Med students can learn from bad examples

The Federation of State Medical Boards is studying a proposal to encourage medical students to attend state board meetings.

By Jay Greene, amednews staff. May 8, 2000.

Students at the Arizona College of Osteopathic Medicine/Midwestern University, Glendale, Ariz., are required to attend state osteopathic medical board meetings before completing their third year.

Now, the Federation of State Medical Boards is studying whether to recommend that other state boards implement similar requirements. A resolution suggesting such a move was proposed by the Arizona Board of Osteopathic Medical Examiners at last month's FSMB meeting. Proponents of the move said medical students can learn a lot about the responsibilities and ethics they must practice by watching how some physicians are disciplined for poor patient care, substance abuse or sexual misconduct.

"This is a very positive force in Arizona," said Stanley Brysacz, DO, president of the Arizona osteopathic board. "It helps students see the light."

First-hand participation in any educational experience is positive for medical students, said Ryan Grabow, chair of the AMA's Medical Student Section.

"But how do you fit everything into four years of medical education?" said Grabow, a fourth-year student at the Medical College of Ohio, Toledo. "People come up with great ideas to add to curriculums. We have limits on available time."

Travel expenses for students to attend medical board meetings also could be a problem, Grabow said.

"Issues like medical ethics, patient-physician relationship and drug abuse are already addressed within the medical school curriculum and are required to one degree or another by LCME," the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, he said.

The Arizona board's proposal could be difficult to administer on a national basis because of the large numbers of medical students in some states. For example, Michigan has about 600 medical students. That state board meets only six times a year, so an average of 100 students would be required to attend each meeting. That large attendance could disrupt meetings and potentially violate confidentiality rules, several opponents said.

FSMB also will review the possibility of "encouraging" students to attend board meetings rather than requiring them to do so.

"Attending board meetings affects medical students in very profound ways," said Paul Steingard, DO, a member of the Arizona medical board. "This could help boards educate future physicians about their responsibilities."