Plagues, Principles, and Policy: An Introduction to Philosophical Bioethics

Catalog description

If you’re reading this, you survived a pandemic. If you have lingering ethical questions about the social response, this course is for you. It’s designed to offer a rigorous introduction to the field of bioethics. Bioethics is a key field of study for anyone considering a career in healthcare. But it’s also an important field for anyone who is interested in learning more about – and engaging in – the application of ethical theories to real-life quandaries involving health. When pandemics happen, bioethicists are called upon to guide hospitals, civil society, doctors, and the state in grappling with tough choices. They aim to give principled answers to questions like: how should scarce medical resources like ventilators and vaccines be distributed? When are mandatory lockdowns and community quarantines justified? And what duties do we have to safeguard health in future societies?