Medical Ethics (Summer 2008)
Description
This course explores a range of concepts and principles for framing and addressing moral questions in medical practices. Topics include: moral theory and methodology; concepts of life, death, health, disease, and well-being; reverence and respect for life; the right to life, the right to death, and the duty to die; autonomy, paternalism, and trust; conflicts of interest; criteria for rationing scarce medical resources; sentience, pain, and empathy; animal, fetal, and clinical research; and more.
In addition to philosophy articles, we will read medical case studies and newspaper/magazine articles. We may also watch some movies and TV shows. No background in philosophy or medicine is assumed.
General Information
- Time: MTWR 9:30-11:05 (June 30-August 7)
- Place: 194 Mercer, #201
- Instructor: Jeff Sebo
- Email: jeffsebo at gmail dot com
- Office: 5 Washington Place, #409
- Office hours: by appointment
Books
All readings will come from either (a) one of the required books, (b) a link on this webpage, or (c) an email attachment.
There are three required books for this course:
- Carol Levine, Taking Sides: Clashing Views on Bioethical Issues, 12th edition (McGraw-Hill/Dushkin)
- Gregory Pence, Medical Ethics, 5th edition (McGraw-Hill) (The 4th edition is fine too.)
- Robert Veatch, The Basics of Bioethics, 2nd edition (Prentice-Hall)
You can buy these from the bookstore, but you may prefer to buy them from someplace like Amazon instead.
Grading
Your grades will be determined as follows:
- Tests (70%): There will be three in-class, essay-based tests. Test 1 (20%) will cover the first two weeks, Test 2 (20%) will cover the next two weeks, and Test 3 (30%) will be a comprehensive final exam, with an emphasis on recent material. You can opt out of Test 3 if you write a paper (described below).
- Quizzes (15%): Each lecture will begin with a short quiz covering that day's reading and the previous day's lecture. The questions will be easy as long as you read and come to class. For example, if we were reading Harry Potter, I might ask, "Where does Harry have a scar?" If you were at least semi-conscious when you did the reading, you would say "his forehead", and you would get full credit.
- Participation (15%): I want this to be a discussion-based class, so I encourage you to talk as much as you like.
- Paper (optional): Instead of taking Test 3, you can write a 2000-3000 word paper on the topic of your choice. (You should clear the topic with me in advance, though -- by the end of week 4 at the latest.) Your paper should be argumentative, i.e., you should argue for or against one of the positions we discussed in class.
Schedule
Week 1
- 6/30 - Introduction
- 7/1 - Moral Methodology
- 7/2 - Consequentialism
- Jeremy Bentham, "The Principle of Utility"
- John Stuart Mill, "In Defense of Utilitarianism"
- 7/3 - Deontology
- Immanuel Kant, "The Moral Law and Autonomy of the Will"
New Abortion Bill To Require Fetal Consent
Week 2
- 7/7 - Health and Well-Being
- 7/8 - Autonomy and Paternalism
- 7/9 - Mental Health
- Pence, "Involuntary Psychiatric Commitment: Joyce Brown"
- 7/10 - Test 1
Study: Most Children Strongly Opposed To Children's Healthcare
Week 3
- 7/14 - Moral Standing
- 7/15 - Life and Death
- 7/16 - The Right to Die
- 7/17 - The Duty to Die
Should Animals Be Doing More For The Animal Rights Movement?
Week 4
- 7/21 - Abortion
- Pence, "Abortion: The Trial of Kenneth Edelin"
- 7/22 - Treating Impaired Babies
- Pence, "The Ethics of Treating Impaired Babies"
- 7/23 - The Incompetent Patient
- 7/24 - Test 2
Week 5
- 7/28 - Conflicts of Interest
- Veatch, Chapter 8
- Levine, "Should doctors be able to refuse demands for 'futile' treatment?"
- 7/29 - Allocating Scarce Medical Resources
- Pence, "Allocation of Artificial and Transplantable Organs: The God Committee"
- 7/30 - Donating and Selling Body Parts
- Ian Parker, "The Gift"
- Levine, "Should there be a market in body parts?"
- 7/31 - Human Control of Life
Week 6
- 8/4 - Animal Research
- Pence, "Medical Research on Animals"
- Levine, "Should Animal Experimentation Be Permitted?"
- 8/5 - Clinical Research
- Pence, "Research on Human Subjects"
- Levine, "Should Prisoners Be Allowed to Participate in Research?"
- 8/6 - Review
- 8/7 - Test 3
Some Helpful Links