Bioethics (PHIL 235)

Manchester University, Spring 2016 Instructor: Steve Naragon
Welcome! Course Objectives Course Requirements Writing Schedule Glossary Resources Philosophy FAQ Latin Phrases Make More Money! [MU DTL site] [Instructor Homepage] [Registrar] [Dept. of Philosophy & Religious Studies]	Reading and Assignment Schedule Required Texts • Robert M. Veatch, Amy M. Haddad, and Dan C. English, Case Studies in Biomedical Ethics, 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2015) [ISBN-13: 978-0199946563] • Occasional handouts (available through links on this page) In these readings, you will likely encounter many words that you do not know. Some of these will be medical terms, some will be philosophical terms, and some may be part of a general vocabulary that is larger than your own. You must rise to the challenge in all three of these areas, and learn those words! I have developed an online bioethics glossary (see the link in the menu to the left) of which I expect you to make active and constant use; it is aimed primarily at the philosophical vocabulary found in bioethics. For terms not found there, consult any good dictionary. How to Succeed in this Class First, be sure to show up for class. Second, show up prepared to talk and ask questions. The best way to be prepared is to set aside about two hours of your time in order to do the following: (a) Read through the list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” listed with each day (on this page). (b) Work through the assigned readings, making notes in the margins as you go — and be sure to check the relevant entries in the Bioethics Glossary, since some of what you need to know is in the Glossary, but not the Veatch text. (c) Re-read that list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” and consider whether you know how to do those things yet; if you don't, then return to the assigned “Readings” and the Bioethics Glossary, and study them some more until you do. Repeat steps (a) through (c) as needed. (d) When you have a little extra time, take a look at some of the “Other Resources”. They are usually pretty interesting, and they will often give you a different angle on the topic being considered. If you want, write up an Extra Credit Journal on one of these items. If you follow this procedure consistently during the term — and if you put your best effort into the writing assignments — then you should do well on the daily quizzes, you should be ready for the exams, you will do well in the course, and you will learn quite a lot of bioethics. Assignments Due dates for the Discussion Forum postings/comments and Case Study postings are listed below. The Case Study postings are due before class, while the Discussion Forum postings are due by the end of the day (midnight). Any extra credit journals are always due three days after the topic was listed (under “Other Resources”), although any from the end of the term are due by Thursday, May 5. All of these are to be submitted through a drop box in D2L. Late work can still be submitted, but it will be penalized. I encourage you to submit work early, when you can. Please note: These reading materials are not like the Sunday cartoons or some easy-reading blogsite. You will need to read and re-read this material, taking notes to help you follow the line of thought. There will be a quiz on the readings about every other class session. To prepare for these, you should look at the items under “What you need to know how to do” for that day, read the materials closely, then re-examine that list of what you are supposed to know how to do, and re-read the material, if necessary. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to understand the readings!
Moral Theory and Practice Thu, Jan 28 DF #1 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (1) From Moral Intuitions to Moral Theory [show] Tue, Feb 2 Comments on DF #1 are due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (2) Ethical Subjectivism and Ethical Objectivism [show] Thu, Feb 4 (3) Two Moral Theories [show] Tue, Feb 9 (4) A Model for Problem-Solving [show] Thu, Feb 11 Case study #1 is due now (see D2L) [rubric] (5) Values and Moral Judgment [show] Principles in Medical Ethics Tue, Feb 16 (6) Beneficence and Nonmaleficence [show] Thu, Feb 18 DF #2 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (7) Distributive Justice [show] Tue, Feb 23 Case study #2 is due now (see D2L) [rubric] Comments on DF #2 are due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (8) Autonomy [show] Thu, Feb 25 (9) Veracity and Fidelity [show] Tue, Mar 1 — Exam #1 — Matters of Life and Death Thu, Mar 3 Case study #3 is due now (see D2L) [rubric] (10) Killing and Letting Die [show] Tue, Mar 8 (11) Assisted Suicide [show] Thu, Mar 10 Case study #4 is due now (see D2L) [rubric] (12) Death and the Incompetent [show] Tue, Mar 15 DF #3 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (13) Abortion: Whose Body? [show] Thu, Mar 17 Comments on DF #3 are due at midnight, March 18 (see D2L) [rubric] (14) Abortion: Rights and Duties [show]	—— Spring Break —— Tue, Mar 29 (15) Impaired Infants [show] Thu, Mar 31 (16) Genetic Screening [show] Tue, Apr 5 (17) Surrogate Mothers [show] Thu, Apr 7 — Exam #2 — Mental Health and Confidentiality Tue, Apr 12 (18) Mental Health and Behavior Control [show] Thu, Apr 14 (19) Confidentiality [show] Allocating Scarce Resources Tue, Apr 19 DF #4 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (20) Organ Transplants [show] Thu, Apr 21 Case study #5 is due now (see D2L) [rubric] (21) Health Insurance [show] Tue, Apr 26 Comments on DF #4 are due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric] (22) Healthcare Rationing [show] Research and Treatment Thu, Apr 28 Case study #6 is due now (see D2L) [rubric] (23) Experimentation on Human Subjects [show] Tue, May 3 (24) Research and the Public Good [show] Thu, May 5 (25) Consent and Refusing Treatment [show] Finals Week — Exam #3 — Tuesday, May 10, 3:30-5:20 p.m.
Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 2 May 2016

Bioethics (PHIL 235)

Reading and Assignment Schedule

Required Texts

• Robert M. Veatch, Amy M. Haddad, and Dan C. English, Case Studies in Biomedical Ethics, 2nd ed. (Oxford University Press, 2015) [ISBN-13: 978-0199946563]

• Occasional handouts (available through links on this page)

In these readings, you will likely encounter many words that you do not know. Some of these will be medical terms, some will be philosophical terms, and some may be part of a general vocabulary that is larger than your own.

You must rise to the challenge in all three of these areas, and learn those words! I have developed an online bioethics glossary (see the link in the menu to the left) of which I expect you to make active and constant use; it is aimed primarily at the philosophical vocabulary found in bioethics. For terms not found there, consult any good dictionary.

How to Succeed in this Class

First, be sure to show up for class. Second, show up prepared to talk and ask questions. The best way to be prepared is to set aside about two hours of your time in order to do the following:

(a) Read through the list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” listed with each day (on this page).

(b) Work through the assigned readings, making notes in the margins as you go — and be sure to check the relevant entries in the Bioethics Glossary, since some of what you need to know is in the Glossary, but not the Veatch text.

(c) Re-read that list of “WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW HOW TO DO” and consider whether you know how to do those things yet; if you don't, then return to the assigned “Readings” and the Bioethics Glossary, and study them some more until you do. Repeat steps (a) through (c) as needed.

(d) When you have a little extra time, take a look at some of the “Other Resources”. They are usually pretty interesting, and they will often give you a different angle on the topic being considered. If you want, write up an Extra Credit Journal on one of these items.

If you follow this procedure consistently during the term — and if you put your best effort into the writing assignments — then you should do well on the daily quizzes, you should be ready for the exams, you will do well in the course, and you will learn quite a lot of bioethics.

Assignments

Due dates for the Discussion Forum postings/comments and Case Study postings are listed below. The Case Study postings are due before class, while the Discussion Forum postings are due by the end of the day (midnight).

Any extra credit journals are always due three days after the topic was listed (under “Other Resources”), although any from the end of the term are due by Thursday, May 5. All of these are to be submitted through a drop box in D2L. Late work can still be submitted, but it will be penalized. I encourage you to submit work early, when you can.

Please note: These reading materials are not like the Sunday cartoons or some easy-reading blogsite. You will need to read and re-read this material, taking notes to help you follow the line of thought. There will be a quiz on the readings about every other class session. To prepare for these, you should look at the items under “What you need to know how to do” for that day, read the materials closely, then re-examine that list of what you are supposed to know how to do, and re-read the material, if necessary. Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to understand the readings!

Moral Theory and Practice

Thu, Jan 28

DF #1 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(1) From Moral Intuitions to Moral Theory [show]

Tue, Feb 2

Comments on DF #1 are due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(2) Ethical Subjectivism and Ethical Objectivism [show]

Thu, Feb 4

(3) Two Moral Theories [show]

Tue, Feb 9

(4) A Model for Problem-Solving [show]

Thu, Feb 11

Case study #1 is due now (see D2L) [rubric]

(5) Values and Moral Judgment [show]

Principles in Medical Ethics

Tue, Feb 16

(6) Beneficence and Nonmaleficence [show]

Thu, Feb 18

DF #2 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(7) Distributive Justice [show]

Tue, Feb 23

Case study #2 is due now (see D2L) [rubric]

Comments on DF #2 are due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(8) Autonomy [show]

Thu, Feb 25

(9) Veracity and Fidelity [show]

Tue, Mar 1

— Exam #1 —

Matters of Life and Death

Thu, Mar 3

Case study #3 is due now (see D2L) [rubric]

(10) Killing and Letting Die [show]

Tue, Mar 8

(11) Assisted Suicide [show]

Thu, Mar 10

Case study #4 is due now (see D2L) [rubric]

(12) Death and the Incompetent [show]

Tue, Mar 15

DF #3 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(13) Abortion: Whose Body? [show]

Thu, Mar 17

Comments on DF #3 are due at midnight, March 18 (see D2L) [rubric]

(14) Abortion: Rights and Duties [show]

—— Spring Break ——

Tue, Mar 29

(15) Impaired Infants [show]

Thu, Mar 31

(16) Genetic Screening [show]

Tue, Apr 5

(17) Surrogate Mothers [show]

Thu, Apr 7

— Exam #2 —

Mental Health and Confidentiality

Tue, Apr 12

(18) Mental Health and Behavior Control [show]

Thu, Apr 14

(19) Confidentiality [show]

Allocating Scarce Resources

Tue, Apr 19

DF #4 is due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(20) Organ Transplants [show]

Thu, Apr 21

Case study #5 is due now (see D2L) [rubric]

(21) Health Insurance [show]

Tue, Apr 26

Comments on DF #4 are due at midnight (see D2L) [rubric]

(22) Healthcare Rationing [show]

Research and Treatment

Thu, Apr 28

Case study #6 is due now (see D2L) [rubric]

(23) Experimentation on Human Subjects [show]

Tue, May 3

(24) Research and the Public Good [show]

Thu, May 5

(25) Consent and Refusing Treatment [show]

Finals Week

— Exam #3 —

Tuesday, May 10, 3:30-5:20 p.m.

Manchester University // Registrar // Department of Philosophy and Religious Studies // Last updated: 2 May 2016