LAW 7259 - Great Cases in Bioethics.

2 to 3 Credit Hours

Description
This is an elective course. The field of Bioethics has developed over the past thirty years as a product of several shifts in American cultural consciousness, particularly in the role of doctors as they relate to patients. An ongoing conversation about the impact of law in shaping medical practice also influenced the current complexion of Bioethics as an area of study. A number of legal cases stand as signposts for critical moments in the history of Bioethics. They mark the changing public perception of the intersection of science, medicine, personal values and law. This seminar explores approximately one dozen of those cases, in areas such as reproduction, medical confidentiality, withdrawal and withholding of treatment, and definitions of death.

Notes: Students should be prepared to participate in class discussion, complete a major class presentation as well as a seminar paper on a topic of their choice.