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Course Offerings

Course Evaluation Results

Course Details

Spring 2016-2017
* PHI 277 / CHV 277 (EM)   Graded A-F, P/D/F, Audit

Biomedical Ethics

Hrishikesh S. Joshi

Introduction to clinical and public health ethics. Topics within clinical ethics include: abortion, physician-assisted suicide, and hospital triage. We then explore the ethics of public health, tying the discussion to current political debates. For example, we will ask whether there is a universal right to healthcare. The course ends by examining issues that could potentially arise out of future biomedical and artificial intelligence technologies. During the semester, students can also expect to gain a background in the fundamentals of ethical theory.

Sample reading list:
Rachels, James, Active and Passive Euthanasia
Thomson, Judith Jarvis, A Defense of Abortion
Harman, Elizabeth, The Potentiality Problem
Hausman, Daniel, What's Wrong with Health Inequalities?
McMahan, Jeff, Causing People to Exist and Saving People's Lives
Bostrom, Nick, The Reversal Test: Eliminating Status Quo Bias
See instructor for complete list

Reading/Writing assignments:
Students are expected to read 75 pages per week.

Requirements/Grading:
Final Exam - 20%
Papers - 40%
Term Paper(s) - 25%
Class/Precept Participation - 15%

Schedule/Classroom assignment:

Class numberSectionTimeDaysRoomEnrollmentStatus
43341 L01 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm M W   Frist Campus Center   302   Enrolled:45 Limit:
44380 P01 1:30 pm - 2:20 pm T   Class of 1879 Hall   123   Enrolled:10 Limit:13
44381 P02 2:30 pm - 3:20 pm T        Enrolled:0 Limit:0 Canceled
44382 P03 2:30 pm - 3:20 pm W   Class of 1879 Hall   121   Enrolled:14 Limit:13 Closed
44383 P04 3:30 pm - 4:20 pm W        Enrolled:0 Limit:0 Canceled
44384 P05 3:30 pm - 4:20 pm M   Class of 1879 Hall   123   Enrolled:13 Limit:13 Closed
44447 P06 7:30 pm - 8:20 pm T   Class of 1879 Hall   123   Enrolled:8 Limit:15
43342 P99 TBA        Enrolled:0 Limit:0 Canceled