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Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
PostgraduateUND-MEDI60062022
Course information for 2022 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
Contemporary Issues in Bioethics
About this subject
At the completion of this course you should be able to:
1. Demonstrate knowledge of current complex bioethical controversies.
2. Articulate sophisticated understanding of arguments for and against certain positions concerning bioethical controversies.
3. Communicate effectively, with mastery of analysis, various approaches taken when dealing with bioethical controversies.
4. Apply knowledge and understanding to complex contemporary practical situations in written and oral form
- Bioethics in the contemporary context; Just allocation of resources; Ethical issues regarding human organ transplantation; Ethical issues at the end and beginning of life; Ethical issues in research on early human life and development of novel therapies; Ethical issues in decision making in the COVID19 Pandemic; Ethical Issues regarding human genital surgery; Ethical obligations to our planet; Social Justice and Catholic social teaching; Research Ethics and the pharmaceutical industry; Informed consent; Transhumanism and use of artifical intelligence in medicine.
Contemporary Issues in Bioethics addresses selected ethical issues relevant to health care and clinical research. Topics to be covered will include: ethical issues at the beginning and at the end of life; ethical issues in contemporary health care practice, including informed consent; conscientious objection; the just allocation of health care resources; organ transplantation; health and climate change; circumcision and female genital mutilation. The course also includes research ethics and the pharmaceutical industry; ethical issues involved with genetic technologies; the ethics of public health interventions; and the role of artificial intelligence in health care.
Three summative assessment components comprising
1. Engagement in tutorial discussions
2. Written disputation and
3. 0ral presentation of disputation- Oral presentation of disputation . (20%)
- Engagement in tutorial discussions (40%)
- Written disputation (1500 words) (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
The University of Notre Dame Australia is committed to delivering an excellent student experience, alongside a high standard of teaching, research, and training. As a leader in ethical education, Notre Dame aims to develop students’ critical reasoning and their ability to make ethical decisions—crucial skills to progressing their careers and leading purposeful lives. At Notre Dame, students navigate their future with an ethical education online.
Learn more about UNDA.
Explore UNDA courses.
- QS World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 38
- Times Higher Education World University Ranking 2025, within Australia:
- 38
Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- UND-BIO-GCE-2022 - Graduate Certificate in Bioethics
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.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Bioethics
PostgraduateUND-BIO-GCE