Is euthanasia morally permissible? Under what conditions, if any, should
euthanasia or Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) be legal? What is the
relationship between patient autonomy, competence, and informed consent?
When, if ever, is paternalism morally justified? Under what circumstances, if
any, is abortion morally wrong? Is it morally permissible for pregnant people to
obtain and for doctors to provide medically unnecessary Caesarean sections?
Should doctors provide alternative, unproven therapies to their patients who
request them? Under what conditions, if any, is two-tier health care morally
just? And are those conditions met in Canada today? What, in general, makes
actions morally right or wrong, people virtuous or vicious, policies just or
unjust?
In this course, we will explore answers to these questions from a variety of
perspectives. We will, in short, critically examine some leading normative ethical
theories, and some important, and difficult, ethical issues in health care.
These sections of PHIL 333 are delivered entirely through Canvas, online, and
asynchronously. Most of the course is text-based, with weekly lessons, assigned
readings, and required written discussion posts. In addition to weekly discussion
posts, students are required to submit two papers, and a final exam.
By successfully completing this course, you will gain a better understanding of
leading normative ethical theories; a greater familiarity with leading arguments on
specific ethical issues in healthcare; a deeper understanding of your own views on
these issues, and an enhanced ability to identify, articulate, develop, and critically
analyze arguments.