Humanities: teaching a “new” ethical dimension in medical education

Abstract This study presents the process of ethical formation through the Medical Humanities subject of a medical undergraduate program in Southern Brazil. This is a qualitative research carried out with 28 medical students between the 1st and 7th periods. Data collection took place by focus groups and the results, obtained by content analysis, were divided into two thematic categories: production of self and of the ethical dimension in medical education; and proposals of changes in “humanistic” training. We concluded that it is necessary to identify the ethical problems present in the teaching-learning process itself, develop opportunities for other means of connection between professors and students and discuss issues inherent to medical ethics.