Medical Program

Bioethics and the Professional: Medicine in Society I
BIOE 501

This course aims to strengthen students’ ability to recognize and critically analyze ethical concerns in medical situations. It provides opportunities to develop professional competencies
and skills. Students will begin to access credible information (medical informatics), formulate and express reasoned opinions, manage uncertainty, and communicate collegially.

Bioethics is a discipline grounded in the reasoning and objectivity necessary to beneficial health outcomes and patient satisfaction. It provides structure and tools with which to address the numerous moral conflicts in medicine. Bioethical concepts and terminology introduced in the course center on professionalism, principles, and theories, which are applied to patient scenarios and current medical controversies. Interactive participation occurs through group discussions,
online activities, and during lectures. The course encourages students to monitor their own professional development. It is anticipated that passing this course will motivate and enable
students to reflect on their own professional competencies and duties as these evolve during different stages of their medical education.

 

Learning Objectives

 

All course requirements and lectures provide opportunities to masterthe learning objectives listed below. Exam questions derive from the 1st set of objectives. Mastery of the 2nd will strengthen professional competencies and generate deeper understanding of course material.

Knowledge and Integration

  • Accurately use bioethical terminology and methods
  • Define bioethical 5 principles, 3 theories, and 4 professional competencies
  • Distinguish between bioethics, professionalism, and morality
  • Name 3 sources of ethical guidance for physicians and medical students
  • Specify 3 duties that doctors have to patients
  • Specify 3 duties that doctors and medical students have to society
  • Describe what constitute 3 potential conflicts of interest in medicine
  • Define medical informatics
  • Identify 2 ethical concerns about the use of information communication technology (ICT) in medicine
  • Perform a database search and refine a search strategy to improve results
  • Obtain and critically assess electronic and other information from library and electronic resources
  • Use reliable information to make and defend an action (Assignment 3)
  • List and discuss the 5 elements of informed consent as these apply to clinical practice and medical research
  • Name 3 challenges to obtaining informed consent
  • Name 3 barriers to effective pain relief
  • Describe the role of virtue and character in medicine and medical education
  • Describe 3 methods used in bioethics
  • Identify 3 impacts of climate change on health
  • Formulate ethical arguments for and against physician assisted suicide
  • List the ethical requirements for medical research
  • Outline the history of, and ethical problems with, the Tuskegee study
  • Explain the implication of the goals of medicine described in this Course Companion
  • Explain the role of culture, and bias, in medicine and patient care

Behavior and Communication

  • Demonstrate professional attitudes and behaviors during SGs and Inf Lab
  • Observe and evaluate classmates’ behaviors with respect to professionalism
  • Commend professional attitudes, behaviors, and appearances in others
  • Evaluate your own attitudes and behaviors with respect to professionalism
  • Reflect on how your spoken, written, and listening skills sometimes generate misunderstanding
  • Identify your own biases and how these may impact on your relationships during your medical education

 

Informatics Lab Learning Objectives

  • Explore credible and non-credible electronic information
  • Examine SGU's e resources for medically related information
  • Identify strategies to enhance search outcomes

 

Small Groups Learning Objectives

  • Discuss cases and topics related to lectures and readings
  • Identify 4 professional competencies and relate these to your own experience
  • Distinguish between personal and professional values and standards
  • Debate both sides of an argument
  • Explore professional responsibilities and their implications
  • Examine your own attitudes, behaviors, and biases
  • Improve your communication skills
  • Gain familiarity with accepted clinical standards of practice
  • Acknowledge and respect cultural differences among classmates