Bioethics

elementary

BI2_W04, BI2_W05, BI2_K04, BI2_K06, BI2_K07

Course level: basic

Prerequisites: the student knows the basic philosophical and ethical terms and theories as well as the basics of human biology and genetics.

Aims of the course: presentation of the criteria and principles of assessment of the existing and emerging ethical problems in the field of biomedicine, which may create problems in future professional practice of persons educated as masters of biology.

Course description: Bioethics is today the fastest growing field of knowledge. Simplifying a bit, we can say that it is a philosophical reflection on the issues of contemporary biomedicine and its main task is the ethical and legal assessment of decisions and actions taken in matters concerning human life and health. Due to its interdisciplinarity, it engages in dialogue with many other fields, including medicine, biology, law, sociology, psychology and even linguistic sciences. Hence, it is important that knowledge about bioethics, especially if it is directed to students of biological sciences, is presented in a systematic way, and the issues presented within it reflect the actual demand.

Thematic scope:

W1: Introduction. Information about lectures. What is bioethics? Subject and object of bioethics.

W2: History of reflection on the effects of scientific research. The beginnings of bioethics. Bioethics as a philosophical science. Ways of practicing bioethics and main principles.

W3 Contemporary bioethics and the practice of science. Reflection on the influence of man on nature. Bioethical minimalism. Development directions. Towards the bioethics of dignity.

W4-5 Ethical problems of animal research

W6 Institutionalization and globalization of bioethics. Bioethics committees, national ethics committees, participation of NGOs.

W7 Ethics of conducting clinical trials with humans - ethical and legal aspects. Hospitals ethics committees.

W8 Transplantology. Ethical problems of organ donation. Definition and statement of clinical death. The donors are alive and dead. Legal status in Poland.

W9 Eugenics. History and contemporary problems on the border of eugenics. Gene therapy. Planning of the child's characteristics.

W10 Problems of the human embryo in the context of medically assisted reproduction and surrogacy. Prenatal research. Abortion. Early abortion measures. Other methods of family planning.

W11 Euthanasia on request. Resignation from persistent therapy.

W12-13 Bioethical aspects of contemporary addictions. Addiction to the Internet, social networks, mobile phone, work and shopping.

W14 Contemporary techniques of plant and animal transgenation. Ethical problems of the production and use of GMOs.

W15 Artificial intelligence. The impact of this technology on people and nature

1. Bioetyka. Weronika Chańska, Joanna Różyńska (red.), Wyd. Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2013

2. Edmund Kowalski, Osoba i bioetyka, Kraków 2009

3. W. Bołoz, Bioetyka i prawa człowieka, Wyd. UKSW, Warszawa 2007

4. Badania na embrionami ludzkimi w świetle etyki i prawa, Ewa Podrez, Tomasz Stawecki (red.), Wyd. UW, Warszawa 2012

5. Casare Guerreschi, Nowe uzależnienia, Wyd. Salwator, Kraków 2010

6. Badania naukowe z udziałem ludzi w biomedycynie. Standardy międzynarodowe, Joanna Różyńska, Marcin Waligóra (red.), Wyd. Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2012

7. Włodzimierz Galewicz, Antologia bioetyki t. 1 Wokół śmierci i umierania, Wyd. Universitas, Kraków 2009

8. Maria Nowacka, Etyka a transplantacje, Wyd. PWN, Warszawa 2003

Literatura uzupełniająca:

1. Maja Grzymkowska, Standardy bioetyczne w prawie europejskim, Wyd. Wolters Kluwer, Warszawa 2009

2. R. Otowicz Etyka życia, Wyd. WAM, Kraków 1998

3. Włodzimierz Galewicz, Antologia bioetyki t. 2 Początki życia ludzkiego, Wyd. Universitas, Kraków 2010

Knowledge: students are able to define the basic assumptions of bioethics, know the genesis and main developments of biomedical and biological methods. Students know the main contemporary bioethical issues.

Skills: Student is able to justify the necessity of referring to bioethics and its application in biological and medical investigations and practice. Using this knowledge, he can spot and define the ethical problems emerging from new developments in biomedicine. The student has a rational approach combined with moral sensitivity while judging various controversial biomedical and environmental issues, and is able to independently assess them.

Competences: the student is able to define and justify his ethical values and bioethical standing. Student has the competence to participate in contemporary bioethical discourse. She/He is prepared for the ethical evaluation of activities in the fields of biomedicine, biological research and agriculture.

Written exam (90 minutes). Evaluation scale from 2 to 5. After each lecture, questions concerning the content of the lecture will be presented (1-4, about 30 in total). During the exam, the student will draw three questions from the whole set, which he should address by writing a short essay (0.5 - 1 page in answer to each question). Each answer will be scored on a scale of 0-10 points. The sum of points will define the final grade. The second term exam will have the same form.