MCCCD Official Course Competencies:

PHI213  1994 Fall – 2010 Spring

Medical and Bio-Ethics

1.

Identify and explain ethical theories that are used to establish arguments related to moral problems in medicine and biology. (I)

2.

Apply ethical theories and moral principles to the consideration of contemporary problems in medicine and biology. (I, II)

3.

Compose oral and written discourse that defends an ethical position related to moral problems in medicine and biology. (II)

4.

Analyze and critique ethical arguments on moral problems in medicine and biology. (II)

MCCCD Official Course Outline:

PHI213  1994 Fall – 2010 Spring

Medical and Bio-Ethics

I. Ethical Theories and Moral Principles

A. Utilitarianism

B. Kant and Ross

C. Natural law

D. Rawls' theory of justice

II. Application of Ethical Theories to Contemporary problems

A. Abortion

1. Legal and social history

2. Moral status of fetus

3. Women's rights

B. Impaired infants

1. Genetic defects

2. Quality of life

C. Euthanasia

1. Active vs. passive

2. Voluntary vs. non-voluntary

3. Living wills

D. AIDS

1. Mandatory testing

2. Confidentiality

3. Notification of partners

4. Insurance discrimination

E. Patient's rights

1. Paternalism

2. Professional responsibilities of caregivers

F. Medical experimentation

1. Drug testing protocols

2. Informed consent

3. Placebos

4. Research on children, animals, prisoners

G. Genetic intervention

1. Research

2. Screening

3. Diagnosis and counseling

4. Gene therapy

5. Eugenics

6. Bio-hazards

H. Reproductive control

1. Artificial insemination

2. In vitro fertilization

3. Fetal research

4. Genetic repair

5. Surrogacy

I. Medical resources

1. Control and distribution

2. Transplants

3. Fetal cell implantation

J. Health care

1. Rationing

2. HMO's

3. Cost/benefit analysis

4. Legal and political rights

K. Other current issues