Universitat Internacional de Catalunya
Bioethics and Legislation in Research
Other languages of instruction: Catalan, Spanish
Teaching staff
Students are requested to email to arrange a meeting.
Introduction
The classes are a simple but comprehensive approach to the basic concepts of the field of bioethics, a multidisciplinary approach to the most challenging moral and policy issues that scientists and practitioners face.
The classes for the course comprise two parts:
1. Human experimentation. Study of different cases and situations which enable the analysis of the most important aspects when evaluating claims that research using people is ethically correct.
2. Experimental animal. Approach to the basic concepts related to the animal science lab, a multidisciplinary branch of science that contributes to the humanitarian use of animals in the context of biomedical research and obtaining reproducible results, unbiased and informative.
Pre-course requirements
By the nature of the subject, it is aimed at health science students entering the field of research and practice.
The student must have a minimum knowledge of written English, since the contents of the course will be primarily in English.
Objectives
Provide adequate training for students to be able to reflect on the ethical aspects of their practices as well as to present the ethical standards that they will encounter throughout their career.
Provide appropriate training so that students are able to investigate human beings in accordance with the principles of ethics and apply scientific and technical knowledge to Science Laboratory Animals in experimental Biomedical Research.
Syllabus
The moral phenomenon
Ethical rationality and moral judgments
Good and dignity
Freedom and autonomy
Human action
Underlying principles of human acts
Indicators of morality
Moral law
Human conscience
Modalities of conscience
Principles to follow one's conscience
The virtues and values
Nature and acquisition of virtue.
The fundamental virtues
Ethics dilemas
The lesser evil
Double effect
Cooperation to evil
Principles of Bioethics
Principialist bioethics
Personalist bioethics
Origin and development of Bioethics
Definition of Bioethics
Brief historical panorama
Founding models in Bioethics
Methodological principles of ethical decisions
Ethical components of human acts
Analysis of the moral decision of the health professional
Stages in the decision making process
The ethics of research with human beings
History of human experimentation
Genetic experimentation and embryo experimentation
Informed Consent and Research Committees
Introduction to animal experimentation
Animal research as an ethical dilemma
Ethical guidelines for the use of animals in biomedical research
Legal framework and Animal Ethics Committees
Teaching and learning activities
Online
- Virtual lessons
- Independent and supervised work
- Case studies
- Collective discussion and learning
Evaluation systems and criteria
Online
- Participation in online forums about CASES (40%)
- Continuous evaluation through TEST on documents (60%)
Bibliography and resources
A. Manuals
English
1. Vaughn, L., “Bioethics. Principles, Issues, and Cases”, 2nd edition (2012), Oxford University Press.
2. Murphy, T.F., “Case Studies in Biomedical Research Ethics”, 1st edition (2004), The MIT Press.
3. Veatch, R.M., Haddad, A.M., English, D.C., “Case Studies in Biomedical Ethics”, 1st edition (2009), Oxford University Press.
4. Beauchamp, T.L., Childress, J.F., “Principles of Biomedical Ethics”, 7th edition (2012), Oxford University Press.
Spanish
5. Tomás, G.M., Postigo, E., “Bioética personalista: ciencia y controversias”, Ediciones Internacionales Universitarias, S.A., 2007.
6. Sgreccia, E., “Manual de Bioética I (Fundamentos y ética biomédica)”, B.A.C. 2009.
7. Sgreccia, E., “Manual de Bioética II (Aspectos medico sociales)”, B.A.C. 2014.
8. Jonas, H., “Técnica, Medicina y Ética”, 1997, Paidos.
B. Online documents
1. Hippocratic Oath: http://goo.gl/fZ1RoN
2. Nuremberg Code: http://goo.gl/qPlOAz (Text) http://goo.gl/CMKnSe (Video)
3. Helsinki Declaration: http://goo.gl/MvzHvc
4. The Belmont Report: http://goo.gl/Wwf0mn
5. Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (Oviedo, 4.IV.1997): http://goo.gl/pRrVEo (Text) http://goo.gl/mesCtK (Article)
6. Spanish Basic Law 41/2002 on the autonomy of the patient and the rights and obligations with regard to clinical information and documentation: http://goo.gl/wEIwkU
7. Regulations on Clinical Trials (European Commission): http://goo.gl/aCJOfg
C. Codes of Ethics for dentists
1. European Union: Code of Ethics for Dentists: http://goo.gl/idKmkA
2. American Dental Association: http://goo.gl/rq8yxp
3. Basic Ethics in Dentistry. The Academy of Dental Learning & OSHA Training: http://goo.gl/OLO5da
D. Web Sites
1. Bioedge: http://www.bioedge.org/
2. Bioethics Site: http://www.bioeticaweb.com
3. Documentación Bioética UNAV: http://www.unav.es/cdb/