Medical students should be taught more about the dignity of human life and death, an advisory council to the Education Ministry proposed Friday.

The proposal was made in a fourth report released by the 25-member Council on Medicine for the 21st Century, and presented to Education Minister Akito Arima.

The report on the education of future doctors and dentists stresses the importance for medical professionals to respect the will of patients and have good understanding of human rights as well as medical ethics.

The panel, headed by Toshio Asada, a professor emeritus at Toho University, was established in November 1995 to discuss medical education for the 21st century. The members include professors of medicine at various universities and scholars in various fields.

The panel proposed in the report that medical or dental colleges or universities create in-patient experience programs and also suggests work at welfare facilities for lessons in treating patients equally. It also recommended that a common evaluation system for undergraduate students before clinical practice be created so students may be motivated to study harder and advance their capabilities.

Because patients expect doctors to respect their wishes regarding treatment, the report says training should be given to improve communications skills and doctors need to put more patient reports in writing.

The panel also said it opposes the Education Ministry University Council view that academically outstanding students should be allowed to graduate before finishing six years of education for medicine.

The panel says that the council's proposal made in October would allow students to miss needed curriculum and experiences. It has also proposed setting up postgraduate courses for a master's degree in public health. Public health courses are usually delivered at the undergraduate level. In the report, it recommends that doctors and dentists have skill training opportunities.