PHIL 210 Biomedical Ethics explores ethical moral questions that arise in the context of healthcare. Students will engage with these questions by learning ethical theory and by studying challenging cases. They will outline the relevant features of real life examples, weigh moral considerations, and practice articulating recommendations about what to do. The course covers biomedical topics such as autonomy, informed consent, surrogate decision-making, traumatic brain injury, refusing care, medical assistance in dying, assisted reproduction, abortion, public health, organ donation, genetic screening and therapy, research and experimentation, rural medicine, and global health intervention. While this course is geared primarily to Rural Pre-Medicine students, it may be of interest to anyone concerned with biomedical research and healthcare.
Prerequisites: English Studies 12 or English First Peoples 12 or ENGL 60 with a minimum grade of 60%
Accessibility Services Notice
Students who would like an academic accommodation and who have a documented disability should contact Accessibility Services, if they have not already done so.Course Details| Total number of weeks | 15 |
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| Total Credits | |
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| Total Hours | 45 |
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Typical hours per week breakdown| Lecture | 3 |
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Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion of this course, the learner will be able to:
- Participate in a discussion-based learning environment about controversial medical and ethical topics in a respectful and collegial manner
- Read, write, and communicate about philosophy at an intermediate level
- Outline major ethical issues in medical practice and research and how they relate to underlying values
- Identify and justify the professional and fiduciary responsibilities of healthcare providers
- Analyze and articulate the ethical dimensions of biomedical cases
- Formulate arguments about ethical issues that use evidence and reason to support claims
Teaching and Learning Approach
This class requires active participation. Lectures, videos and teaching of skills are combined with interactive
exercises, group discussion, and online activities. Studied concepts will be practiced through assignments, which
incorporate contemporary news, recent medical cases, and professional articles, allowing the student to apply
newly constructed concepts, skills, and understanding.Learning Resources
Required:
Biomedical Ethics: A Canadian Focus. ed. Fisher, Russell, Browne, and Burkholder. 3rd edition. Don Mills:
Oxford University Press.
(an electronic copy of the textbook can be rented through vitalsource: https://www.vitalsource.com/en-
ca/products/biomedical-ethics-v9780199022298)
Additional articles, videos, and readings will be available online
Recommended:
Gawande, Atul. 2014. Being Mortal. New York: Metropolitan Books.Detailed Course Content, Topics, and Sequence Covered
1. Ethical Theory, Critical Reasoning, and Biomedical Ethics
2. Medical Decision-Making: The Role of the Provider in the Patient-Provider Relationship
3. Medical Decision-Making: Competence, Capacity, and Advanced Directives
4. Medical Decision-Making: Refusing Care, Vitalism, and Sanctity of Life vs. Quality of Life
5. End of Life Care: Traumatic Brain Injury and Incapacitated Patients
6. End of Life Care: Medical Assistance in Dying
7. Catch Up, Review, and Midterm Exam
8. Reproduction: Assisted Reproduction and Selling Reproductive Materials/Services
9. Reproduction: Prenatal Screening and Abortion
10. Genetics: Genetic Testing. Research, Enhancement vs. Therapy
11. Resource Allocation: Access to Care, Organ Donation, and Setting Priorities
12. Public Health: Vaccination, Quarantine, and Harm Reduction
13. Health Systems: Rural Health, Structural Inequality, and Indigenous Health
14. Global Health: Moral Obligations to the World's Poor and Socio-Political and Cultural Differences in Standards of Care
15. Final ExamAssessment
| Title | Learning Outcomes | Value |
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| Participation Quizzes and | (assessing learning outcome 1) | 5% |
| Assignments | (assessing learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | 25% |
| Case Presentation | (assessing learning outcomes 6) | 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 15 |
| Midterm Exam | (assessing learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | 20% |
| Final Project | (assessing learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | 15% |
| Final Exam | (assessing learning outcomes 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) | 20% |
| Total | 100% |
Grading Table
Standard Academic and Career Programs Grading Table
| Percentage |
Letter Grade |
GPA |
| 90-100 |
A+ |
4.33 |
| 85-89 |
A |
4.00 |
| 80-84 |
A- |
3.67 |
| 76-79 |
B+ |
3.33 |
| 72-75 |
B |
3.00 |
| 68-71 |
B- |
2.67 |
| 64-67 |
C+ |
2.33 |
| 60-63 |
C |
2.00 |
| 55-59 |
C- |
1.67 |
| 50-54 |
P |
1.00 |
| 0-49 |
F |
0.00 |
| |
DNW |
0.00 |
See the Academic Calendar for General Information including how to withdraw from course(s) and other regulations.
Disclaimer
Information contained in this course outline is correct at the time of publication. Content of the course is revised on an ongoing basis to ensure relevance to changing educational, employment and market needs. The instructor will endeavor to provide notice of changes to students as soon as possible. The instructor reserves the right to add or delete material from courses.