Philosophy (PHIL) 335
Biomedical Ethics (Revision 2)

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Delivery Mode: Individualized study online
Credits: 3
Area of Study: Humanities
Prerequisite: None
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities & Social Sciences
PHIL 335 has a Challenge for Credit option.
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 analyze new developments.
Outline
- Unit 1 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 Health Research on Humans
- Unit 7 Abortion
- Unit 8 Reproduction and Genetics
- Unit 9 Euthanasia
- Unit 10 Broadening the Agenda of Health Ethics
Learning Outcomes
When you have completed Philosophy 335, you should be able to
- effectively recognize those situations that require ethical judgment, with particular attention to those situations that are encountered by health-care professionals.
- accurately identify and understand moral issues that are faced by health-care professionals.
- develop and present arguments relevant to resolving these issues.
- critique and defend ethical judgments and points of view related to these issues.
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:
Activity | Weighting |
---|---|
Short Answer Responses | 20% |
Case Study Essay | 40% |
Final Exam | 40% |
Total | 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
Gedge, Elisabeth (Boetzkes) and Wilfrid J. Waluchow, eds. Readings in Health Care Ethics, 2nd edition. Peterborough, ON: Broadview Press, 2012.
Other Materials
All other materials are available online.
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, and 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).
Activity | Weighting |
---|---|
Case Study Essay | 40% |
Final Exam | 60% |
Total | 100% |
Undergraduate Challenge for Credit Course Registration Form
Athabasca University reserves the right to amend course outlines occasionally and without notice. Courses offered by other delivery methods may vary from their individualized-study counterparts.
Opened in Revision 2, July 30, 2013.
View previous syllabus.
Updated November 14 2018 by Student & Academic Services