Assessment

Continuous Assessment 20% + Exam 80%

Module Aims

The aim of this module is to provide foundational understanding of contemporary issues in bioethics. Students will examine the four principles [autonomy, justice, beneficence and nonmaleficence] used in the international debate on bioethical issues. The contribution of the Christian tradition and its key insights re the dignity of the human person, the limits of human stewardship and destiny of humanity will also be explored. The module utilizes contemporary scholarship in this area, both within the Catholic theological ethics and beyond. It will facilitate interdisciplinary intellectual engagement among participants. The module will enable students to ethically evaluate three contemporary issues in bioethics – the production and use of embryonic stem cells [ESC’s], the ethical issues surrounding end of life care and, finally, access to health care and the principle of justice

Indicative Syllabus

The following in an indicative syllabus

• Week One: Introduction to contemporary issues in Bioethics – Reproductive Technologies, Genetic engineering, euthanasia, embryonic stem cell production and use, health care and universal access.
• Week Two: The influence and importance of Principlism in bioethics [Autonomy, Justice, Beneficence, Nonmaleficence].
• Week Three: The Christian contribution to the debate: worldview and principles.
• Week Four: Embryonic Stem Cell production and use – key elements in the debate.
• Week Five: Key contributors and documents in the Embryonic Stem Cell debate.
• Week Six: Issues at the end of life – the extent of our obligation to sustain life.
• Week Seven: The contribution of the Catholic tradition to the end-of-life debate.
• Week Eight: The case of those in a Permanently Vegetative State [PVS]: Ongoing debate.
• Week Nine: Euthanasia and Physician Assisted Suicide: Key issues.
• Week Ten: Health care as a Universal Right?
• Week Eleven: The Catholic Social Teaching [CST] tradition in dialogue with Bioethics.
• Week Twelve: Round up and exam preparation

Learning Outcomes

• — (Comprehension): demonstrate knowledge of key concepts relevant to this module. For example, human autonomy, human dignity, the principles of justice, beneficence and nonmaleficence, human stewardship.
• — (Analysis): Be aware of the key sources of disagreement in contemporary bioethical discourse.
• — (Evaluate): be able to critically evaluate the key ethical issues in the field of bioethics.
• — (Evaluate): critically evaluate current scholarship in this area. 
• — (Synthesis): extrapolate from the Christian tradition a world view and principles that enable bioethical discourse.
• — (Application): employ the resources of the Christian tradition in a coherent manner when addressing issues arising from developments in contemporary medicine and health care.
• — (Affective): demonstrate an appreciation of the centrality of the human person and in particular, a Christian anthropology in bioethical discourse.

Bibliography

• — Corkery, Pádraig Bioethics and the Catholic Moral Tradition, Veritas, 2010
• — Ashley, Benedict M. & O’Rourke, Kevin D. Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis. Catholic Health Association of US, 1997
• — Caplan, Arthur L et al [editors], The Case of Terri Schiavo, Prometheus Books, 2006
• — Fisher, Anthony Catholic Bioethics for a New Millennium, CUP, 2012
• — Ford, Norman F When did I begin?, Cambridge University Press, 1988 --------------------- The Prenatal Person, Blackwell Publishing, 2002
• — Hamel, Ronald P & Walter, James [eds], Artificial Nutrition & Hydration and the Permanently Unconscious Patient: The Catholic Debate, Georgetown University Press, 2007
• — Jones, David albert. The Soul of the Embryo, Continuum, 2004
• — Keown, John (ed.). Euthanasia Examined. Cambridge University Press, 1995.
• — Kuhse, Helga & Singer, Peter (eds), Bioethics: An Anthology. Blackwell Publishers,1999.
• — Meilaender, Gilbert. Bioethics: A Primer for Christians, (2 ed), Eerdmans Publishing,2005.
• — O’Rourke, Kevin D. & Boyle, Philip. Medical Ethics: Sources of Catholic Teachings. Georgetown University Press, 1999
• — O Rourke, Kevin (ed, 2 nd. edition) A Primer for Health Care Ethics. Georgetown University Press, 2000
• — Sutton, Agneta. Christian Bioethics: A Guide for the Perplexed, Continuum, 2008
• — Watt, Helen, Life and Death in Health Care Ethics: A Short introduction, New York :Routledge, 2000.
• — Walter, James J & Shannon, Thomas A. Contemporary Issues in Bioethics: A Catholic Perspective. Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, 2005