PHIL 444-011: Medical Ethics

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 Resources page.
The Peanut Butter Argument.

Thu
Feb 12

The Survival Lottery

Harris’s modest proposal.
Harris, John (1975). “The Survival Lottery.” Philosophy 50(191): 81-87. (UD Library)

Tue
Feb 17
12:30 pm

Abstract of ‘The Survival Lottery’

In-class group project.
Word limit: 150 words – strictly enforced.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Thu
Feb 19

A Duty to Die?

A Duty to Die?
John Hardwig, ‘Is There a Duty to Die?’ (UD Library)

Tue
Feb 24

Euthanasia (was Mar 3)

Active & Passive Euthanasia.
James Rachels (1975). ‘Active and Passive Euthanasia.’ New England Journal of Medicine 292: 78-80. (Canvas@UD.)
The AMA has updated its view since Rachels’ paper. Check out its current opinions on withholding or withdrawing treatment, assisted suicide, and (active) euthanasia. (On the web.)

Thu
Feb 26
12:15 pm

The Limits of Autonomy

Ronald Dworkin on precedent autonomy.
Ronald Dworkin, ‘Life Past Reason.’ (Canvas@UD)
(Only to end of ‘Autonomy’ section – top of p.229)

Sun
Mar 1
11:55 pm

Quiz 1

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.
Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Mar 3
12:30 pm

Bad Argument Assignment (was Feb 24)

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

Thu
Mar 5

Review of Quiz 1

How did you get on with that first quiz?

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

Abortion 1

The state of the abortion debate.
Dobbs v. Jackson (2022). (SCOTUS). No need to read the whole thing, just the syllabus is ok. (On the web.)

Thu
Mar 12

Abortion 2

The famous Famous Violinist.
Judith Jarvis Thomson (1971). ‘A Defense of Abortion.’ Philosophy & Public Affairs 1(1): 47-66. (UD Library)

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.

Sun
Mar 15
11:55 pm

Quiz 2

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.
Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Mar 17

Abortion 3

Futures like ours.
Don Marquis (1989). ‘Why Abortion is Immoral.’ The Journal of Philosophy 8(4): 183-202. (UD Library.)

Thu
Mar 19

Selection For Disability

Everworse Sequences
Mark Greene & Steve Augello, ‘Everworse: What’s wrong with selecting for disability?’ (Canvas@UD.)

Tue
Mar 31
12:30 pm

Abstract of ‘Why We Should Allow Performance Enhancing Drugs in Sport‘ (Thursday’s reading)

No late submission accepted.
In-class group project.
Word limit: 150 words – strictly enforced.
Details on ‘Assessment’ page.

Thu
Apr 2

Human Enhancement

TBA.
Savulescu, J. A Doping Manifesto. Aeon Essays. (On the web.)

Sun
Apr 5
11:55 pm

Quiz 3

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.
Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Apr 7

US Healthcare

What’s Not to Like About Universal Healthcare?
Greene, Mark. “What’s Not to Like About Universal Healthcare?”

Thu
Apr 9

Medical Error

Perverse Incentives.
Stephen Dubner. Freakonomics Radio. ‘Bad Medicine, Part 3: Death By Diagnosis.’ (Read the transcript or listen to the episode on the web.)

Tue
Apr 14

Yay! Kidney Markets

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

Thu
Apr 16

AI in Healthcare

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

Sun
Apr 19
11:55 pm

Quiz 4

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.
Complete on Canvas@UD.

Tue
Apr 21

Cultural Competence, Healthcare, & Hispanic Communities in the US

Ethics of Cultural Competence.
Paasche-Orlow, Michael, (2004). ‘The Ethics of Cultural Competence.’ Academic Medicine 79:4, pp.347-350. (On Canvas@UD.)
Peterson-lyer, Karen. ‘Culturally Competent Care for Latino Patients.’ Markkula Center for Applied Ethics. (On the web.)
And familiarize yourself with: From Chronic to Critical – a case study.
What shall we pick for our May student choice topics?

Thu
Apr 23

Research Ethics

Responsible Conduct of Research
Have a look at UD policy on research integrity.
Read the Biomedical Engineering Society Code of Ethics. (Linked from their website’s ‘Governance’ page.)
Freakonomics. ‘Why Is There So Much Fraud in Academia?’ (On the web.)

Tue
Apr 28

Research on Human Subjects 1

Human Subject Research
The Belmont Report
The Revised Common Rule (45 CFR 46) – no need to read the whole thing, just browse around in Subpart A and get a feel for how it works.

Thu
Apr 30

Research on Children

Research on Children.
Read Subpart D of The Revised Common Rule (45 CFR 46).

Tue
May 5
12:30 pm

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

Tue
May 5
11:55 pm

Quiz 5

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.
Complete on Canvas@UD.

Thu
May 7

Student Choice: Social Media

Kbaier et al (2024). ‘Prevalence of Health Misinformation on Social Media’. Journal of Medical Internet Research. (On the web. No need to read in depth)

Tue
May 12

Student Choice: Brain Hacking

Nita Farahany on the Battle for Your Brain. Thought Economics. (On the web.)

Thu
May 14

Optional Review

Drop in if you want to chat about Q6.

Thu
May 14
11:55 pm

Quiz 6

Details on ‘Assessment’ page.
Complete on Canvas@UD.

Medical Ethics