Analyses of empirical research and ethical problems require different skills and approaches. This article presents five core skills psychiatrists need to be able to address ethical problems optimally. These include their being able to recognize ethical conflicts and distinguish them from empirical questions, apply all morally relevant values, and know good from bad ethical arguments. Clinical examples of each are provided.
Keywords: Ethics; advance directives; autonomy; cancer; caregivers; cholinesterase inhibitors; confidentiality; dementia; genetics; memory; mental status exam; minimal cognitive impairment; research; suicide.