I. Ethical Reasoning

I. General Information

1. Course Title:
Medical Ethics

2. Course Prefix & Number:
PHIL 2422

3. Course Credits and Contact Hours:

Credits: 3

Lecture Hours: 3

Lab Hours: 0

4. Course Description:

This philosophy course examines moral issues arising in connection with medical practice, research, and emerging bio-technologies. Topics such as the right to healthcare, definition of health and illness, genetic counseling, bio-engineering, euthanasia, abortion, contraception, surrogate motherhood, codes of professional conduct, and allocation of scarce medical resources will be discussed within the framework of classic and contemporary ethical theories.

5. Placement Tests Required:

Accuplacer (specify test):

Writing College Level CLC or Writing College Level or Writing Honors College Level

Score:

6. Prerequisite Courses:

There are no prerequisites for this course.

9. Co-requisite Courses:

There are no corequisites for this course.

II. Transfer and Articulation

1. Course Equivalency - similar course from other regional institutions:

SCSU, Phil 301 Ethics, 3 credits
Moorhead State University, Phil 300 History of Ethics, 3 credits
Bemidji State, Phil 2220 Ethics, 3 credits

III. Course Purpose

2. MN Transfer Curriculum (General Education) Courses - This course fulfills the following goal area(s) of the MN Transfer Curriculum:

• Goal 6 – Humanities and Fine Arts
• Goal 9 – Ethical and Civic Responsibility

IV. Learning Outcomes

1. College-Wide Outcomes

College-Wide Outcomes/Competencies	Students will be able to:
Apply abstract ideas to concrete situations	Accurately apply basic theoretical concepts detailed in various moral theories to specific moral issues.
Apply ethical principles in decision-making	Originate solutions to resolve controversial ethical issues using premises that are warranted, sufficient, and logically relevant.

2. Course Specific Outcomes - Students will be able to achieve the following measurable goals upon completion of the course:

• Respond critically to works in the arts and humanities.  MnTC Goal 6
• Understand those works as expressions of individual and human values within an historical and social context.  MnTC Goal 6
• Articulate an informed personal reaction to works in the arts and humanities.  MnTC Goal 6
• Engage in the creative process or interpretation of various viewpoints.  MnTC Goal 6
• Demonstrate awareness of the scope and variety of works in the arts and humanities.  MnTC Goal 6
• Examine, articulate, and apply their own ethical views.  MnTC Goal 9
• Understand and apply core concepts (e.g. politics, rights and obligations, justice, liberty) to specific issues.  MnTC Goal 9
• Analyze and reflect on the ethical dimensions of legal, social, and scientific issues.  MnTC Goal 9
• Identify ways to exercise the rights and responsibilities of citizenship.  MnTC Goal 9
• Recognize the diversity of political motivations and interests of others.  MnTC Goal 9

V. Topical Outline

Listed below are major areas of content typically covered in this course.

1. Lecture Sessions

1. Are Morals Relative?
• Classical Moral Relativism
• Problems for Classical Moral Relativism
• Moral Realism and Moral Pluralism
2. Egoism
• The Nature of Egoistic Thinking
• Contrasting Psychological Egoism and Moral Egoism
• Arguments in Opposition to Ethical Egoism
• Arguments in Support of Ethical Egoism
• Case Studies Using Ethical Egoism
3. Divine Command
• The Nature of Religion
• Contrasting Religions and Natural Law
• Arguments in Opposition to Divine Command Theory
• Arguments in Support of Divine Command Theory
• Case studies
4. Utilitarianism
• Historical Background
• The Principle of Utility
• Act-Utilitarianism and Rule-Utilitarianism
• Arguments in Support of Utilitarianism as a Normative Theory
• Critique of Utilitarianism as an Ethical Theory
• Case Studies Using Utilitarianism
5. Kantian Moral Theory
• Historical Background
• The Categorical Imperative: Universalization
• The Categorical Imperative: End-Means Principle
• Arguments in Support of Kantian Ethical Theory
• Critique of Kantian Ethical Theory
• Case Studies Using Kantian Theory
6. Rights Ethics
• Historical Background
• The Meaning and Basis of the Social Contract
• Arguments in Support of Social Contract
• Critique of Social Contract
• Case Studies using selected theories.
7. Virtue Ethics
• Historical Background
• The Meaning and Basis of Virtue Ethics: Philosophical and Religious
• Arguments in Support of Virtue Ethics
• Critique of Virtue Ethics
• Case Studies Using Virtue, Utilitarian and Duty Ethics

II. Health: The Aim of Medicine

1. Balancing public good and private choice
2. Age and healthcare accessibility

III. The Practice of Medicine

1. Medical Paternalism and Patient Autonomy
2. Privacy and Confidentiality
3. Cultural Diversity and Informed Consent
4. Culture and Medical Intervention

IV. Issues of Life and Death

1. Euthanasia
2. The Abortion Debate in the Twenty-First Century

V. Genetic Enhancement

1. Ethical Issues in Human Enhancement
2. Limitations on Scientific Research

VI. Healthcare Policy

1. The Right to Healthcare
2. Fault and the Allocation of Spare Organs