PHIL 242: Medical Ethics (UW-Seattle) Summer 2013 A-term

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1 INTRODUCTION PHIL 242: Medical Ethics (UW-Seattle) Summer 2013 A-term The philosophical area of medical ethics is vibrant, in part, because practices and advances in the medical field, in both clinical and research contexts, present difficult moral dilemmas. The task of the medical ethicist is to clarify the issues that arise as well as try to provide answers. In this course we will look at some of the prevalent issues, through the use of illustrative cases and theoretical arguments. Topics will include genetic testing, euthanasia, physician-assisted suicide, cloning, the use of humans and animals in medical research, the importance of truth-telling and informed consent, and justice in healthcare. ASSIGNMENTS AND GRADING 1. Active Engagement Regular engagement with the issues in this course is essential to understanding why the field of medical ethics is so important. There will be several kinds of assignments that encourage this kind of engagement. On each weekend there will be one discussion board assignment (8 X 5 pts. each = 40 pts.). There will be short in-class writing assignments and group assignments (10 X 3 pts. each = 30 pts.). Finally, you are responsible for demonstrating consistent preparation for class. This will require regular attendance and active discussion involvement. (30 pts.). [100 pts. total] 2. Writing Assignments There will be three writing assignments a timed online writing assignment (25 pts.), a short paper (2-3 pages, 75 pts.), and a longer paper, with graded components (4-5 pages, 150 pts.) dealing with some of the issues that we cover in the course. Late papers will be accepted up to three days late with a twenty-five percent reduction. [250 pts. total] 3. Final Exam There will be a comprehensive take-home final exam, the details of which I will provide later in the term. [50 pts.] GRADE BREAKDOWN Active Engagement Written Assignments Exams Total: 100 pts. 250 pts. 50 pts. 400 pts.

2 TEXTS Required texts available in the University Bookstore: Bioethics: An Anthology, ed. by Helga Kuhse and Peter Singer. 2 nd edition. Malden MA: Blackwell Publishing, (E) Electronic versions of some of the material will be available on the course website CLASS SCHEDULE Note: I reserve the right to change the syllabus or the schedule for any reason. Week 1 Ethical Theory Tom L. Beauchamp, Ethical Theory and Bioethics. (E) Beginning of Life Laura M. Purdy, Genetics and Reproductive Risk: Can Having Children be Immoral? Adrienne Asch, Prenatal Diagnosis and Selective Abortion: A Challenge to Practice and Policy Ruth Chadwick and Mairi Levitt, Genetic Technology: A Threat to Deafness. pp (Video) Sound and Fury Dena S. Davis, Genetic Dilemmas and the Child s Right to an Open Future Week 2 End of Life Ethics of Care Nel Noddings, Why Care About Caring? from Caring: A Feminine Approach to Ethics and Moral Education [E]

3 Euthanasia, Killing vs. Letting Die Germain Grisez and Joseph M. Boyle, Jr., The Morality of Killing: A Traditional View (Video) Dax s Case James Rachels, Active and Passive Euthanasia Winston Nesbitt, Is Killing No Worse Than Letting Die? Helga Kuhse, Why Killing is Not Always Worse and Sometimes Better Than Letting Die Neil Campbell, When Care Cannot Cure: Medical Problems in Seriously Ill Babies Physician-Assisted Death Netherlands law, Oregon law, Washington law (E) Chris Hill, The Note Daniel Callahan, When Self-Determination Runs Amok John Lachs, When Abstract Moralizing Runs Amok Peter Admiraal, Listening and Helping to Die: The Dutch Way Week 3 Valuing Life Genetic enhancement Jonathan Glover, Questions About Some Uses of Genetic Engineering David B. Resnik, The Moral Significance of the Therapy-Enhancement Distinction in Human Genetics Eugenics Allen Buchanan, Dan Brock, Norman Daniels, Daniel Wikler, Eugenics and Its Shadow from From Chance to Choice. (E) Stephen Jay Gould, Carrie Buck s Daughter. (E) Cloning Dena Davis, Cloning and Other Enhancements from Genetic Dilemmas. (E) Michael Tooley, The Moral Status of the Cloning of Humans Leon R. Kass, The Wisdom of Repugnance. (E)

4 Human Testing Nuremburg Code (E) World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki (E) Henry K. Beecher, Ethics and Clinical Research Benjamin Freedman, Equipoise and the Ethics of Clinical Research Samuel Hellman, The Patient and the Public Good Animal Testing Jerrold Tannenbaum & Andrew N. Rowan, Rethinking the Morality of Animal Research. [E] Immanuel Kant, Duties Towards Animals Jeremy Bentham, A Utilitarian View Peter Singer, All Animals are Equal D. Thomas, Laboratory Animals and the Art of Empathy. [E] R. G. Frey and Sir William Paton, Vivisection, Morals and Medicine: An Exchange Week 4 Values in Life Truth-Telling Immanuel Kant, On a Supposed Right to Lie from Altruistic Motives R. Peleg, Is Truth a Supreme Value? [E] Roger Higgs, On Telling Patients the Truth T. Vince & A. Petros, Should Children s Autonomy be Respected by Telling Them of Their Imminent Death? [E] Alexander Burnfield, Doctor- Patient Dilemmas in Multiple Sclerosis. [E] Benjamin Freedman, Offering Truth: One Ethical Approach to the Uninformed Cancer Patient [E] Informed Consent John Stuart Mill, On Liberty Justice Benjamin N. Cardozo, From Schloendorff v. New York Hospital. 624 Robert M. Veatch, Abandoning Informed Consent Julian Savulescu, Rational Desires and the Limitation of Life-Sustaining Treatment Ruth Macklin, The Doctor-Patient Relationship in Different Cultures

5 Value of Life Justice as Fairness John Rawls, selections from A Theory of Justice [E] Macro-Allocation of Healthcare Michael Lockwood, Quality of Life and Resource Allocation Norman Daniels, A Lifespan Approach to Health Care Micro-Allocation of Healthcare Paul T. Menzel, Rescuing Lives: Can t We Count? Nicholas Rescher, The Allocation of Exotic Medical Lifesaving Therapy John Harris, The Value of Life Robert M. Veatch, How Age Should Matter: Justice as the Basis for Limiting Care to the Elderly