PHIL 0207 - Philosophical Foundations in Health Care Ethics

3 Credit Hours

After a brief survey of some standard ethical theories, this course will examine some of the more difficult issues in contemporary physical and mental Health Care Ethics: Ethical Principles (respect for autonomy, nonmaleficence, beneficence, justice); Beginning of Life (reproductive technologies, disposal of unused zygotes, surrogacy, abortion, stem cell research, cloning); End of Life (futile treatment, active and passive euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide); and Genetics (the eugenics movement, testing for genetic disorders, embryonic and neonatal testing). This course will also address issues of informed consent, paternalism, confidentiality, medical research, randomized clinical trials, disadvantaged populations and the distribution of health care resources.