PHL 26100 Current Issues in Biomedical Ethics

This course will examine various ethical problems and concerns that arise in the Health Sciences as well as in the fields of psychology, social work and other health-related professions. The issues will be considered both concretely and in relation to general ethical theory. Among the areas to be explored are issues concerning abortion, death and euthanasia, genetic engineering, experimentation on humans and animals, and relationships between professionals and patients, subjects or clients. Students will learn the philosophical principles as well as the practical applications of bioethics, and gain an appreciation of the social context in which bioethical discussion and debate take place. This course is useful not just for persons considering a career in the health-care fields but for anyone who may interact with the field of health care or who is or may be a recipient of care.