Medical Ethicist: Job Description, Education, Skills, Abilities, Duties, Earnings and Outlook
Submitted by: paula
Job Overview In the 1960s, the field of medical ethics arose as a distinct field. This is the branch of philosophy that addresses the moral or ethical issues that are involved in the practice of medical research and clinical portion or medicine. This field arose after the realization that an ethical code is indeed a crucial aspect in the practice of medicine. The professionals who work in this field are called the medical ethicist. They are the consultants, teachers and researchers, even the policy makers in the field of medical ethics.
Education, Knowledge and Trainings Required
If you wish to establish a career in becoming a medical ethicist someday, take as many subjects in biology, psychology and philosophy as early as high school. These subjects are good preparatory subjects for the upcoming post secondary degree. The minimum requirement is a possession of a master's degree or even a doctorate degree from the department of philosophy and religion with the focus on medical ethics. Most of the applicants obtain their first degree not in bioethics but in law, medicine, philosophy, religion or sociology.
Skills and Abilities
It is important that a medical ethicist has an open mind. Understanding and evaluating different scenarios from life, in relation to medical ethics is the core of the job. For those who are into research, skills in research methods, communication and writing are essential. Those who are in the academic setting should have good teaching abilities. Critical thinking skills are necessary in fulfilling any of the duties involved in the job.
Duties
Most of the duties of a medical ethicist involve teaching as well as research in several academic settings. These academic settings may be found in medical schools, seminary and divinity schools or in universities' or colleges' department of philosophy and religion. There are also medical ethicist who instead of holding an academic position opted to practice privately as consultants for health care institutions locally. A small number of them work as full time self employed consultants, and the rest work as researchers and policy developers for private agencies, federal and state agencies all over the country.The typical work that they do depend on the settings that they chose to work in. For those who are self employed consultants, they get clients and serve as advisers for their medico ethical concerns. Those who are in the academic arena devote their time studying further and teaching different subjects related to medical ethics and conducting academic researches. Lastly, those who are employed by the private and federal agencies also conduct researches for the sake of utilizing the results to create substantial and significant medical or health care policies.
Outlook and Earnings
The job outlook for this career is estimated to move as fast as the average for the other careers. The range of salary for a medical ethicist starts off from 39,000 U.S. dollars to 68,000 U.S. dollars per annum. The determinants of the salary include the area of practice, the location, the number of years of working experience and the educational credentials. Others may earn 100,000 U.S. dollars per annum and over.
Paula Hiz is a researcher and a human resource specialist who helps newly graduates, job applicants and post graduate professionals be aware of their job opportunities and available trainings for skills and practice upgrading.
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Word Count: 550 Date: Sat, 16 Apr 2011 Time: 7:15 AM
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