PHIL41330: Ethics, Medicine and History

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• to engage students with ethical issues arising in medicine and medical science, past and present
• to introduce central ethical concepts relevant to these issues
• to introduce key arguments for and against these concepts
• to promote understanding of the relationship between historical and philosophical issues in medicine and medical science

• The seminars will cover central ethical issues in medicine and medical science, past and present and will examine foundational texts of medical ethics and their historical context, such as John Gregory's Lectures on the Duties and Qualifications of a Physician, Thomas Percival's Medical Ethics and the Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association, and the present ethical guidance provided by the British Medical Association.
• Students will critically discuss two issues in medical science that have given, and continue to give, cause for wide-spread ethical concern: animal experimentation and human experimentation.
• Students will also analyse the significance and limits of two aspects that have become central to a modern, ethical doctor-patient relationship: informed consent and confidentiality.
• This module will examine the ethical problems involved in current stem cell research and the ethical implications of cloning technologies.
• In consultation with the Module Leader, students will choose a topic for their assessed Essay. The Essay's topic should normally come from one of the subject areas covered in the seminars. Topic proposals falling outside these areas will have to be approved by the Course Director.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• to show familiarity with key ethical concepts concerning medicine and medical science

Subject-specific Skills:

• to demonstrate skills in understanding and interpreting ethical concepts and arguments concerning medicine and medical science in contemporary and historical perspective
• to analyse and evaluate central arguments for and against these ethical concepts and their applicability

Key Skills:

• to write a critical and well-informed essay on a selected topic in the ethics of medicine and/or medical science, past and/or present

• This module will be taught in 10 two-hour group seminars, and with individual tutorial sessions on the topic of the assessed essay.
• Each of the two-hour seminars will be led by a lecturer. The seminars include a short introduction to the topic by the lecturer; students' short presentations of key literature; and joint critical discussion of pre-read research publications (partly in group work).
• The individual tutorials (entitlement of up to 2 contact hours with the chosen supervisor) will support the student's work towards the assessed essay. They include discussion of the chosen research/essay topic; guidance on relevant research methods and literature; development of a research plan and timetable; and feedback on essay drafts. Please note that individual tutorials will not be centrally timetabled and should be organised directly between students and tutors as schedules permit.
• Feedback on the formative assignment will assist students in preparing the summative assignment.
• These teaching and learning methods will support students in achieving Learning Outcomes 1-4 above. The 4 Learning Outcomes will be formally assessed by the essay.
• Students will also be expected to attend relevant research seminars, workshops or special lectures organised by the Department of Philosophy and the Centre for the History of Medicine and Disease.

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