Summer 2005

Alexandra Stotts, Ph.D.

stotts@darkwing.uoregon.edu

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COURSE DESCRIPTION - This course will acquaint students with a number of important issues that continue to shape the practices and ideas of contemporary Western medicine.  Although not exhaustive in scope, the course allows students to explore and critically interrogate a multiplicity of values that contribute to our understanding of healthcare ethics.  While the assigned readings are primarily philosophical in nature, a multi-disciplinary approach is taken to better understand how birth, our most fundamental ethical ideas are bound up by a diverse range of cultural expressions.

COURSE REQUIREMENTS - For each class meeting, it is necessary to be thoroughly prepared and ready to ask questions, identify problems, and engage in class activities.  Readings are to be completed on a weekly basis as indicated on the syllabus.  Be sure to give yourself enough time to read and digest the material - anticipate re-reading some of the text selections to gain full understanding. 
  

Required Text:

Healthcare Ethics and Human Values: An Introductory Text with Readings and Case Studies. Edited by Fulford, Dickenson, and Murray. (MA: Blackwell Publishers) 2002.

Graded Assignments:     

Discussion Participation	30%
Quizzes	30%
Final Paper	40%

Scale Used to Compute Final Grades

A	94-100	A-	90-93
B+	86-89	B	83-85
B-	80-82	C+	76-79
C	73-75	C-	70-72
D+	66-69	D	63-65
D-	60-62	F	59 <

Please Note. You must complete all assignments in order to pass this class.

Discussion Participation:  Each student is responsible for responding to a question given out in class.  . 

Purpose: Lecture notes and readings are designed to inform you, to stimulate your thinking, to reveal patterns and complexities, but not to provide you with “the answers.”  Hence, the discussion component of this class is included to provide a place for you to make connections, ask questions, and think through some of the ideas covered in the course.  Discussion postings must be substantive, engaged, respectful and show comprehension of the readings assigned.

Do not simply summarize the readings and lectures.  You are expected to make clear connections between or ask compelling questions of between the ideas presented in readings and lectures.

Grades will be based on how thoroughly and accurately you answer the question.  Thoroughness will include clear reasoning and substantive use of ideas covered in readings and lectures. In developing your discussion posting, remember to explain why you think what you do --- don't just say that you agree with an idea or that you think an idea is wrong without providing well-considered support/evidence.

Quizzes:

Final:The final exam will be an open note/open text essay exam due at the regularly scheduled exam time for Summer Semester. One week prior to the due date, students will be given a list of questions and will be asked to write on two of them. Essays should be 10-12 typed pages total. 

COURSE POLICIES 

Academic Integrity: All work for this course must be your own and must be produced exclusively for this class. Academic dishonesty (i.e., cheating, plagiarism) is strictly prohibited and will result in a failing grade for the assignment and/or entire course. All appropriate Linfield College guidelines on cheating, dishonesty, and plagiarism are in effect for this course.

 

Topics and Reading Schedule

Week 1