- Winter 2021
Syllabus Description:
NOTE: For a pdf version of the syllabus, click here.
INSTRUCTOR
Nancy S. Jecker, PHD
Professor, UW School of Medicine
Virtual Office Hours: By apt (email to schedule)
Email: nsjecker@uw.edu
Website: UW Faculty Website
GOALS: (1) Demonstrate basic knowledge of distributive justice theories; (2) Identify connections between theories of justice and health care rights
; (3) Distinguish implicit and explicit forms of health care rationing; (4) Critique the U.S. healthcare system using global comparisons; (5) Understand future challenges facing health care systems; (6) Appreciate cultural assumptions underlying ethical theories and moral judgments.
DESCRIPTION: The course examines the ethical problem of allocating scarce health care resources with an emphasis on fundamental principles of justice. Part I introduces theories of justice and considers the support they lend to health care rights. Part II explores health care rationing, including rationing based on a patient's ability to pay; likelihood, length, or quality of medical benefit; social value; age; random selection; first come, first served; and favored group status. Part III surveys future challenges facing U.S. and global health care systems, including health inequities and emerging infectious diseases.
REQUIREMENTS:
Undergraduate Student Requirements apply to students who have not completed a bachelor's degree.
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Examinations (100 points each, total 200 points): demonstrate mastery of course material using a multiple choice and short essay format
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Group Projects (33 or 34 points, total 100 points): working in a small group, debate a contemporary bioethics problem. Groups discuss, debate, prepare & present material to the class
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Philosophical Reflections (10 points each, total 100 points): reflect about a philosophical position in response to a prompt posed by the instructor
Graduate Student Requirements apply to students who have completed a bachelor's degree.
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Examinations (100 points each, total 200 points)
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Group Projects (33 or 34 points, total 100 points)
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Philosophical Reflections (10 points each, total 100 points)
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Paper (100 points each, total 100 points): prepare a single or co-authored research paper exploring a topic discussed in class in greater depth. Submit a proposal for approval by the instructor before beginning work on the paper. For multi-authored papers, each author must attest to meeting authorship guidelines set out by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors. Not to exceed 8 pages (2000 words).
POLICIES:
Instructor, Assignment Policy: late assignments accepted only for students with documented disabilities
UW, Student Academic Responsibility Policy
BH Department, Course Policies & Guidelines
BH Department, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion Policy
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