PHIL 309: Bioethics

PHIL 309-005: Bioethics
(Fall 2019)

10:30 AM to 11:45 AM TR

Krug Hall 19

Section Information for Fall 2019

  • Fulfills the requirement for a course in ethics, social and political philosophy for the philosophy major.

In this class students will: study the history of bioethics; learn the essential ethical theories, concepts and principles used in bioethics; and practice using these theories, concepts and principles to identify, analyze, and act on concerns that arise in the key domains of bioethics: research with humans, patient care, and public and global health.

The course begins with a careful reading of Rebecca Skloot’s book, The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, as a case study of some of the key issues in bioethics that arise in these domains. From there, students learn how the field emerged; its key concepts, drawn from moral philosophy; and examine specific topics such as: gene editing; vaccine policy; responsibilities for family caregiving and social policy for caregivers; physician-aided dying; health and hospital policy for vulnerable patients; and the fair allocation of health resources. Requirements include a research project completed in three stages and culminating in a paper, a formal presentation, and a final exam.

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Course Information from the University Catalog

Credits: 3

Examines some major moral issues involved in practice and research in medicine and health care. Topics to be chosen from medical experimentation, definition of death, physician-assisted dying, genetics and human reproduction, distribution of scarce resources, fertility, and organ transplants. Limited to three attempts.
Mason Core: Synthesis
Schedule Type: Lecture
Grading:
This course is graded on the Undergraduate Regular scale.

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