Philosophy (PHIL) 335

Overview

This course provides an introduction to selected ethical problems associated with health and health care in Canada and more globally. For instance, how should we allocate resources to health care, as compared with other initiatives influencing our health at the population level (education, social services, preventive public health measures)? What is the character of morally appropriate therapeutic relationships? How should we regulate new reproductive technologies? What particular moral problems are associated with abortion, euthanasia, and research on human subjects? Students will become familiar with traditional ethical theories and some recent challenges to them. Through readings, cases, and written work, students will learn to consider applications of theoretical approaches to current moral dilemmas in health and health care, and will develop skills necessary to critically analyse new developments.

Outline

Unit 1: Introduction: Ethical Dimensions of Health and Health Care

Unit 2: Ethical Theory and Moral Reasoning

Unit 3: Resource Allocation

Unit 4: Health Care Relationships

Unit 5: Informed Consent

Unit 6: Ethical Dimensions of Research on Humans

Unit 7: Abortion

Unit 8: Reproduction and Genetics

Unit 9: Death and Dying

Unit 10: Broadening the Agenda of Health Ethics

Evaluation

To receive credit for PHIL 335, you must submit every piece of written work and achieve a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 percent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Tutor-marked Exercise	Case Study	Final Examination	Total
20%	40%	40%	100%

The final examination for this course must be taken online with an AU-approved exam invigilator at an approved invigilation centre. It is your responsibility to ensure your chosen invigilation centre can accommodate online exams. For a list of invigilators who can accommodate online exams, visit the Exam Invigilation Network.

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Other Materials

The course materials include a study guide, a student manual and a reading file.

Challenge for Credit Course Overview

The Challenge for Credit process allows students to demonstrate that they have acquired a command of the general subject matter, knowledge, intellectual and/or other skills that would normally be found in a university level course.

Full information for the Challenge for Credit can be found in the Undergraduate Calendar.

• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Policy
• Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Procedures

Challenge Evaluation

To receive credit for the PHIL 335 challenge registration, you must achieve an overall grade of at least “D” (50 percent).

Case Study	Final Exam	Total
40%	60%	100%

Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form

• Challenge for Credit Form