Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Ethics
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English
Teaching staff
Dra Begoña Bosch: bbosch@uic.es
Dr Ignacio Macpherson: imacpherson@uic.es
Dr Mauricio Pacheco: mpacheco@uic.es
Dr Ignasi Belda: ibeldar@uic.es
Introduction
Technological advances have created new scenarios for all professionals in the health sciences and have raised great hopes of concrete improvements to the lives and future of mankind. However, it is also common for both clinical practice and scientific research or in management that problems and questions of ethical nature arise and unambiguously demonstrate the need for a constant relationship and integration between technical and ethical reasons, so that the acquisition of new knowledge is conducted so to achieve and do the best for the man who is at his/her greatest vulnerability. For prepared professional, technical and scientific training is not enough to practice Bioengineering correctly but also includes an ethical dimension.
The course of "Ethics" aims to reflect on the value of human life, the respect it deserves and its relationship to good health. Based on the principles that should inspire Bioengineering conduct, in order to know how to integrate the actions that arise in daily practice, knowing the rights of the person and the main health regulations governing professional skills is necessary.
Training in "Ethics" aims to provide students in Bioengineering knowledge and specific training that will train and help, not only to make the best decisions in situations that are considered limited, but also to know how to act in various situations that arise in daily practice.
Pre-course requirements
Anthropology
Objectives
- To develop the ability to think and argue about ethical issues based on the analysis of the present situation.
- To provide conceptual tools to understand the importance of acquiring the principles and fundamental virtues of the ethics of personal and professional care.
- To discover the meaning and value of the fundamental principle of the dignity of the human person, particularly in areas related to illness or other vulnerable situations taking into consideration both the physical and mental limitations of the person.
- To demonstrate the importance of interpersonal communication in the context of the therapeutic relationship.
- To dake known the basics of professional health legislation.
- To analyze the important implications of the social and cultural diversity for understanding health.
Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme
- CB3 - Students must have the ability to bring together and interpret significant data (normally within their area of study) and to issue judgements that include a reflection on important issues that are social, scientific or ethical in nature.
- CB4 - Students can transmit information, ideas, problems and solutions to specialist and non-specialist audiences.
- CE8 - To hold a dialogue based on critical thinking on ideas connected to the main dimensions of the human being
- CG10 - To know how to work in a multilingual and multidisciplinary environment.
- CG4 - To resolve problems based on initiative, be good at decision-making, creativity, critical reasoning and communication, as well as the transmission of knowledge, skills and prowess in the field of Bioengineering
- CT3 - To know how to communicate learning results to other people both verbally and in writing, and well as thought processes and decision-making; to participate in debates in each particular specialist areas.
- CT4 - To be able to work as a member of an interdisciplinary team, whether as a member or by management tasks, with the aim of contributing to undertaking projects based on pragmatism and a feeling of responsibility, taking on commitment while bearing the resources available in mind.
Learning outcomes of the subject
Make decisions by introducing the variable of ethics at home reflection.
Express your own ideas freely without violating or offending others
Understand the role and responsibility of science and technology in today's society.
Syllabus
1. ETHICS FUNDAMENTALS
- Rational foundations of ethics
- Human consciousness
- Human action
- Virtues and values
- The ethics of social life
2. ETHICS AND LEGISLATION
- Law and rights
- Moral law
- The distinction between morality and legality
- Human rights
- Legislation of clinical practice
- Protection of personal data and confidentiality
- Conflicts of interest
3. APPLIED ETHICS
- Methodological principles of ethical decisions
- History of Bioethics
- Research Ethics: preclinical and clinical
- The beginning of human life
- Fragile life ethics
- Term of human life
- Research Ethics
Teaching and learning activities
In person
The course is usually taught through theoretical (lectures) and practical sessions, both in person. The content of the lectures will consist of the main topics and concepts of the units which are detailed in the course syllabus. Regarding practical classes, they will be based mainly on carrying out group dynamics and a practical assignment, where current cases will be analyzed and debated in order to illustrate and deepen the concepts explained above.
Evaluation systems and criteria
In person
The Bioethics course is approved with a 5. The global mark is obtained by making the weighted average of four activities:
a) Continuous evaluation (25%): resolution of cases and participation in class (in person).
b) Practical work (15%): written part and oral part (in person).
c) Partial exam (20%): written (in person).
d) Final exam (40%): written (in person).
* The minimum grade for the partial and final exam to pass the course must be higher than 4.5.
Important considerations:
- Plagiarism, copying or any other action that may be considered cheating will be zero in that evaluation section. Besides, plagiarism during exams will mean the immediate failing of the whole subject.
- In the second-sitting exams, the maximum grade students will be able to obtain is "Excellent" (grade with honors distinction will not be possible).
- Changes of the calendar, exam dates or the evaluation system will not be accepted.
- Exchange students (Erasmus and others) or repeaters will be subjected to the same conditions as the rest of the students.
Bibliography and resources
MANUALS:
POLAINO, A., Manual de Bioética General, Rialp, 2000.
CICCONE, L.; Bioética. Historia. Principios. Cuestiones. Palabra, Madrid, 2005.
SGRECCIA, E., Manual de Bioética I: Fundamentos y Bioética Biomédica, BAC, 2010.
BOOKS:
ABEL, F., Bioética: orígenes, presente y futuro, Madrid, Institut Borja de Bioética, Fundación Mapfre medicina, reimp., 2001.
BEAUCHAMPS, T.L., CHILDRESS, F. J., Principios de Bioética Biomédica, Barcelona, Mason 4ª ed., 2000.
BLAZQUEZ, N., Bioética: La nueva ciencia de la vida. Madrid, BAC, 2000.
PASTOR L.M., FERRER, M., La bioética en el milenio biotecnológico, Murcia,Sociedad Murciana de Bioética,2001.
POISSON, J.F. Bioética ¿El hombre contra el hombre?, Rialp, Madrid, 2009.
INTERNET:
- Bioethicsline www.bioethics.Georgetown.edu/bioline.htm
- Euroethics www.gwdg.de/-uelsner/entrez/.fcgi
- Asociación Médica Mundial www.wma.net
- Canadian Bioethics Society: www.bioethics.ca/english
- Asociación Europea de Centros de Bioética Médica: www.kuleuven.ac.be/cbmer/eacmeherstel.htm
- European Bioethical Research: www.bioethics.org.uk
- Asociación Española de Bioética y Bioética médica: www.aebioetica.org
- Bioética y Derecho. Universidad de Barcelona: www.Ub.es/fildt/bioetica.htm
- Centro de Documentación de Bioética del departamento de Humanidades Biomédicas: www.unav.es/cdb
-Observatorio de Bioética de Valencia: www.observatoriobioetica.com
Evaluation period
- E1 09/01/2023 P2A02 16:00h