Introduction to Health Ethics
UndergraduateUAD-PUB1506OUA2025
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Enrol by
- 31 Aug 2025
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Feb 2025,
- 8 Sept 2025
- Price from
- $2,000
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Introduction to Health Ethics
About this subject
On successful completion of this course students will be able to:
- Analyse ethical problems in health care practice and policy.
- Explain relevant ethical theories and concepts.
- Synthesise relevant information and ideas.
- Critique arguments using evidence and theory.
- Defend a proposed course of action.
- The course is organised around three elements in combination:
- 1. A layered model of health determinants, ranging from the genetic level to the global level
- 2. The recurring question ‘What should we do, and why?’
- 3. The ethical theories of utilitarianism (saving lives), liberalism (respecting rights) with some reference to communitarianism
Should you be able to choose the gender of your baby? Should risky behaviours reduce your fair share of health care resources? Should researchers in developed countries conduct research with populations in developing countries? What are the ethical obligations of biomedical scientists? Is euthanasia morally permissible? These are some of the fascinating ethical questions this course will equip you to answer. You will explore ethical issues ranging from the individual to the global level, and learn to analyse and resolve these issues using major ethical theories and principles. In this way, you will come to appreciate that a tension sometimes exists between saving lives and respecting rights.
All assessment is assignment based.
- Quizzes x 2 (10%)
- Active Reading Summary and Question (20%)
- Tutorial and Discussion Board Participation (10%)
- Essay - Ethical Analysis (40%)
- Essay Plan (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 8
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- 7
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- UAD-HSM-DEG-2025 - Bachelor of Health Service Management
Others
Successful completion and passing of four core open access courses and admission into the Bachelor of Health Service Management.
Additional requirements
- Equipment requirements - Headphones or speakers (required to listen to lectures and other media). Headset, including microphone (highly recommended). Webcam (may be required for participation in virtual classrooms and/or presentations).
- Software requirements - It is essential for students to have reliable internet access in order to participate in and complete your units. MyUni is the University of Adelaide's online learning environment. MyUni provides access to various features including announcements, course materials, discussion boards and assessments.
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.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Bachelor of Health Service Management
UndergraduateUAD-HSM-DEG