Medical school interview tip: 7 steps to tackling ethics

Are you in need of a top medical school interview tip? Well, today I have 7 of them to help you when talking about an ethical dilemma

 Keep reading to find out how you can stand out!

 If you haven’t already, read my previous blog post! *5 steps to the perfect interview answer: childhood obesity*

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Why is it important to practice this?

Most people when asked to discuss ethics, give a pretty unconvincing answer with a lot of opinion. Others might just freeze when being asked such huge questions about morals!

That is why it is so important to take some time before interview season to get comfortable with answering these tricky questions. I have put together 10 top tips that I have learnt from various medical students on how to smash the Ethics + Law section.

But first, that brings me onto point number one.

Medical school interview tip: 1. It’s ethics + law. Not just ethics

Most candidates stick to the four pillars of medical ethics and don’t really venture much further than that. In medicine, the thing that underpins all ethical principles is the Law.

 You need to gain a good understanding of laws that protect patients, and laws that protect doctors to give a truly brilliant answer!

 If the question is unclear, discuss the ethics and then just ask if they would like you to go into Law.

This cheat sheet will give you all the main Laws and Acts that you should be aware of and additional ethical principles you can use to spice up your answers!

2.List the relevant pillars first.

This is a really effective medical school interview tip if used well.

Listing the relevant pillars can help you to show the interviewer you know what you are talking about, in case you run out of time!

However, you have to be careful not to make it sound like you are just listing for listings sake though.

Medical school interview tip: 3.Set the scene

 Recount the question back to the interviewer to show you understand what they are asking. 

You would be surprised how many students misread the questions and give answers that lack relevance.

By recounting the question you also give yourself time to process it and to think of how you are going to respond. Don’t rush this and if needed after you can ask:

“ Please may I take a minute to think about this?”

Medical school interview tip 4.Be logical

Another medical school interview tip is to work through the four pillars that apply. Then, explain why you would go one way and how you could possibly go in the other direction. 

If you can’t think of a good way to deal with the situation, try not to cause excess harm.

 Remember that if the person is autonomous that holds a lot of weight and you need to show that you respect that. Also, explain how you can determine that.

Help to do this can be found in my Ethics and Law cheat sheet!

5. Never lead with your decision

This can come across as a lack of consideration and shows that you haven’t actually considered any ethical principles, rather used your own opinion to answer the question.

 Major bad vibes.

6.Never reject follow up questions.

 Sometime the interviewer will ask a follow up question to check your understanding . It may feel like you have already covered that.

 Take it with grace, and give them what they are asking for.

 Never say “ I have already answered that but…” 

Alway try to say “ building upon my previous response…” or something like that!

Give them something in addition to what you have already said too.

Medical school interview tip 7.Body language and Speech

In these situations, you want to convince the interviewer. Sometimes it isn’t what you say but how you say it.

Speak with confidence and conviction and don’t back down from your points if you know they are right.

The interviewer may try to throw you off by playing devil’s advocate, don’t fall for it. Just reiterate why you have chosen the course of action.

Beware! Sometimes the interviewers know you are wrong and are trying to help you out!

 If you think this might be happening, try and reason the other side of the argument too so that they can see some lateral thinking!

So to wrap up:

I hope these tips have been helpful to you When I learned them it changed the way I approach these questions.

If you want 3 more bonus medical school interview tips AND my ethics and Law cheat sheet make sure you join the email list!

 Best of luck in your interviews! Keep in check with my Instagram too, there is going to be loads of helpful content for aspiring medics twice weekly!

• Zoe xx