Medical colleges must produce doctors capable of maintaining the public's health, curing patients of their illnesses, and expanding medical knowledge - all in an ethical manner. In Bangladesh, the medical profession has traditionally enjoyed great respect. However, the situation is changing as cases of medical negligence are brought to court. Professional organisations are becoming conscious of the importance of a code of conduct and of ethical behaviour but health ethics is not on the medical curriculum. The mandatory course in forensic medicine contains some discussion of malpractice and professional misconduct. A limited ethics education is provided during para-clinical teaching sessions. On the whole, however, ethics is learnt by observation rather than through formal study.