Clinical Ethics

Catalog description

In this course, students will be trained in case analysis, scientific presentation and reporting in the field of clinical ethics. The course consists of three parts. In the first part, we undertake a general exploration of the aims of clinical ethics and the place of clinical ethics consultations therein. We study the position of Roman Catholic bioethics towards clinical ethical issues. In the second part, we look at approaches to ethical analysis in case consultation. The students gain insight into the merits of these approaches and learn to apply them to clinical cases. In the third part, we focus on an issue that is central in clinical ethics: decision making. We study the standard of informed consent, and decision making for mentally incapacitated patients and patients who are unable to communicate. We study ways to resolve conflict when decisions by patients or their surrogates do not align with the mission and identity of Roman Catholic healthcare organizations.