Ethical Dimensions in Health Care

Subject POPH90213 (2010)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2010.

Credit Points: 12.50
Level: 9 (Graduate/Postgraduate)
Dates & Locations:

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2010:

Semester 1, Parkville - Taught on campus.
Pre-teaching Period Start not applicable
Teaching Period not applicable
Assessment Period End not applicable
Last date to Self-Enrol not applicable
Census Date not applicable
Last date to Withdraw without fail not applicable


Timetable can be viewed here. For information about these dates, click here.
Time Commitment: Contact Hours: 5 x 7 hour sessions; 35 hrs (taught over 5 Saturdays over the semester)
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: -
Non Allowed Subjects: 505-400/505-500 Health, ethics and society
Core Participation Requirements: -

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Lynn Gillam, Assoc Prof Marilys Guillemin

Contact

Centre for Health & Society

OR

Academic Programs Office
Melbourne School of Population Health
Tel: +61 3 8344 9339
Fax: +61 3 8344 0824
Email: sph-gradinfo@unimelb.edu.au

Subject Overview: This subject introduces and critically examines standard conceptual approaches to health ethics and provides an introduction to conceptual approaches within other relevant disciplines. Through the employment of these different conceptual approaches, the subject challenges students to identify and critically analyse issues in professional health care practice and policy. The subject uses narratives from medicine, nursing and allied health to encourage students to explore the ethical dimensions of health care using the different disciplinary tools.
In this subject, we discuss standard approaches in health ethics to a variety of issues. For each, we will also examine intersections with other disciplinary approaches, and so explore new and different ways of looking at the issues. This approach takes the subject into relatively new territory in health care ethics. Throughout the course, a common theme will be the nexus between theory and practice. Opportunities for students to reflect on their own experience and professional practice will be built in.

Objectives: It is intended that students completing this subject will:
  • have developed advanced understanding of the concepts and standard theoretical approaches in health ethics
  • have gained an understanding of conceptual approaches used in social sciences disciplines relevant to health ethics
  • be able to apply the concepts and approaches covered in the subject to professional health care practice
  • be able to use these conceptual approaches to critically analyse the ethical dimensions of current health practices and policy
  • develop an openness to critiques of standard approaches in health ethics
Assessment:
  • Critical analysis of set readings 1000 wds - 20%, due early in semester
  • Critical reflection on narrative 1000 wds - 20%, due mid semester
  • Essay (3,000 words) – 60%, due at the end of semester
Prescribed Texts: Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings.
Recommended Texts: None
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Upon completion of this subject a student should have gained the following skills:
  • critical analysis of academic writing
  • ability to formulate and support an argument
  • ability to comprehend and use complex abstract concepts
  • ability to make connections between theoretical concepts and everyday practice
Related Course(s): Master of Health Social Sciences
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Social Sciences
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Social Health

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