Time Schedule:
Thomas R. Mc Cormick
MHE 521
Seattle Campus
Case-study approach to contemporary ethical issues in medicine, utilizing techniques of ethical analysis and argument in examining actual cases arising in our pluralistic culture, where values are often in conflict. Open to graduate and professional students and others with appropriate background.
Class description
THE PURPOSE of this case-based medical ethics course is to explore a number of the important ethical issues currently confronting us in health care, toward the end that persons in health-related professions may recognize the complexities of these moral dilemmas, develop basic skills in ethical analysis, and increase the competence with which they make ethical decisions in the face of ambiguity, confusion and conflict.
Student learning goals
General method of instruction
THE FORMAT of this course will be a seminar, in which each participant is invited and encouraged to share his/her ideas, discoveries, and values with other class members. Through this process it is our objective to grow toward a clearer understanding of operant methods of decision making and to integrate appropriate new skills and ways of reasoning in the ethical arena. The case-study approach will be utilized in teaching clinical ethics and clinicians from a variety of disciplines will present cases arising from their practices. Students will have a workshop experience in the oral presentation of a case. Students will also learn how to prepare a written case analysis.
Recommended preparation
THE TEXT:
Required: 1. Clinical Ethics, by Jonsen, A., Seigler, M., and Winslade, W. Suggested: 2. Ethics, by William Frankena, second edition Prentice-Hall Inc., Englewood Cliffs.
SUPPLEMENTAL READINGS: Non-required, supplemental readings may be found in: 1. Medical Ethics, Tom Beauchamp and Laurence McCullough,Prentice-Hall, Inc., Englewood Cliffs. 2. Ethics In Nursing, Third Edition, Benjamin, M., and Curtis, J. New York: Oxford University Press, 1992
Class assignments and grading
REQUIREMENTS OF THE COURSE:
1) READINGS: All required reading must be completed before the class period for which it is scheduled in order that participants may enter into an informed discussion on the chosen topics.
2) GRADES: Completion of the readings, class participation and brief written assignments will account for one-third of the final course grade; the oral case presentation will account for one-third; and the written case presentation which is due at the last class session, one-third.
3) ORAL CASE PRESENTATION: Each class member will be responsible for choosing a partner with whom to prepare and deliver an oral-case study as a presenting team, to the class. Approximately 15-20 minutes will be allot ted for the case presentation and discussion. The case may be of your choosing, it should focus upon an ethical issue in medicine, nursing, or general health care. Dates will be assigned for each team. The use of overhead transparencies may be used to illustrate your case and the resulting analysis.
4) WRITTEN CASE PRESENTATION: Each participant will also be responsible for choosing a second case (a different one) and individually writing up a case-study which will be handed in no later than the last class session (March 11th). The case-study should be typed and double spaced. Both the oral and the written case analysis should utilize the elements of moral reasoning from the required readings and class lectures, as well as ideas from independent study. In the written case presentation, the first page should consist of a title and case-summary. The body of the paper should present an analysis of the case, utilizing the steps presented in class. Appropriate reference to the literature should be used to identify relevant facts, concepts and current practices pertaining to the case. All references should be cited with proper footnotes. It is expected that the writer's recommended course of action will be identified. The final page or two should consist of a brief essay on the most important theme identified in the case analysis. (total length 10-12 pages, double spaced)
