Medical Ethics and International Medical Graduates

Thousands of international medical graduates (IMGs) each year attempt to get into the US healthcare system by applying for US clinical residency. A huge number of these students do not match. Those who do may struggle with cultural, language, system, and ethical issues. Successful integration into the US healthcare system means that IMGs must learn about the ethics of medical practice and the way medical ethics work in the United States. IMGs come from many different countries with different backgrounds and are often accustomed to doing things in a way that reflects the culture of their training. IMGs need to know (1) common definitions and ethical terminologies and (2) how things are different in the United States. Anticipating how the United States is different will help them avoid any mistakes during their professional practice and facilitate a smoother cultural transition. In this chapter, we will outline some of the most important medical ethics issues and provide illustrations to contrast differences between medical practice in the United States and other parts of the world.