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Medical EthicsOpen Access
Medical Ethics in the Changing Cultural Milieu of Thai Society
Hongladarom S 
Thai society is changing from an agrarian one to a more individualistic one based on rule
of law and impersonal relationships. This has far reaching implications on the relation between
doctors and their patients and especially on medical ethics. Traditional communal ties and the
honor accorded doctors by the public can no longer be relied on as sole measures enforcing
ethical principles. Measures have shifted from one based on honor to one based on law. One
implication of this is that medical ethics have to change from the traditional to one based on
rational discourse. Measures must be found in order that ethics based on rational discourse
become ingrained in Thai culture. One such measure is that radical separation of arts and science
in the schools be demolished, and that medical students interact academically and substantively
with their peers in other disciplines.
Key word : Medical Ethics, Culture, Thai Society
of law and impersonal relationships. This has far reaching implications on the relation between
doctors and their patients and especially on medical ethics. Traditional communal ties and the
honor accorded doctors by the public can no longer be relied on as sole measures enforcing
ethical principles. Measures have shifted from one based on honor to one based on law. One
implication of this is that medical ethics have to change from the traditional to one based on
rational discourse. Measures must be found in order that ethics based on rational discourse
become ingrained in Thai culture. One such measure is that radical separation of arts and science
in the schools be demolished, and that medical students interact academically and substantively
with their peers in other disciplines.
Key word : Medical Ethics, Culture, Thai Society
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