Health Ethics

Subject POPH90207 (2012)

Note: This is an archived Handbook entry from 2012.

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

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2012:

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: 24 hrs; One 2 hour seminar per week
Total Time Commitment: 120 hours
Prerequisites: None
Corequisites: None
Recommended Background Knowledge: This subject is intended to be accessible to students who have no specific background knowledge related to ethics or public health. Generic academic skills are required.
Non Allowed Subjects: -
Core Participation Requirements: For the purposes of considering request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Cwth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this subject are articulated in the Subject Description, Subject Objectives, Generic Skills and Assessment Requirements of this entry.
The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the disability support scheme can be found at the Disability Liaison Unit website.

Coordinator

Assoc Prof Lynn Gillam

Contact

Centre for Health and Society
Melbourne School of Population Health

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 students to the classical debates in bioethics. It focuses on the ethical implications of advances in medical research and technology for public health. Topics include: life and death issues (eg active and passive euthanasia, abortion, and organ transplantation), reproductive and genetic technologies (such as cloning, pre-natal diagnosis and embryos research) and issues arising from health prevention and promotion strategies. Students will be introduced to theoretical frameworks for thinking about moral problems and learn moral concepts and approaches for the analysis of key debates. Theoretical concepts will include: the notion of moral status, the concept of personhood, the acts and omissions distinction, the doctrine of Double Effect, obligations to future persons and the non-identity problem.
Objectives: The broad goals of this subject are to
  • stimulate and broaden moral imagination.
  • explore other points of view
  • indentify and challenge moral intuitions
  • develop more reflective and informed moral commitments

It is intended that after completing this subject students will
  • Understand key concepts and approaches in health ethics
  • Appreciate the theoretical foundations of these concepts and approaches
  • Be aware of the complexities of interpreting and using these concepts.
  • Be able to use these concepts and approaches to perform an ethical analysis of health practice and policy
  • Be familiar with the academic literature relevant to key debates and use it in an informed and critical way
  • Understand how to reach conclusions in ethical analysis and how to make sound arguments about ethical issues
  • Be aware of major areas in health care and public health which are ethically contentious
  • Be able to engage in ethical debate on these contentious matters, using key concepts and approaches and with reference to the current literature
Assessment:
  • Critical analysis of set readings totalling 1,500 words - due early in semester (30%)
  • Class presentation via LMS discussion board: critical analysis of current media report of a health ethics issue -due mid semester (20%)
  • Essay of approximately 2,500 words - due at end of semester (50%)
Prescribed Texts: No prescribed text. Students will have access to electronic copies of relevant readings.
Breadth Options:

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.
Fees Information: Subject EFTSL, Level, Discipline & Census Date
Generic Skills: Students undertaking this subject should acquire:
  • Skills in ethical reasoning and analysis
  • Knowledge of the fundamental debates in health care and public health
  • Attitudes comfortable with moral ambiguity and complexity
Related Course(s): Master of Health Social Sciences
Master of Public Health
Postgraduate Diploma in Health Social Sciences
Related Majors/Minors/Specialisations: Public Health
Social Health

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