Department of Philosophy

University of Toronto at Scarborough

Fall 2017

PHLB09H3F: Biomedical Ethics

Professor: Dr. Joshua Brandt
Contact: joshua.brandt@utoronto.ca
Office: Portable 102 (Philosophy Department), Office 102
Course Times: Tuesdays and Thursdays 4-5pm (IC 130)
Office Hours: Tuesdays and Thursdays 1-2pm

Course Description:
This course surveys core ethical issues that arise in the context of health care and
the biomedical sciences. The first few weeks of this course are designed to provide
students with a grounding in the background theories that inform specialized
biomedical problems. We then move to topics in procreative ethics (e.g. do we
have an obligation to bring the healthiest children into existence), issues pertaining
to the patient-physician relationship (e.g. what kind of information is required for
informed consent?), and puzzles surrounding death (e.g. how do we determine
when a patient is dead?). Where possible, the ethical discussion will be
complemented with corresponding Canadian case law.
Course Evaluation:
Midterm (30%) October 19th
1500 Word Essay (25%) Due November 16th
Participation (10%)
Final Exam (35%) TBA
Policies:
1) Academic Integrity: According to the University of Toronto's Code of
Behaviour on Academic Matters (August 1995), which all students are
expected to know and respect, the following counts as an academic offence:
copying or paraphrasing extensive passages from sources without
acknowledgement; submitting a term paper written in whole or in part by
someone else; submitting a term paper for credit in more than one course
without the permission of the instructor; copying the answers of another
 student in any test, examination or take-home assignments. In any of these
cases appropriate penalties will be applied. It is the policy of the Department
and of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences that ALL cases of plagiarism are
subject to disciplinary measures at either the Department or Faculty level.
Individual faculty members do not have the discretion to waive these
measures.
2) AccessAbility Services: I am committed to accommodating students with
disabilities. If you have a disability that requires accommodation, I
recommend contacting AccessAbility Services as soon as possible (S302,
416-287-7560) or speaking with me in person. AccessAbility Services
include the assessment of student needs, alternative testing, note takers,
adaptive material, assistive technology, and the facilitation of inclusion on
campus.
3) Late work: Unexcused late work will be penalized 3% per day up to a
maximum of 20%. Work received over 10 days late will not be accepted.
Extensions can be granted for a documented illness or another good reason
(if discussed with your TA in advance of the deadline).
4) Religious accommodation: I will arrange reasonable accommodations for
the needs of students who observe religious holy days other than those
already accommodated by ordinary scheduling and statutory holidays.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have such a need.
5) Devices in class: Electronic devices are acceptable in class, but please be
mindful that other students may be distracted by them. If you find yourself
browsing in a potentially distracting manner, please sit behind students who
are not using electronic devices.
6) Readings: There may be minor changes to the reading list as the term
progresses. Any changes will be announced in class and posted to
blackboard. Please stay apprised of such announcements.
7) Returned Work: The TAs for this course have been requested to return
work no later than 2 weeks after submission. In extenuating circumstances,
myself or your TA will communicate about delays.
 Schedule of Readings
Week 1 (Sep. 5th-7th)
Topic: What is biomedical ethics?
Reading: Chapter 1 +2 (Engaging Bioethics); The Challenge of Cultural
Relativism (Rachels)

Week 2 (Sep. 12th-14th)

Topics: Moral theory, and divine command theory
Reading: Chapter 2 (Engaging Bioethics)

Week 3 (Sep. 19th- 21st)

Topic: Approaches to normative ethics and biomedical ethics
Reading: Chapter 3 (Engaging Bioethics)

Week 4 (Sep. 26th- 28th)

Topic: Procreation and child rearing
Reading: Chapter 3 Bioethics in Canada (38-55); Winnipeg Child and Family
Services (Northwest Area) v. G. (D.F.)

Week 5 (Oct. 3rd-5th)

Topic: Autonomy and informed consent
Readings: Chapter 4 Bioethics in Canada (56-73); Reibl v. Hughes; Murray v.
McMurchy; Mulloy v. Hop Sang

Week 6 (Oct. 10th-12th)

Topic: Reading week
Week 7 (Oct. 17th-19th)
Topic: Review and Midterm
**midterm date/time to be announced in the first few weeks of term**
Week 8 (Oct. 24th-26th)
Topic: Human research
Readings: Chapter 6 Bioethics in Canada (93-110); Halushka v. University of
Saskatchewan et. al.
Week 9 (Oct 31st-Nov. 2nd)
Topic: Conception and embryos
Readings: Chapter 1 Bioethics in Canada (1-20)
Week 10 (Nov. 7th-9th)
Topic: Fetuses
Readings: Chapter 2 Bioethics in Canada (21-36); R. v. Morgentaler
Week 11 (Nov. 14th-16th)
Topic: Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia
Readings: Chapter 9 Bioethics in Canada (145-162); Carter v. Canada
Week 12 (Nov. 21st-23rd)
Topic: Defining Death
Readings: Chapter 10 Bioethics in Canada (163-179)

Week 13 (Nov. 28th-30th)

Topic: What is disease?
Reading: Chapter 13 Bioethics in Canada (212-229)