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PHIL 215

I. Course Title: Healthcare Ethics (GE)

II. Course Number: PHIL 215

III. Credit Hours: 3 credits

IV. Prerequisites: None

V. Course Description: 

Focuses on the field of bioethics, including the study of theoretical approaches in bioethics, principles and historical precedents in bioethics, legal aspects, and methods applicable to practical ethical decision making regarding bioethical issues, dilemmas, and problems. Examination of ethical and legal issues in landmark and contemporary cases build a foundation for clinical application.

Note(s): General Education and Humanistic or Artistic Expression designated course.

VI. Detailed Description of Content of the Course:

Advances in biomedical research and medical technology have dramatically increased the scope of treatments, procedures, and services provided by America’s healthcare systems.  Along with the expanded menu of services comes an equal number of moral questions concerning when, why, how, and to what end, those services should be applied.  PHIL 215 Healthcare Ethics explores the moral questions and problems that emerge within the contexts and complex interactions between science, technology, medicine, and human health.  The course presumes no prior experience in philosophy or ethics and begins with basic philosophical accounts of ethics and the fundamentals of moral reasoning.  Then, through a series of readings, videos and other learning experiences, students are introduced to the leading theories and methods used to understand and resolve moral problems and issues in healthcare and medicine.  From there students engage topics that include but are limited to, moral issues occurring at the beginning and end of life, implications of the biotechnological revolution, and medicine and society.  Moral problems and dilemmas are presented through case studies that simulate real-life circumstances commonly encountered by those working in the healthcare field.  The case-based approach drives students to think critically, deeply, and for themselves while integrating methodological and theoretical material from the course.  Formative reading response assignments involving case studies lead students to a summary assignment whereby they either compose their own original case study for moral analysis and theoretical discussion, or write a significant paper that applies ethical concepts to a systemic problem or issue in healthcare.

Topical Structure (may include but is not limited to)

  1. The Study of Morality
  2. Philosophical Accounts of Morality
  3. Principle-Oriented and Case-Oriented Healthcare Ethics
  4. Managing Patient Information
  5. Consent with Competence and Without
  6. Death and Dying
  7. When Life Supports are Futile or Refused
  8. Medically Assisted Dying
  9. Conflicts of Rights at Life’s Beginning
  10. Reproductive Technologies
  11. Human Genetic Engineering
  12. Research on Humans
  13. Justice in Health Care

VII. Detailed Description of Conduct of Course:

This course will introduce and apply well established ethical theories, principles, and concepts to problems, cases, and scenarios representative of current and historical precedents and controversies in healthcare, medicine, and public health.  Students will also be introduced to many of the leading resources supporting healthcare ethics such as, The Hasting Center, The Center for Practical Bioethics, and the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities.  Students may anticipate learning experiences including but not limited to:

  • Lecture and discussion led by the instructor
  • Small group discussion
  • Formal or informal debates
  • Individual and group oral presentations
  • Informal and formal writing assignments
  • Journals or class Blogs
  • Individual and collaborative research activities involving online resources
  • Written and oral analysis of cases, texts, or video material
  • Written summaries/evaluations of out-of-class events
  • Guest lecturers/presenters

VIII. Goals and Objectives of the Course:

  1. Recognize ethical issues and problems in healthcare.
  2. Explain various ethical perspectives on selected issues and problems in healthcare.
  3. Indicate how particular ethical theories, principles, or values can apply to specific issues and problems in healthcare.
  4. Hypothesize and assess an ethical issue or problem in healthcare. 
  5. Formulate and support an ethically defensible response to an issue or problem in healthcare. 

As a course with an “E” designation in the REAL general education curriculum, this course also meets the following learning outcomes:

  1. Students demonstrate understanding of diverse ideas, languages, products, or processes of humanistic inquiry or artistic expression.
  2. Students critically evaluate, synthesize, or create forms of human expression or inquiry.

IX. Assessment Measures:

A variety of assessment tools will be used.  These may include quizzes/exams, writing assignments, Blog assignments, presentations, and case study papers, among others.

Review and Approval

August 2020

March 01, 2021

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