This course examines the ethical implications of specific biomedical issues in the context of major ethical systems.

There are no prerequisites for this course.

At the completion of this course, the student will be able to identify and critically evaluate important controversies in healthcare and biology, such as informed consent, abortion, euthanasia in terms of majorethical theories. Specifically, the student will be able to:

• Identify, explain and evaluate the principal ethical theories, including Classical, Natural law, Kantian,Utilitarian, and social contract theories. (Relates to General Education objectives 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, 3.4 and 5.2)
• List, define and explain key concepts, such as “death", "whole brain death”, "suicide", " informed consent","extraordinary means", "euthanasia", "genetic engineering" in ART and cloning, etc (objs 1.1-1.5, 2.2-2.6,3.2-3.4)
• Apply these theories in the analysis of bioethical controversies, case studies and legal cases. (objs 2.1, 2.2,2.3, 2.5, 3.2, 3.5)
• Present effectively in writing an extended argument on a topic of bioethical importance. (objs 1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.6, 3.2-3.4, 4.1 – 4.4)
• State a thesis about a problem or text in bioethics, and provide evidence and philosophical argument informal writing and discussion, (including replies to counter-arguments) in its defense. (objs 1.1-1.5, 2.1-2.6, 3.2-3.4, 4.1 – 4.4)
• Analyze fundamental issues and problems in bioethics, and distinguish better and worse reasoning intexts concerned with bioethics. (objs 1.1-1.5, 2.2-2.6, 3.1-3.5)
• Participate and reflect on a service learning experience with a specific community in their local area, e.g.hospice, free clinic, hospital (Service Learning) (objs 1.1-1.5, 5.1,5.2, 3.1-3.5)

Possible Assignments Include: (Subject to change each semester. The actual assignments are available in the Syllabus in the Blackboard course site on the first day of classes.)

Your final grade may be based on the following scale. Please note that you must pass all of the exams in order to pass the course, regardless of your scores on the other assignments.

There are 3 exams in this course.