BIOETHICS

Philosophy 2025, Section 1
Tuesday, Thursday, 10:40-12:00
211 Tureaud
Office hours: Tuesday, Thursday 1:30-2:30, 315 Coates
Emily Cogburn, instructor
e-mail: [email protected]

About the course:
In this course, we will explore the main traditional ethical theories (utilitarianism, Kantianism, virtue ethics) as they relate to biomedical ethics. We will touch on specific issues in biomedical ethics such as patient autonomy, cost of health care, and allocation of health care resources.

Policies:

Talking (except during class discussion), reading, cell phone usage, and electronic games are distracting to both instructor and students and will not be allowed during class time.

Academic dishonesty (cheating and plagiarism) may take various forms, including copying other students' work, copying others' writing in papers without proper citation, and using cheat sheets during exams. None of them will be tolerated in this course. I am required to report suspected academic dishonesty to the Dean of Students.

You are responsible for familiarizing yourself with the rules and regulations of this College. You may find these in the Student Handbook on LSU's website.

Make-up exam will only be given in the case of excused absences (doctor's note etc.) For exams, one make-up time may be scheduled with the instructor (at her discretion). If you fail to keep this appointment, another will not be scheduled.

Late papers will not be accepted without a documented excuse. Papers must be turned in during the class period on the due date (see schedule below). Under no circumstances will I accept emailed papers.

LSU and I are dedicated to making reasonable accommodations for persons with disabilities.

Required text:

Principles of Biomedical Ethics, Fifth Edition by Tom L. Beaucamp and James F. Childress. Oxford University Press. ISBN 0-19-514332-9

Grades:
Your grade in the class will be calculated as follows:
Midterm: 30%
Final: 40%
Papers: 20%
Class participation: 10%

Your class attendance and participation grades will depend on whether you attend class and whether you contribute to discussion in a way that demonstrates that you have read and thought about the material.

A midterm and a final will be given. Both will be short answer. You will also be required to write eight 3-5 page papers on assigned topics. The topic for each paper will be announced in class the week before the paper is due. Papers must be typed on white paper in Times New Roman or other readable 12 point font (no brush fonts, etc.)

Schedule:

August 23
Introductory discussion
Chapter 1, Moral Norms, 1-23.

August 25
Moral Norms continued

September 6
No class

September 8
Moral Theories, 337-377

September 13
Moral Theories continued

September 15
Moral Theories continued

September 20
Moral Theories continued
Papers for this class

September 22
Chapter 2, Moral Character, 26-51.

September 27
1st Paper Due
Moral Charater continued

September 29
Moral Character continued

October 4
Moral Character continued

October 6
Fall Holiday

October 11
2nd Paper Due
Chapter 3, Respect for Autonomy, 57-103.

October 13
Respect for Autonomy continued

Nonmaleficence
October 18
Midterm Review

October 20
Midterm

October 25
Respect for Autonomy continued

October 27
Nonmaleficence p. 113-157

November 1
3rd Paper Due
Nonmaleficence continued

November 3
Nonmaleficence continued

November 8
4th Paper Due
Chapter 5, Beneficence

November 10
Beneficence continued

November 15
5th Paper Due
Beneficence continued

November 17
Chapter 6, Justice p.225-272

November 22
Justice continued

November 24
Thanksgiving

November 29
6th Paper Due
Justice continued

December 1
Chapter 7, Professional-Patient Relationships 283-327

December 6
7th Paper Due
Chapter 7, Professional-Patient Relationships continued

December 8
Chapter 7, Professional-Patient Relationships continued

December 17 10-noon
8th Paper Due
Final