Healthcare Ethics: Principles in Practice
PostgraduateACU-PHIL6232023
Course information for 2023 intake
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Healthcare Ethics: Principles in Practice
About this subject
On successful completion of this Healthcare Ethics: Principles in Practice, students should be able to:
- Identify and accurately explain selected theories and concepts in normative ethics and applied healthcare ethics
- Elaborate ways in which human dignity is supported in their healthcare practice and advocacy, within the context of the promotion of the common good
- Critically analyse selected debates in contemporary healthcare ethics, noting the key principles at stake, and implications for their own practice
- The nature of ethical reflection and the sources of ethical theory
- Theories of normative ethics
- Healthcare, human dignity and the common good
- Four contemporary principles of healthcare ethics: autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, justice
- Issues in professional role morality: the professional virtues
- Issues in, and approaches to, healthcare resourcing
- Minority and vulnerable groups: e.g., indigenous; migrant and refugee; rural & regional; disability; children and elderly; gender; mental illness; cultural and religious difference
- Elective area focus chosen by students from several module options. This will include modules relating to the specified areas of ethics such as the following:
- - Public Health and Advocacy
- - Healthcare Research Ethics
- - Emerging Healthcare Technologies
- - Rehabilitation
- - Mental Health
- - Beginning of Life
- - Counselling Ethics
- - Healthcare Administration
- - End of Life
Contemporary healthcare practitioners can face a range of clinical and extra-clinical ethical challenges. Such circumstances require responses informed by critical reflection and moral deliberation to inform advocacy and action. On the basis of key theoretical frameworks in ethics, this subject provides a broad-based introduction to applied ethics in healthcare. The subject aims to support health practitioners in the application of principles of healthcare ethics to specific issues arising in their workplace settings, to promote the common good through serving the proper goals of healthcare practice.
The assessment has been designed to facilitate students’ movement through the learning of key concepts and theories in ethics in the early weeks, the application of such learning to the healthcare context in the middle part of semester, and to encourage a deep engagement with this learning in the context of their particular healthcare profession by the end of the unit. The multiple choice/ short answer exam (which is scheduled around mid-semester) is designed to meet the first need, ensuring that the students have a firm grasp of key concepts and principles in the field. The discussion board task is designed to facilitate higher order processing of this material in moderated discussion with peers. Finally, the integrative essay provides students with an opportunity to synthesise key learnings by applying them to their immediate work context as healthcare practitioners.
- Multiple Choice and Short Answer Test (30%)
- Discussion Board Posting & Reflective Overview (30%)
- Integrative Essay (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
Established in 1991 after amalgamating four eastern Australian Catholic tertiary institutes, Australian Catholic University now has seven campuses, from Brisbane to Melbourne and welcomes students of all beliefs. Specialising in arts, business, education, health sciences, law, theology and philosophy, ACU encourages its students to think critically and ethically and bring change to their communities and offer this online through Open Universities Australia.
Learn more about ACU.
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- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 35
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 26
Entry requirements
To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted into a degree.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.