Bioethics

Study Course Description

Course Description Statuss:Approved

Course Description Version:7.00

Study Course Accepted:02.02.2024 12:30:47

Study Course Information
Course Code:		HZK_051		LQF level:		Level 7
Credit Points:		2.00		ECTS:		3.00
Branch of Science:		Philosophy; Ethics		Target Audience:		Medicine
Study Course Supervisor
Course Supervisor:		Uldis Vēgners
Study Course Implementer
Structural Unit:		Faculty of Social Sciences
The Head of Structural Unit:
Contacts:		Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szfrsu[pnkts]lv
Study Course Planning
Full-Time - Semester No.1
Lectures (count)		6	Lecture Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Lectures		12
Classes (count)		10	Class Length (academic hours)		2	Total Contact Hours of Classes		20
Total Contact Hours								32
Study course description
Preliminary Knowledge:
The student does not need prior knowledge to complete the study course “Bioethics” successfully. Prior knowledge of philosophy and ethics within the programme of secondary education is desirable.
Objective:
Acquaint students with topical problems of contemporary bioethics. Promote the ability of students to discuss current issues in biomedicine and ethical issues in healthcare system. Promote student ability to analyse ethical issues related to biomedicine. Promote understanding of moral values accepted in clinical practice and research.
Topic Layout (Full-Time)
No.	Topic			Type of Implementation		Number	Venue
1	Bioethics and etichal theories			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
2	Ethical problems at the beginning of life: moral status of the embryo			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
3	Ethics of assisted dying			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
4	Ethics of organ transplantation and definitions of death			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
5	Justice: just distribution of health care resources			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
6	Research ethics			Lectures		1.00	auditorium
				Classes		1.00	auditorium
7	Respect for autonomy			Classes		1.00	auditorium
8	Genetic testing and gene therapy			Classes		1.00	auditorium
9	Human enhancement			Classes		1.00	auditorium
10	Use of non-human animals in research and education			Classes		1.00	auditorium
Assessment
Unaided Work:
1. Students have to read the compulsory literature and the reading materials for the seminars. Before every seminar students have to read a dedicated reading material and must be prepared to answer questions about the main concepts, ideas and arguments of that reading material. 2. In groups students have prepare one case for ethical analysis for one of the seminars, as well as moderate and evaluate discussions about the case during the seminar. 3. Students independently prepare for the examination about the topics from lectures and seminars. 4. At the end of the course students take the course evaluation survey on the e-studies.
Assessment Criteria:
1. Participation in seminars individually or in a group (10% from the final grade). Students actively participate in all seminar, understand and can formulate the ideas expressed in the seminar reading material, productively engage in discussions about the issues of the semianr topic, argue their position, use appropriate terminology in discussions, as well as refer to the seminar reading material in discussions. 2. Preparation of a case for ethical analysis, moderation and evaluation of discussions about the case during a seminar (40% from the final grade). 3. Examination (50% from the final grade). Students take a written examination, in which they have to show the acquired knowledge about the topics covered in the course.
Final Examination (Full-Time):		Exam
Final Examination (Part-Time):
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge:		Students should have a good grasp of the major issues of modern bioethics; they should be familiar with the theories of ethics used in bioethics, basic problems of bioethics and most widespread approached to bioethics, solutions to bioethical issues in various fields, such as ethical issues at the beginning and end of the human life, transplantation ethics, fair distribution of resources in health care, ethics in research and use of non-human animals in clinical trials and education.
Skills:		Students should be able to define basic concepts of bioethical theories. They should recognise and identify various bioethical concerns and the role of various theoretical considerations in them.
Competencies:		Students should be able to analyse, evaluate and criticise different positions in modern biomedicine; they should be able to formulate and defend their own opinion.
Bibliography
No.	Reference
Required Reading
1	Klīve, V.V. Rīcības ceļos. Rīga: Zinātne, 1998. (akceptējams izdevums)
2	Sīle, V. (sast.) Biomedicīnas ētika. Teorija un prakse. Rīga: RSU, 2006. (akceptējams izdevums)
3	Neiders, I. “Gēnu redaktori” (Rīgas Laiks, 2018, Septembris, 10.-19. lpp.)
4	Kuhse, H & Singer, P. (eds.) A Companion to Bioethics. Blackwell Publishing, 2001. (akceptējams izdevums)
5	Neiders, I. “Cilvēka uzlabošana.” Sīlis, V. Neiders, I. (red.) Filosofiskā antropoloģija II, Rīga, RSU, 2018.
6	Singers, P. “Dzīvnieku atbrīvošana” (Kentaurs XXI, 2001, 25, 94.-107. lpp.) (akceptējams izdevums)
7	Ārvalstu studentiem/For international students:
8	Kuhse, H & Singer, P. (eds.) A Companion to Bioethics. Blackwell Publishing, 2001. (akceptējams izdevums)
Additional Reading
1	Kuhse, H. (ed.) Bioethics. An Anthology. Blackwell Publishing. 2006.
2	Steinbock, B. (ed.) The Oxford Handbook of Bioethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 2009.
3	Campbell, A. Bioethics: The Basics, Routledge, 2017.