Should We Be Teaching Medical Students to be Moral Isolationists?

Abstract

Abstract: Learning not to judge cultural practices can be implicitly or explicitly stressed to medical students and healthcare professionals. The perspective that one should not impose judgement on the practices of other cultures is termed “moral isolationism”. Mary Midgely, a philosopher, argues against moral isolationism, citing it as a logically incoherent theory. This perspective piece presents and applies Midgely’s argument within the context of medical education, and healthcare at large.