Health & Biomedical Ethics
PHI 383 001 CRN 20474
Spring 2005
TH 2:00-3:15 PM
Instructor:
Dr. Laura Newhart
Office:
Case Annex 257
Office
Hours: MWF 12:20-1:10; TH
12:30-1:45
Contact
Information: Phone:
622-2574
E-mail: Laura.Newhart@eku.edu
or l-newhart@msn.com
Course
Description:
In
this course, we will examine the ethical dimensions of the health care
professions. The first half of the course will lay the foundations for
the
analysis and evaluation of ethical dilemmas as they arise within the
context of
medical practice. These foundations include an understanding of the
ethical
theories and moral principles which have historically been employed in
the
resolution of ethical issues in health care and a consideration of the
nature
of the relationship between the patient and the health care provider.
The
second half of the course will focus on the application of these
foundations to
specific moral issues including: 1) biomedical research on humans 2)
physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia; 3) abortion and maternal-fetal conflicts; 4) surrogacy
and alternative reproductive technologies;
and 5) genetic testing and therapy, stem cell research and human
cloning.
Course
Format:
Class
time will be divided between lecture, discussion, collaborative group
projects,
case studies, and audio-visual material. Each student is expected to
read the
material and to be prepared to discuss it in an informed manner during
the
class period for which it is assigned.
Required
Texts:
Thomas
A. Mappes and David DeGrazia, Biomedical Ethics. 5th
Edition. McGraw-Hill, 2000.
Gregory E. Pence, Classic Cases
in Medical
Ethics. 4th Edition.
McGraw-Hill, 2004.
Course
Requirements and Grading:
Your
grade for the course will be determined by:
(1) 2 Exams (15% each)
30%
(2) Medical Ethics Committee
Project
30%
(3) Final Paper
30%
(4) Attendance and
Participation
10%
(1) 2 Exams: The first
exam will cover the ethical theories and moral principles
covered in the first 1/4 of the semester (Chapter 1 in the text). The
first
exam will be graded and returned before midterm. It is scheduled to
take place
on Tuesday February 8, 2005. The second
exam will cover the and issues
surrounding the relationship between the patient and the health care
provider(s) covered during the second 1/4
of the semester (Chapters 2-3 in the text). It is scheduled to
take
place on Tuesday March 15, 2005. The
exams will be made up of multiple choice, true/false, fill in the
blank, and
short answer questions.
(2) Medical Ethics Committee Project:
You
will be given the chance to use the theoretical tools and reasoning
skills that
you will acquire in the first half of the semester by leading the
discussion
for an ethics committee meeting on a specific biomedical issue during
the
second half. Depending on the size of the class, you will be teamed up
with 2
or 3 other members of the class. Each group will be responsible for
presenting
before the class a recent, real-life, case dealing with one
of the following issues: Human Subjects, Physician-Assisted
Dying, Abortion, Assisted Reproduction, Genetic Testing and Therapy,
Stem Cell
Research, or Reproductive Cloning. You will get background information
concerning your case from the relevant chapter in Classic
Cases in Medical Ethics.
During the class period that your issue is to be covered, your group
will
summarize the material in the chapter for the rest of the class,
present the
specific case, and facilitate class discussion in such a way as to lead
to a
resolution to the issue. Feel free to bring in additional information
on your
issue, especially if there have been recent developments surrounding
your
issue. Committee presentation dates for the specific issues are listed
on the
schedule of readings.
(3) Final
Paper: You will be asked to write a 5-7 page typed
double spaced paper in which you apply the relevant ethical
theories, moral principles, and factual knowledge covered in class to
one of
the ethical issues listed in the course description. Your paper will be
graded
on the basis of: your presentation of the ethical dilemma that the
issue
embodies, your understanding of the theories and principles which you
will be
using to resolve the issue, the thoughtfulness and creativity that you
exhibit
in choosing which theories and principles to apply to the issue, and
the
organizational structure of your paper. Final papers are due during the
final
exam period, Tuesday May 3 from 1:00 to
3:00 p.m.
(4) Attendance and Participation:
The
quality and enjoyment of this course depends on the participation of
each of
its members. In order to participate, you must attend. Therefore, after
three
absences I reserve the right to begin deducting points off your final
grade up
to a maximum of 10%.
Grading
Policy:
Out of a possible
total of 100 points:
90-100 A
60-69 D
80-89 B
59-below F
70-79 C
Important
Notes:
1. The
instructor reserves the right to modify this
syllabus if it will better meet the goals and objectives of the course.
2.
Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated and
will be dealt with in accordance with the EKU Student Handbook.
3. If you
are registered with the Office of Services
for Individuals with Disabilities, please make an appointment with the
course
instructor to discuss any academic accommodations you need. If you need
academic accommodations and are not registered with the Office of
Services for
Individuals with Disabilities, please contact the Office directly
either in
person on the first floor of Turley House or by telephone at
(859)622-1500
V/TTY. Upon individual request, this syllabus can be made available in
alternative forms.
Syllabus
Introduction
T 1/11
Introduction to Course
H 1/13
Introduction to Biomedical Ethics
pp.
1-4
Video: Dateline:
Medical Ethics
Ethical Theories
T 1/18 Assessing
Competing Theories
pp.
4-7
Utilitarianism
pp.
7-17
H 1/20 Utilitarianism
cont.
T 1/25
Kantian Deonotology
pp.
18-24
Alternative Directions and
Methods
H 1/27 Prima Facie Duties
pp. 24-28
Virtue Ethics
pp. 28-31
T 2/1
Ethics of Care
pp.
31-33
Casuistry and Reflective
Equilibrium
pp. 34-38
Relevant Concepts and
Principles
H
2/3 Autonomy
pp.
38-44
Liberty Limiting Principles
pp.
44-50
Group Project: Cases Studies in
Autonomy and Paternalism
T
2/8
Exam 1
The Physician-Patient
Relationship
H 2/10 Physicians
Obligations and Virtues
pp.
56-71
Physician-Patient Models
pp. 71-85
Truth-Telling and Informed
Consent
T 2/15
Truth-Telling
pp.
85-93
Informed Consent
pp.
93-109
H 2/17
Determinations of Competence
pp. 109-116
Multiculturalism and Managed
Care
T 2/22 Medicine
in a Multicultural Society
pp.
117-129
H 2/24
Conflicts of Interest and Managed Care
pp.
130-147
Hospitals, Nurses, and Medical
Confidentiality
T
3/1
Professional Statements
pp.
150-160
The Role and Responsibilities of Nurses
pp.
161-187
H
3/3
Confidentiality
pp.
208-222
Group Project: The Tarasoff Case
T 3/8 and H 3/10 No Class!!! Spring
Break
T
3/15
Exam 2
Human Research
H
3/17
Ethical Codes
pp.
225-237
Historical and
Cultural Causes for Concern
pp. 238-253
T
3/22 Clinical
Trials in Developing Countries
pp.
265-272
Video: Miss
Evers’ Boys
H
3/24
Miss
Evers’ Boys cont.
Human Subjects
Committee Presentation
Classic Cases
in Medical Ethics Chapter
11, pp. 270-300
Active Euthanasia
T
3/29 The
Morality of Active Euthanasia
pp. 398-407
The Supreme Court, Physician-Assisted
Suicide... pp. 407-421
H
3/31 Physician-Assisted
Suicide, Active Euthanasia, ... pp.
421-444
Physician-Assisted Dying Committee Presentation
Classic
Cases in Medical
Ethics
Chapter 4, pp. 89-120
Abortion and Maternal-Fetal Conflicts
T 4/5
The Morality of Abortion
pp. 446-478
Abortion and Social Policy
pp.
478-490
H 4/7
Maternal-Fetal
Conflicts
pp. 490-504
Abortion
Committee Presentation
Classic
Cases in Medical Ethics
Chapter 5,
pp. 122-151
Gamete Donation, Surrogacy,
and Reproductive Technologies
T 4/12
Intro. to Genetics and Human Reproduction
pp. 507-515
Gamete Donation and Surrogacy
pp.
546-561
Video:
The Baby Dance
H 4/14
Reproductive Technologies
pp. 527-545
The
Baby Dance cont.
Assisted
Reproduction Committee
Presentation
Classic
Cases in Medical Ethics Chapter
6,
pp.
152-183
Genetic Testing and Therapy
T
4/19
Reproductive Risk, Prenatal Diagnosis, ....
pp. 516-527
H
4/21
Genetic Engineering
pp. 577-595
Ethical
Issues and Genetic Disease Committee Presentation
Classic
Cases in Medical Ethics Chapter
16, pp. 395-428
Stem Cell Research and Human
Cloning
T
4/26
Battles over
Embryos and Stem Cells Committee Presentation
Classic
Cases in Medical Ethics Chapter 7, pp.
184-197
H
4/28
Human Cloning
pp.
561-577
Reproductive
Cloning Committee
Presentation
Classic
Cases in Medical Ethics Chapter
8, pp.
198-215
Final
Papers
Due During Exam Period Tuesday May 3 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.