Philosophy & Religion   215 Bioethics    
Spring 2009 Dr. Candace Gauthier    

Course Requirements

1.  Attendance at all classes is expected.  Numerous absences will definitely affect your ability to satisfactorily meet the goals of this course.

2.  Reading the articles and cases assigned for each class is essential.  The assigned readings form the basis for your understanding and participation in class discussions as well as for writing papers and preparing for exams.  You must bring the assigned text to class every day. 

 3. Participation in class discussions is strongly encouraged.  Active engagement with others in the consideration of ethical issues is central to the development of critical analysis skills and a well-supported personal position.

4.  You will write three papers during the semester.  The first is a paper applying material we have covered in class to a case in the delivery of health care.  The second paper includes interviews and your own view on assisted suicide.  Each of these papers is worth 15 points. The third paper is a report on an article you will choose to present at the end of the course with a small group.  The presentation paper will be worth 10 points..  The papers are due on Tuesday February 3, Thursday March 5, and on the day of your group's presentationLate papers will be marked down one point for each day late.

5. You will present one of the articles in the text that we have not covered in class with a small group.  You will be given time in class to prepare for this presentation.

6. There will be three exams during the semester. The first exam is on Thursday February 12.  The second exam is on Tuesday March 17.  The final exam is on Thursday April 30 at 11:30 AM for the 12:30 PM class and Tuesday May 5 at 3 PM for the 3:30 PM class.

7. Each exam is worth 20 points.  Make-up exams will not be available, except in extraordinary circumstances. The exams for this course include definitions, concepts, and arguments argument based on the assigned readings, handouts, and class discussions.  Final grades will include “plus” modifiers when appropriate.

8. The final grade will be based on the addition of the points earned on the exams and papers. A = 90+ points, B = 80+ points, and C = 70+ points.

 

Office:  Bear Hall 272 Office Hours: 
Office:  Bear Hall 272                        Tuesday       1:30 - 2:00 PM
Home Phone:  256-6419                        Wednesday   6-6:30 PM
E-mail: gauthierc@uncw.edu                         Thursday      1:30 - 2:00 PM
Website: http://people.uncw.edu/gauthierc/                        Other times by appointment  

                  

     The purpose of this course is to introduce students to the philosophical area of bioethics, the study of right and wrong behavior in the delivery of health care and medical research.  The objectives of the course are (1) to understand the ethical theories and ethical principles that apply to health care delivery and medical research, (2) to be able to explain and critically analyze arguments on opposite sides of controversial ethical issues in health care and medical research, (3) to develop a personal position on these ethical issues and be able to explain supporting arguments for this position.

 

Text: Contemporary Issues in Bioethics, Beauchamp and Walters, Sixth Edition

 

Required Readings and Discussion Topics

 

 

Thurs. Jan. 8 Syllabus  
   

 

 
Tues. Jan. 13 Ethical Theory  
  pp. 1-21  
 
Thurs. Jan.15 Ethical Principles  
  pp. 21-33  
THE PATIENT-PHYSICIAN RELATIONSHIP  

 

 
Tues. Jan.20 Professional Codes  
  The Hippocratic Oath  
  Fundamental Elements of the Patient-Physician Relationships  
  Principles of Medical Ethics  
     
Thurs. Jan. 22 Truth-telling  
  Arguments and Discussion  
  Small Group Discussion  
     
Tues. Jan. 27 Informed Consent  
  Canterbury v. Spence, pp. 139-141  
  Jay Katz, pp. 141-145  
     
Thurs. Jan. 29 Confidentiality  
  Tarasoff v. Regents of the University of California, pp. 119-123  
Mark Siegler, pp. 116-118  
     
Tues. Feb. 3 Video on the Application of Ethical Theories  
  Review of Ethical Theories  
  *CASE PAPER DUE  
     
Thurs. Feb. 5 Justice  
  Norman Daniels, pp. 46-52  
     
Tues.  Feb. 10 Review of Ethical Principles and Their Application  
  Small Group Discussion of Cases  
  Questions and Review for Exam  
     
Thurs. Feb. 12 FIRST EXAM  
 END-OF-LIFE ISSUES  

 

 

 
Tues. Feb. 17 Refusal of Medical Treatment  
  Bouvia v. Superior Court, pp. 156-159  
   
     
Thurs. Feb. 19 Cruzan v. Director, Missouri Department of Health, pp. 159-163  
   North Carolina Advance Directives  
     
Tues. Feb. 24 Active Euthanasia  
  Dan Brock, pp. 216-225  
     
Thurs. Feb. 26 Euthanasia Arguments  
  Small Group Discussion of Cases  
     
Tues. March 3 Assisted Suicide  
  Timothy Quill  
  Oregon Death with Dignity Act, pp. 201-204  
Thurs. March 5 Discussion of Assisted Suicide Interviews  
  *ASSISTED SUICIDE PAPER DUE  
  Questions and Review for Exam  
      
Tues. March 17 SECOND EXAM  
 MEDICAL RESEARCH  

 

 

 
Thurs. March 19 Research Codes  
  The Nuremberg Code, P. 354  
  The Declaration of Helsinki and Note of Clarification , pp. 355-358  
 
Tues. March 24 International Perspectives  
  Baruch Brody, pp. 365-370  
 
   
Thurs. March 26 The Tuskegee Study and the Government Response  
Gregory Pence, pp.  394-401  
  The Belmont Report  
     
Tues. March 31 Cloning Human Beings  
  Dan Brock, pp. 593-602  
  National Bioethics Advisory Commission, pp. 618-620  
     
Thurs. April 2 Discussion of Cloning Human Beings  
  Small Group Meetings to Plan Presentations  
     
SMALL GROUP

PRESENTATIONS

 

   
Tues. April 7 Small Group Presentations  
  Readings to be assigned  
     
Tues. April 14 Small Group Presentations  
Readings to be assigned
   
Thurs. April 16 Small Group Presentations  
Readings to be assigned
   
Tues. April 21 Small Group Presentations  
Readings to be assigned
     
Thurs. April 23 Small Group Presentation  
Readings to be assigned
  Questions and Review for Exam  
 
     
FINAL EXAM Thursday, April 30 at 11:30 AM  (12:30 PM class)

Tuesday, May 5 at 3 PM (3:30 PM class)