Recommendations from the Code of Ethics for the New Zealand Medical Profession.

1. Clinical teaching is the basis on which sound clinical practice is based. It is the duty of doctors to share information and promote education within the profession. Education of colleagues and medical students should be regarded as an ethical responsibility for all doctors.
2. Teaching involving direct patient contact should be undertaken with sensitivity, compassion, respect for privacy, and, whenever possible, with the consent of the patient, guardian or appropriate agent. Particular sensitivity is required when patients are disabled or disempowered, eg, children or those with impaired states of consciousness.
3. Whenever possible, patients should be given sufficient information on the form and content of the teaching, and adequate time for consideration, before consenting or declining to participate in clinical teaching. Refusal by a patient to participate in a study or teaching session must not interfere with other aspects of the doctor-patient relationship or access to appropriate treatment.
4. Patients’ understanding of, or perspective on, their medical problems may be influenced by involvement in clinical teaching. Doctors should be sensitive to this possibility and ensure that information is provided in an unbiased manner, and that any questions receive adequate answers. It may be appropriate for the doctor to return later to address these issues.