act (1974), analyze its impact on research, and explain its relationship to Principlism in ethical decision-making.
Explain the concept of human dignity, identify who defines it, and analyze its most prominent conceptual differences.
Explain the Principle of Double Effect, including its obligations and criteria, and evaluate how conflicting principles relate to the Principle of Double Effect in ethical decision-making.
Explain the Principle of Respect for Autonomy and its associated obligations, and evaluate how conflicting principles challenge or intersect with this principle in ethical decision-making.
Explain the Principle of Beneficence and its obligations, and evaluate how conflicting principles may challenge or intersect with the Principle of Beneficence in ethical decision-making.
Explain the Principle of Nonmaleficence and its obligations, and evaluate how conflicting principles may challenge or intersect with the Principle of Nonmaleficence in ethical decision-making.
Explain the Principle of Justice and its obligations, and evaluate how conflicting principles may challenge or intersect with the Principle of Justice in ethical decision-making.
Explain the development of principlism, analyze the relationship between the four principles, examine their normative guidelines, and evaluate principlism compared to other ethical principles.

Course Summary

Available CME credits:

1.50 hours of Category 1-A CME provided by the American Osteopathic Association

1.50 hours of PRA Category 1 Credits ™ provided by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education

Enrollment is open.
Access to this online course is available on demand. The learner has 90 days from payment to complete the certificate. A digital acknowledgment will be sent upon completion, and VCOM will send a completion certificate to all learners.
Official reporting of the certificate to the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) will be reported in four-month intervals and for the ACCME annually. The certificate may be utilized for CME self-reporting for other medical specialists.
Course Opens: 07/01/2025
Course Expires: 07/30/2028
Cost: $ 75.00

CME Accreditation

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the American Osteopathic Association (AOA), the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), and the Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine.

AOA

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AOA Category 1-A Credits. It will report CME and specialty credits commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

ACCME

The Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM) designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits TM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of the physician’s participation in this activity.

Disclaimers

Completing this certificate does not correlate to a state or national licensure for a health board or medical specialty association.
Completing this certificate does not equate to any academic credit for degree completion.
Utilization of this VCOM online (enduring materials) course does not indicate nor guarantee competence or proficiency in any procedures or suggested therapies that may be in the course.
Due to the nature of the information provided in the certificate, which is dictated by state or governmental agencies, please contact your state medical board and current employment guide to verify updated medical guidelines and mandates.

Disclosures

There have been no disclosures or relationships in the last 24 months with any ineligible company to present to the planning committee or faculty.

Planning Committee: Deborah West, EdD; Paula Shipper, EdD; Kathy Gennuso, MS. DHCE, MSBLE; Rich Gennuso
Faculty: Kathy Gennuso, MS. DHCE, MSBLE; Gregory Dobar, MA, MA

Acknowledgment of Commercial Support

No commercial support was received in the production of this activity.

About EthAssist

The Institute of Consultative Bioethics (ICBioethics) provides comprehensive training and knowledge delivery platform, EthAssist®, and consulting services that support health care, other highly regulated industries, and academic organizations. The Institute of Consultative Bioethics delivers unique content that provides knowledge and ethics training for any healthcare organization's students or staff affected by healthcare compliance, patient safety, and patient-centered care.

ICBioethics Faculty

Dr. Kathy Detar Gennuso, MS, DHCE, MSBLE, Chief Executive Officer and Founder of The Institute of Consultative Bioethics (ICBioethics)

Education:

DHCE, Doctorate in Healthcare Ethics – Duquesne University
MS, Business Leadership and Ethics – Duquesne University
BS, Library and Information Science – University of Pittsburgh
Certificate - Carnegie Mellon Tepper School of Donald H. Jones Center for Entrepreneurship

Affiliations

Institution – Institute of Consultative Bioethics
Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine (LECOM)
University of Wisconsin
Kettering Health System

Award

Recipient of the 2022 Leadership Award from Health 2.0.

Greg Dober, MA, Contributor and Consultant