Ethics education has become more critical in the era of AI-Sohail Chughtai
Situation Judgement Test is an important tool
for assessment development-Zafar Iqbal
Symposium during PAMI Conference at UOL
LAHORE: Healthcare professionals often face ethical dilemmas and a strong sense of character helps them navigate these situations with integrity and compassion. Patients place a great deal of trust in the medical profession and a doctor’s character is the key factor in building and maintaining that, Trust. This was stated by Dr. Masood Jawaid Director Medical Affairs in PharmEvo and Associate Editor of Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. Dr. Masood Jawaid who has special interest in Artificial Intelligence was making a presentation on” Integrating Character Education and Academic Integrity” at a symposium during the Third International Conference of Pakistan Private Medical & Dental Institutions (PAMI) jointly hosted by Superior University and University of Lahore from April 8th to 12th 2025.
Dr. Sohail Chughtai
This particular symposium was held at University of Lahore on April 12th. Character education Dr. Masood Jawaid opined contributes to the development of medical professionalism which encompass not only technical skills but also ethical conduct, empathy and respect. A doctor’s character, he stated, can influence the well being of their patients and the community as a whole. Highlighting the importance of character, he quoted Poet of the East Allama Iqbal who is reported to have said that “Spend money to make character but don’t spend character to make money”.
Dr. Zafar Iqbal
He also referred to a study published in Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences regarding Academic Misconduct among students in medical colleges in Karachi wherein a large number of students admitted of cheating and involvement in other academic misconduct. We need to improve our education system formally adding professionalism session and strict disciplinary actions against those found guilty. At present there is a disconnect between policy-based approaches and character-based approaches. We need to give importance to mentoring, moral reasoning and reflective practice.
Medical Schools, he stated, should be encouraged to foster virtues like empathy, compassion, honesty, humility, responsibility and integrity. Students should be trained to identify ethical issues, analyze different perspectives and make sound ethical judgement. They should develop the ability to recognize and respond to moral problems and challenges. We need to embed character goals in learning outcomes, use real world ethical dilemmas in assessment, model integrity through teachers’ behavior, create safe space for ethical reflection and also reward honesty not just achievements. Policy based approaches should be preferred by character-based approach. He also talked about morality and moral reasoning and remarked that good role models are also very important. Ethics and character are built at Nursery level and these things are taught in schools in Japan.
He suggested that we need to incorporate character education in the curriculum, through case studies, discussion and simulation that addresses ethical dilemmas. Encourage faculty and senior residents to serve as role models for ethical behavior and professionalism. Facilitate peer learning and reflection through group discussion and peer evaluation. Experiential learning provides opportunities for students to engage in real world expressions such as volunteering or shadowing which promise character development. Hidden curriculum plays an important role as the students look at us what we are doing in the OPDs and Wards. All these virtues of good character are embedded in Islamic values. The present era provides us challenges as well as opportunities. Use of Artificial Intelligence in medical education, research, and patient care is a double-edged sword. With the increasing use of AI, we have seen increased academic dishonesty and then recited the following couplet:
One of the invited Guest Speakers at the PAMI Third Int. Conference being presented a Memento by Mrs. Sumaira Rehman Rector of Superior University. Also seen in the picture from (L to R) are Prof. M. Akbar Chaudhry, Prof. Mahwish Arooj, Prof. M. Ashraf Rector UOL and Prof. Mughees Baig.
Character building Dr. Masood Jawaid further stated is a shared responsibility of Institutions, Educators and Students. Speaking about the core elements of character building he mentioned Service and sacrifice, Empathy and communication, Care and Respect, Honesty and Humility, Responsibility and Calling, Collaboration and magnanimity, creativity and positivity, patient and leadership. There are some constraints in assessment methods, faculty development and promoting the culture of ethics. The goal of true education, he opined should be Intelligence plus Character. He concluded his presentation by reciting the following couplet from Sir Allama Iqbal:
Dr. Sohail Chughtai from UK an expert in Artificial Intelligence who has developed many AI soft wares and uses them in his clinical practice with ease was the next invited guest speaker in this session. He spoke about the integration of AI and its challenges with special focus on Character. Now teaching contents in our medical schools, he opined, are being tested. Focus on character is important. Ethics education has become more critical in the present era of Artificial Intelligence. He recommended ethical use of AI, responsible use of AI and I have learnt a lot for this, he remarked. We need to give more consideration to transparency, honesty, respect, fairness, Trust in AI. Speaking about the doctor patient relationship and AI, Dr. Sohail Chughtai said that AI can do certain things and it cannot do others. It is the doctor who has to sign it off at the end of the day as he is responsible. Make sure that no harm comes to the patient.
He laid emphasis on authentic reflection, human empathy, critical thinking, professional identity. AI has redefined doctors’ responsibility the way medicine is practiced. He further stated that doctors should know where not to use AI technology. He also emphasized the importance of core knowledge while consent of the patient for recording the consultation is essential, he added.
Dr. Husain Askari along with another guest from overseas chairing a
session during the PAMI conference held recently.
Dr. Zafar Iqbal was the next speaker in this session who discussed leveraging formatic situation judgement test (SJT) for in programme assessment of professionalism. He also referred to unprofessional behaviour, deficiencies in professionalism, poor communication, resulting in serious harm to patient and even leading to death. He laid emphasis on critical thinking and problem-solving strategies. SJT, he said, was an effective tool for assessment development and to track progress. It also helps in professional identity formation.
During the discussion which followed these presentations, it was pointed out that students learn integrity at home not in the institutions. Honesty starts from childhood and then the child develops honest characteristics and trust. Dr. Hussain Askari who was chairing the session remarked that there is clear disconnect between values and education.
