Deception and simulation education: issues, concepts, and commentary.
The use of deceptive methodology in simulation education is an emerging ethical controversy. At the 2014 International Meeting on Simulation in Healthcare, arguments for and against its use were debated by simulation experts. What emerged from this discussion was an apparent disconnect between current practice and existing empiric research on this subject. At present, no framework exists to guide the simulation community's exploration of this issue of deception.After reviewing the relevant psychological literature, we propose a framework delineating discrete elements and important relationships, which enables a comprehensive view of the factors germane to simulations that use deception. We further comment on key pedagogical and psychological issues in the context of this framework and define an agenda for further research. Educators are encouraged to use this framework when determining whether, when, and how deception might be used and, if used, how it can be ethically justified and carefully implemented.
From the Department of Pediatrics, University of Louisville School of Medicine (A.W.C.), Louisville, KY; Department of Anesthesia and Critical Care, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School (M.C.M.P.-S.), Boston, MA; the Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice; the Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital; the Department of Social Medicine and Global Health, Division of Medical Ethics, Harvard Medical School (R.D.T.), Boston, MA; the Center for Immersive and Simulation-based learning, Stanford University School of Medicine (D.M.G.), and Simulation Center at VA Palo Alto HCS (D.M.G.), Palo Alto, CA; and the Institute for Professionalism and Ethical Practice (E.C.M.); the Department of Psychiatry, Boston Children's Hospital (E.C.M.); the Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School (E.C.M.), Boston, MA.
Aaron W
AW
Calhoun
May C M
MC
Pian-Smith
Robert D
RD
Truog
David M
DM
Gaba
Elaine C
EC
Meyer
D008192:Deception; D004644:Emotions; D004777:Environment; D006040:Goals; D006801:Humans; D000066908:Simulation Training / Q000941:ethics* / Q000379:methods*; D013663:Teaching / Q000941:ethics