COURSE DESCRIPTION

This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the fundamentals of bioethics, the interdisciplinary field that examines ethical issues arising from advances in medicine, biotechnology, biology, and healthcare. Through five sequential study periods, students progress from practical considerations of professional conduct and conscience in the face of medical innovations, to foundational concepts and principles, philosophical analysis, clinical applications, and advanced critical reasoning using puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments. The curriculum equips students with the analytical tools, ethical frameworks, and reflective skills needed to navigate complex real-world dilemmas in healthcare, research, policy, and public life.

COURSE TEACHING OBJECTIVES

– To develop a clear understanding of bioethics as applied ethics in the life sciences and its relevance to professional conduct and conscience.

– To master foundational principles, moral theories, and philosophical methods in bioethics.

– To apply ethical analysis to practical clinical cases and emerging technological challenges.

– To engage critically with thought experiments and paradoxes to sharpen moral reasoning.

– To foster cultural sensitivity, global awareness, and evidence-based ethical decision-making in biomedical contexts.

COURSE STUDENT LEARNING OUTCOMES

Upon successful completion of the course, the student will be able to:

1. Identify and analyze bioethical issues arising from medical and technological advancements, with particular attention to the role of conscience and professional conduct.
2. Explain and apply core bioethical principles and moral theories to real-world scenarios.
3. Critically evaluate philosophical arguments and debates in bioethics (e.g., moral status, enhancement, end-of-life issues).
4. Utilize case-based reasoning and the principlist approach in clinical and policy contexts.
5. Engage with puzzles, paradoxes, and thought experiments to explore complex ethical dilemmas and articulate reasoned positions.
6. Integrate textbook material with multimedia resources to produce reflective analyses and communicate ethical reasoning effectively.

Organization of Course Studies

The course is organized into five study periods (typically 2 weeks each, though self-paced). Each period includes intensive reading of the assigned textbook, viewing of the supplementary video, and a short response paper or ethical analysis (500–1,000 words) reflecting on the material and its application.