MSMS 508 Medical Ethics

This course is scheduled as a block of up to 18 contact hours with various instructors and professionals. The goal is to provide didactic experiences for graduate students in specific areas within the field of medical ethics. The need for these experiences stems from the recognition that ethical dilemmas are inherent in medical care. The students will develop an understanding of the principles of medical ethics and a system of ethical reasoning that will result in consistent decisions. The didactic activities will include presentations of clinical cases which have been selected to represent ethical dilemmas similar to those that are likely encountered in real life. Activities include a combination of lectures, assigned readings and small group case discussions covering different subjects within the four main areas of medical ethics, namely: ethical issues of scientific research, ethical issues of the doctor-patient relationship, beginning-of-life and end-of-life ethical issues. Corequisites: MSMS 507, MSMS 508, and MSMS 509. (1)