[Should we teach bioethics to students in dentistry as part of public studies? An example in the Faculty of Dentistry at the University Paris Descartes].

BACKGROUND

The dental student is committed to being an actor in public health and his/her mission must deal with the wishes of the patient and the ethical requirements of the society. In order to improve physical and mental health on an individual and collective level, the University has a responsibility to develop a real culture of public health early in the academic curriculum. This context raises the question of the usefulness of ethics education for students in dental school.

METHODS

The Faculty of Dentistry at Paris Descartes University is engaged in a pilot process to reform dental studies, taking into account official and ministerial directives. An educational program on ethics delivered during the course of 10 semesters is broken down into lectures, practical lessons, and active training in one of four Paris hospitals.

RESULTS

Teaching bioethics in the public health context puts the student at the center of an active process where each student is responsible for personal involvement in five proposed teaching methods: lectures, seminars, directed education, and reference research using the University's intranet portal.

CONCLUSION

The result of 3 years of experience teaching bioethics in public health discipline is positive. The dental students are encouraged to develop skills to analyze an effective strategy for dental care where ethics becomes a cardinal value. In this sense, the teaching of bioethics that is at the heart of public debates is perfectly adapted to the public health discipline. Ultimately, it could be integrated into the teaching of all subjects.