Bioethics

Bioethics
Health & Medical Sciences
Universidad de Salamanca - Cursos Internacionales

BIOETHICS

1. Introduction: What is bioethics? Methods in bioethics

2. Ethical Approaches:

2.1. A principle-­based approach

2.2. Exceptionless rule approach

2.3. A Utilitarian approach

2.4. A virtue ethics approach

2.5. A care approach

2.6. A case approach

3. The beginning of life

3.1. Before birth: issues involving embryos and fetuses

3.2. Mother-­fetus conflict

3.3. Prenatal testing, newborn screening and sex selection

3.4. Assisted reproduction

3.5. Therapeutic cloning

3.6. Respectful involvements of children in medial decision-­?making

3.7. Child abuse and neglect

3.8. Abortion

3.9. Moral status, moral values, and human embryos

4. Bodies and bodily parts

4.1. Organ transplantation

4.2. Biobanking

4.3. Pharmacogenomics

4.4. Genetic enhancement

4.5. Genetic testing and screening

4.6. Regenerative medicine

5. Information problems

5.1. Consent

5.2. Capacity

5.3. Disclosure

5.4. Truth telling

5.5. Confidentiality

6. The end of life

6.1. The definition of death: brain death, and persistent vegetative state

6.2. The aging society and the expansion of senility

6.3. Advance care planning

6.4. Substitute decision-­?making

6.5. Euthanasia and physician-­?assisted death

7. Global health-­care issues

7.1. Policy making in pluralistic societies.

7.2. Global health responsibilities: cross-­cultural considerations

7.3. Access to medicine and the role of corporate social responsibility

7.4. Infectious disease

7.5. Bioethics and terrorism

7.6. Developing world challenges

8. Research ethics

8.1. Innovations in medical care

8.2. Clinical trials

8.3. Epidemiological research

8.4. Financial conflict of interest in medical research

8.5. Research in developing countries

8.6. The use of animals as experimental subjects

8.7. Embryo and fetal research

8.8. Stem cells research

9. Health systems and institutions

9.1. Priority setting: deciding between patients

9.2. Society?s allocation of resources for health

9.3. Emergency and disasters

9.4. Disclosure of medical error

10. Teaching and practice of bioethics

10.1. Ethics and committees and ethics consultants

10.2. Teaching ethics in the health professions

Evaluation:

Evaluation will be continuous. Besides considering participation, the professor will consider the following criteria:

1. Daily work in class, homework, and active participation: 40%
2. Midterm exam (as considered necessary by the professor: 60%
3. Final exam: 40% (if there is a midterm) or 60% (if there is no midterm)

Grading will follow both the European numerical grading system and the North American letter system:

9.5 - 10 = Sobresaliente = A+
9 - 9.49 = Sobresaliente = A
8.5 - 8.9 = Sobresaliente = A-
8 - 8.49 = Notable = B+
7.5 - 7.9 = Notable = B
7 - 7.49 = Notable = B-
6.5 - 6.9 = Aprobado = C+
6 - 6.49 = Aprobado = C
5 - 5.9 = Aprobado = C-

Less than 5 = Asistencia/Fail

NOTE: Student must attend at least 85% of class in order to pass.

Bibliography

Hare, R. M. (1996), Essays on Bioethics, Oxford: Clarendon Press

Kuhse, H. & Singer, P. (eds.) (2009), A Companion to Bioethics, Oxford: Blackwell.

Singer, P. & Viens, A. M. (2008), The Cambridge Textbook of Bioethics, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Steinbock, B. (ed.) (2009), The Oxford Handbook Of Bioethics, Oxford: Oxford University Press.