Bioethics: Proper treatment and medical research

The course will discuss ethical principles of UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights; each lesson focuses on one of the principles of the Declaration. Real dilemmas are discussed including ethical dilemmas during the COVID-19 epidemic. Students will be asked to explore real cases and articles dealing with bioethics, according to the principles of bioethics. Actual solutions are discussed. The course includes interviews with world leaders of bioethical research. Grades are given to answers, where indicated in the syllabus below, at the end of each week: the students are asked to assign a principle (or more than one) of the UNESCO declaration to bioethical dilemmas. They are required to participate in discussion forums. There is no final test or thesis. Welcome! We are looking forward to seeing you.

It is possible to join the course until April 15. Participants must answer the questions from previous lessons in order to get credit.

Week 1: March 9-15

In Part 1, the introductory part of the course, we describe ethical law, bioethics, and the major principles of UNESCO’s Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights. Naturally, I am happy to get to know you in this section and to learn your expectations for the course in the course forum.

Week 2: March 16-22

Topics to be covered:

1. Human dignity, human rights

2. Principle 4: Benefit vs. Damage - Explanations

3. Case Study: Benefit vs. Damage

4. Principle Five: Autonomy and Individual Responsibility

5. Case Study: Maintaining Autonomy

6. Principle 6: Informed Consent to medical treatment

7. The principle of consent in the framework of the Patient Bill of Rights

8. Principle 8: Respect for human vulnerability and personal integrity

9. Case Study: Principle 8

10. Principle 9: The Privacy and Confidentiality of Patient Data

Week 3: March 23-April 5

Topics to be covered:

1. Principle 10: Equality, Justice, and Fairness

2. Principle 11: Non-discrimination and non-labeling

3. Principle 13: Solidarity and Cooperation

4. Principle 13: Examples of International Aid

5. Principles 14 and 17: Social Responsibility, Health, and Environment Protection

6. Principles 15 and 16: Sharing of Benefits and Protecting Future Generations

Week 4: April 6-12

Topics to be covered:

1. Informed consent

2. Right of the Patient to Receive Information

3. Medical Staff Consideration of the Patient’s Religious Background

4. Informed Consent: A Clinical Case Study

5. Summary

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Week 5: April 13-19

Topics to be covered:

1. Principles 6-7 and informed consent

2. Informed Consent of Minors, and Bone Marrow Donation from a Minor or the Incapacitated

3. Informed Consent from the Incompetent, the Underprivileged, and the Defenseless

4. Refusing Medical Treatment and Giving Informed Consent

5. The Right Not to Know

6. Graded Questions

Week 6: April 20-26

Topics to be covered:

1. Informed Consent in Transplants

2. Facing Unexpected Cases Conflicting Interests of an Individual versus Society

3. The Clinical Approach vs. the Social Approach

4. Graded Questions

Week 7: April 27-May 4

Topic to be covered:

Ethics and Animal Experimentation

Graded Questions

Week 8: May 5-12

Topic to be covered:

Covid-19- Prioritizing treatment, benefits and risks, compulsory public health measures, vaccine rationing, bioethics and social distance, corona passport, Herd immunity

COVID-19 Interviews

Graded Questions

Week 9: May 13-20

What is bioethics for you?

End-of-course Survey