PHIL 165.001 – Bioethics

Instructor: Lucia Schwarz. This course meets MWF 12:20 – 1:10 p.m. in CW 105.

Bioethics examines medical practices, healthcare policies, patient choices, and biomedical research through an ethical lens. Some of the questions we will focus on are: Should patients always be told the truth about their medical conditions? Should vaccinations be mandatory? Is it okay to offer people money for participating in medical experiments? Should prenatal diagnostics be used to screen developing babies for disabilities? And how can we respect the autonomy of patients with dementia?

At the end of this course, you will have a deeper understanding of the ethical issues arising for medical practitioners, biomedical researchers, healthcare regulators, and patients. In evaluating ethical arguments from different authors and developing your own views, you will also hone your critical thinking and writing skills.

Have registration questions? Our PPE Administrators can help! Please email them at ppeprogram@unc.edu for assistance.