PHIL 241: Ethical Issues in Healthcare

Timetable

Tue
Feb 3

Intro: General Introduction

Essential philosophical skills.

Thu
Feb 5

Intro: Ethics

Ethics: Theory and practice.

Tue
Feb 10

Intro: Arguments

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly.
Play around in the Logic and Critical Thinking section of the Philosophy Resources page.
The Peanut Butter Argument.

Thu
Feb 12

Healthcare rights & universal healthcare

What’s not to like about universal healthcare?
Greene, Mark. “What’s Not to Like About Universal Healthcare?” (On the web.)

Tue
Feb 17

Markets: Healthcare markets

Healthcare markets & market failures.
Do some web-research to find out what people mean by ‘free market’, ‘perfect competition’, ‘pareto efficient / optimal’, and ‘market failure’.

Thu
Feb 19

Markets: Healthcare insurance

The hazards of insurance.
Do some web-research to find out what moral hazard is.

Tue
Feb 24

Markets: For markets for organs (was Feb 26)

Kidney Markets
Walsh, Dylan (2023). “Would You Sell Your Extra Kidney?” Wired. (Canvas@UD.)
“The God Squad.” Playing God? (On the Web.)

Thu
Feb 26

Markets: Erm, about those organ markets… (was Mar 3)

Koplin on Organ Markets
“Why Can’t I Buy a Kidney?” Playing God? (On the Web.)
Koplin, Julian J. (2018). “Beyond Fair Benefits: Reconsidering Exploitation Arguments Against Organ Markets.” Health Care Analysis 26(1): 33-47. (UD Library.)

Tue
Mar 3
3:40 pm

Bad Argument Assignment (was Feb 24)

In-class group project.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Thu
Mar 5

Consequentialism: The QALY

Singer on Rationing.
‘Why We Must Ration Health Care’, Peter Singer, New York Times Magazine, July 15 2009. (On the web. Also, there’s an accessible pdf version on Canvas.)
And… Tim Harford (2020). ‘The Spreadsheet of Life and Death.’ Cautionary Tales Podcast. (On the web.)

Fri
Mar 6, 4:15 pm
Roselle Center

Extra Credit: Debate – Is Biological Sex Binary?

To claim your extra credit, attend the event then post a comment, thought, or question about it in the corresponding Canvas discussion thread – Before the thread closes the day after the talk!
Free food afterwards.
Event details.

Tue
Mar 10

Consequentialism: Hold up a second on that QALY!

Brock vs. QALYs
Brock, Dan W. (2004). “Ethical Issues in the Use of Cost Effectiveness Analysis for the Prioritisation of Health Care Resources.” In Public Health, Ethics, and Equity. Anand, Sudhir, Peter, Fabienne and Sen, Amartya. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 201-223. (Canvas@UD.)

Thu
Mar 12

Reform?

Perverse Incentives
Stephen Dubner. Freakonomics Radio. How Many Doctors Does It Take To Start a Healthcare Revolution? (Read the transcript or listen to the episode on the web.)
Stephen Dubner. Freakonomics Radio. Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death By Diagnosis. (Read the transcript or listen to the episode on the web.)
Read just the abstract of: James, John T (2013). “A New, Evidence-based Estimate of Patient Harms Associated with Hospital Care.” Journal of Patient Safety 9(3): 122-128. (On the web.)

Fri
Mar 13, 4:15 pm
Gore 103

Extra Credit: Norton Lecture – Living with Artificial Agents

To claim your extra credit, attend the event then post a comment, thought, or question about it in the corresponding Canvas discussion thread – Before the thread closes the day after the talk!
Free food afterwards.
Event details.

Tue
Mar 17

Rawls: Rawls on justice

The Veil of Ignorance.
Freeman Samuel. ‘Original Position’. Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy. (On the web.) Only the introductory paragraph plus sections 2 (Original Position) and 3 (Veil of Ignorance) are required.
If you were behind the veil of ignorance, what principles would you agree to for allocating healthcare?

Thu
Mar 19

Rawls: Justice in healthcare

Rawls / Daniels Healthcare Justice.
Daniels, Norman (2001). “Justice, Health, and Health Care.” American Journal of Bioethics 1(2): 2-16. (UD Library.)

Tue
Mar 31
3:40 pm

QALY explanation

In-class group project.
Word limit: 200 words – strictly enforced.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Thu
Apr 2

Rawls: QALYs & the veil of ignorance

Carlos Doesn’t Like it Behind the Veil.
Soto, Carlos (2012). “The Veil of Ignorance and Health Resource Allocation.” Journal of Medicine and Philosophy 37(4): 387-404. (UD Library.)
What would you like to talk about for Apr 17?

Tue
Apr 7

Paper writing

The joys and perils of philosophical writing.

Thu
Apr 9

Personal responsibility

Personal and Social Responsibility for Health.
Wikler, Daniel (2004). “Personal and Social Responsibility for Health.” In Public Health, Ethics, and Equity. Anand, Sudhir, Peter, Fabienne and Sen, Amartya. Oxford, Oxford University Press: 109-134. (Canvas@UD.)

Tue
Apr 14

Personal Responsibility & Organ Allocation

Need a New Liver? Playing God podcast episode. (On the web.)

Thu
Apr 16

Student Choice: AI in Healthcare

‘Can AI Save Your Life?’ Freakonomics Radio. (On the web.)

Fri
Apr 17
11:55 pm

Proposal

Word guidance: approx. 300 words.
Optional: you may work in groups of up to 3 on any or all stages of your final project.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Tue
Apr 21

Presentations

See Canvas@UD for schedule.

Thu
Apr 23

Presentations

See Canvas@UD for schedule.

Tue
Apr 28

Presentations

See Canvas@UD for schedule.

Thu
Apr 30

Presentations

See Canvas@UD for schedule.

Fri
May 1
11:55 pm

Abstract & editorial: First version

Submit abstract and editorial in one document.
Word guidance – 1000 words (approx) – plus 150 for abstract.
Optional: you may work in groups of up to 3 for any or all stages of your final project.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Tue
May 5

Individual discussion of papers

No regular class!
Check Canvas@UD for your time.
Use the Office Hours Zoom room: See Canvas@UD.

Thu
May 7

Individual discussion of papers

No regular class!
Check Canvas@UD for your time.
Use the Office Hours Zoom room: See Canvas@UD.

Tue
May 12

Mutual aid & comfort

This is the speed-dating version of your presentations. Come prepared (1) to give a focused overview of where you are in your / your group's project; and (A) to give thoughtful feedback on what others are working on. If you judge that it would be more productive to use the time to advance your project in some other way (e.g. if you are coauthoring and class is one of the few times you can all meet), feel free to do so. Just make sure you are not just procrastinating or dodging challenging feedback - it's best to get that early and often.

Thu
May 14

Optional discussion of projects

Come along if you want a final chat about your final submission.
Use the Office Hours Zoom room: See Canvas@UD.

Thu
May 14
11:55 pm

Abstract & editorial: Final version

Submit abstract and editorial in one document.
Word guidance – 1000 words (approx) – plus 150 for abstract.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Ethical Issues in Healthcare