Alma College
Class Description | Grades & Requirements | Calendar | Web Sites
PHL229: Ethics and Medicine
email: hauser@alma.edu
Office:  SAC 347 Phone: 7219
INSTRUCTOR: Larry Hauser
Office Hrs: MW: 4:00-4:50 | F: 2:30-3:20
MWF 10-11:20 by appointment
Ethics &Medicine

TEXT (required)

Biomedical Ethics (4th edition), ed. T. Mapes & D. DeGrazia, McGraw-Hill Inc.
 

CLASS DESCRIPTION

This class considers ethical issues raised by medical science and technology concerning the physician-patient relation; professional and instutitional obligations and patient rights; human and animal experimentation; mental illness, dementia, and mehtal retardation; death and decisions regarding life-sustaining treatment; suicide, active euthanasia, and the treatment of impaired infants; abortion and maternal-fetal conflicts; genetics and human reproduction; and social justice and health care policy. After a brief introductory survey of various ethical concepts, theories, and theoretical issues, students will write and present essays attempting to apply theoretical principles to resolve (or, at least, clarify) various practical ethical dillemas which -- both individually and collectively -- we face in these connections.

GRADES WILL BE BASED ON

ASSIGNMENT
DUE DATES & EXPLANATIONS
 VALUE
Homework or Quizzes
periodically
1/4 of course
Final Examination
as scheduled
1/4 of course
Term Paper
as scheduled
1/4 of course
Class Participation
paper presentation; attendance; in-class or online discussion
1/4 of course

 
COURSE RELATED WEB SITES
LH's Virtual Office:
http://members.aol.com/lshauser/virtoff.html
Alma Online Forums:
http://cicero.com.alma.edu/web
 MSU Medical Humanities Center
http://www.bioethics.msu.edu/
 
APPROXIMATE COURSE CALENDAR
Class regularly meets 2:30-3:50 MW in SAC ___ (note exceptions below) 
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Island of Lost Souls
Class Survey
Jan. 11
Ethical Theories
1-12
Jan. 13
Jan. 14
Ethical Theories:
13-24
Jan. 18
Concepts & Principles:
24-36
Jan. 20
Jan. 21
Alternative Directions & Methods: 36-46: Return Surveys
Jan. 25
Quiz: 
Organize Presentations
Jan. 27
Jan. 28
The Physician-Patient Relationship: 51-59
Feb. 1
Presentations & 
Discussion
Feb. 3
Feb. 4
Professional & Institutional Obligations & Patient Rights: 132-136
Feb. 8
Presentations & 
Discussion
Feb. 10
Feb. 11
Human and Animal Experimentation: 193-198 
Feb. 15
Presentations & 
Discussion
Feb. 17
Feb. 18
Mental Illness
252-258
Feb. 22
Presentations & 
Discussion
Feb. 24
Feb. 25
Spring
Break!
Feb. 29
Spring 
Break!
Mar. 2
Spring 
Break!
Death and Decisions to Sustain Life: 304-310
Mar. 7
Presentations &
Discussion
Mar. 9
Mar. 10
Suicide & Active Euthanasia: 368-375
Mar. 14
Presentations & 
Discussion
Mar. 16
Mar. 17
Abortion: 427-434
Mar. 21
Presentations & 
Discussion
Mar. 23
Mar. 25
Genetics and Human Reproduction: 480-488
 Mar. 28
Presentations & 
Discussion
Mar. 30
Mar. 31
Social Justice and Health-Care Policy: 554-561
 Apr. 4
Presentations & 
Discussion
Apr. 6
Apr. 7
Quiz: 
Review
Apr. 11
Quiz:
Review
Apr. 13
rewrites due
Finals
Week
 Finals
Week
Finals
Week
Finals
Week
Finals
Week
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY