Patients in Teaching and Research

As well as studying a lot of theory at the university, trainee doctors (medical students and interns) need to learn their job in practical lessons with patients. For this quality of training, we need your cooperation.

Here are some examples of how patients contribute to teaching:

• Your case history could be presented to students in the course of a lecture
• Your case could be used as the basis of an exam question
• With your agreement, trainee doctors could (under supervision) practice asking you questions, or carry out examinations and therapeutic procedures
• Your doctor could present your case to trainees during his daily ward round.

The closer the training is to real clinical practice, the better equipped the doctors will be for their future work.

If you have agreed to help in this way, your doctor is required to obtain your consent (which is documented as part of your case history) at least 24 hours in advance.
Your doctor is also required to inform you about the nature of the teaching activity and to explain exactly what will be done. Students and interns who take part are bound by the rules of confidentiality.

The help and cooperation of patients is also often needed for the development, introduction or first use of new medical methods. Before you take part in such a study, you must be informed about the risks and benefits associated with the new treatment or medication, and you must give your written consent. Providing you with a full and correct explanation of what is intended is the duty of your doctor.

You may withdraw your consent to participate in either teaching or research-related activities at any time.