Exploring Complexities and DivergeMedical ethics and law (MEL) are firmly established components of medical education in the UK; however, evaluating MEL within medical schools presents significant challenges. In 2021, the Institute of Medical Ethics convened a working group specifically to address issues surrounding assessment. This article summarizes the group’s findings and deliberations. We begin by outlining the inherent difficulties in assessing MEL, particularly in light of the rigorous expectations outlined by the General Medical Council (GMC) in the UK. Next, we examine current practices for assessing MEL across UK medical schools. We then evaluate various assessment methods and their effectiveness in measuring knowledge and understanding of ethics and law. Finally, we present the key recommendations proposed by the working group, concluding that existing assessment approaches may not adequately measure the GMC’s stated learning outcomes.
