POLICIES and SYLLABUS Ethics of Biomedical Engineering Innovation Fall, 2011 T/Th 12:00 1:15

Transcription

1 POLICIES and SYLLABUS Ethics of Biomedical Engineering Innovation Fall, 2011 T/Th 12:00 1:15 Feilim Mac Gabhann Youseph Yazdi Elizabeth Logsdon Eric Rice Course Overview: Why study ethics? Consider events of the last decade Enron, Hurricane Katrina, the AIG bailout and executive compensation, Bernard Madoff s Ponzi scheme, Vioaxx and drug testing, robotic warfare, cloning and tissue harvesting and the like. Our society is replete with situations for making decisions that have ethical dimensions. Unfortunately, previously too many of those decisions have been poor ethical choices and we all reap the consequences. And as our science advances, the ethical choices become more complicated and the consequences become more serious. This course engages some of the emerging issues associated with biomedical engineering ethics. The idea is to prepare you not just to consider ethics from a historical or legal standpoint, but rather to do ethics to recognize situations, analyze factors and act ethically in a changing world. Moreover, we intend that your skills extend beyond your own individual situation to the organizations in which you work and to which you belong. The primary format for learning in this course is seminar style with reading, researching and sharing of information as well as structured, experiential activities designed to build skills through practice and interpersonal exchange. Class time is devoted to discussion, observation, feedback, debate, exercises and presentation. Specific Objectives: Course activities revolve around several specific objectives that become demonstrable activities by the end of the semester. Specifically, you should be able to: 1. Identify, understand and explain critical existing and emerging issues that define the field of bioethics in engineering. 2. Learn about and explain the seminal cases in the field that have shaped the ethics landscape. 3. Master a toolkit for considering, analyzing and making decisions about ethical issues. 4. Identify and critique contemporary theoretical perspectives for considering ethical issues. 5. Work constructively in teams to produce ideas and products and to give and receive useful and constructive feedback. 6. Master, sharpen and refine critical oral, visual and writing communication skills necessary to perform as effective professionals. 1

2 Attendance and Participation: Class attendance and participation are required due to the seminar and experiential nature of the class. If you are late to class, please enter quietly. Also remember to turn off cell phones until class is over. During class, please participate in the discussions and exercises. Assignments: You will complete several types of assignments during the semester. Among your tasks will be reading and analyzing cases, interviewing stakeholders including content experts, synthesizing information, writing position and reaction papers, preparing visuals and graphics, debating and arguing positions and roles, and preparing research projects. Expect to produce some writing, visual and/or oral product each week of the class. Directions for each assignment will be presented and discussed in class. Assignments include information about due dates, product specifications, grade value of products, and grading criteria. You will complete several assignments as collaborative projects as explained in class. Expect to produce about 25 pages of final copy as well as several presentations (all assignments and case studies included). While your instructors reserve the right to adjust assignments and their values, you may expect our assignments and their value to be as follows: Case study write-ups, reaction papers and other assignments 40% Class participation 30% Case analysis (Final Exam) 30% Grades: Grades are assigned for class participation (exercises, assignment activities, and discussion), presentations, cases, reaction/role papers, draft materials, and final copy of products. Expect occasional in-class writing, especially in response to materials from classmates or guest speakers. In class discussion and participation is essential and will be assessed on an on-going basis. Each assignment is graded, based on criteria for that assignment. Assignments carry individual weights toward your final grade with individuals weights indicated with the assignment. Typically your papers are returned for consideration within two weeks and/or before the next product are due. You may re-write any one assignment in an effort to improve the grade you earned; your final grade for that assignment becomes the average of the two marks. Often re-write means major revision and involves rethinking and reworking papers rather than just correcting grammar mistakes. Re-writing activities include meeting with your instructor, preparing a written plan for the revision and producing final copy. Note that your instructor reserves the right to substitute an alternative assignment as your rewrite opportunity. Rewrites are due not later than the last day of classes. Normally a grade of "Incomplete" is not available; if a problem arises, please see me and we will work on the issues. The penalty for plagiarism is an automatic "F" and possible dismissal from the University. We will discuss the meaning of the term in class. Academic Integrity: The strength of the University depends on academic and personal integrity. In this course you must be honest and truthful. Ethical violations include 2

3 cheating on exams, plagiarism, reuse of assignments, forgery and falsification, lying, facilitating academic dishonesty and unfair competition. You will complete some assignments with a colleague. Other assignments you must complete independently. The expectations for different assignments are explained with the assignment. You must reference sources of information in your papers. We will discuss guidelines for references in class. Report any violations of academic integrity that you witness to your instructor. You may consult the Associate Dean of Student Affairs and/or the chairperson of the Ethics Board beforehand. See the guide on Academic Ethics for Undergraduates and the Ethics Board Web site ( for more information. Conferences: Informal or scheduled visits are welcome anytime during office hours. Papers: Papers must be printed by laser or inkjet and submitted on appropriate paper for the kind of product you are writing. Most copy will be submitted on 8 1/2" x 11" paper with 1" margins on all sides; further, the document format should conform to standard practice for business communication. Place your name and appropriate identification on each page. Staple pages together rather than place them in a binder. Back up your work and keep a copy of each paper for your records. Your graded papers will be returned for your examination and as part of a general class discussion. Note on the Assignment Sheets how many copies of any given assignment you must submit; occasionally you may be asked to submit more than one copy of some draft materials. Due Dates: Products are due as class begins on the date indicated. Late (which means anytime after class activities begin) papers will be marked down one letter grade for each missed class. Draft materials also are required for several assignments and will be discussed in class. Papers will not be due on religious holidays you observe. Writing Assistance: You will find a tutor to help you with a specific skill, a grammatical problem, or provide a general reaction to your draft at the JHU Writing Center. The phone number is (410) or via at writingcenter@jhu.edu. Accommodating Students with Disabilities: The University and your instructor are committed to provide appropriate accommodations for students with documented disabilities. Turn in documentation and register with the Associate Director for Disability Services, Garland Hall, Suite 130, and (410) Notify me of your special needs early in the semester. If issues occur during the semester, please bring information within two weeks. Texts: The texts for this semester are as follows: The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot ( ISBN ). In addition to this paperback text, participants will read and analyze several cases each week as well as supplemental readings assigned and/or provided by the instructor. 3

4 Class Schedule: The following class schedule describes how we will spend our time together this semester. While the schedule may change due to class dynamics, the guest speaker schedule, current events, or instructor decisions, use the draft to plan your semester activities. In general, new topics begin on Thursday with a presentation and discussion of the ideas and issues around a topic. Cases and readings are assigned on Thursday, due the following Tuesday when discussion and presentation associated with that particular issue will conclude. Week Expected Activities 8/29 Introduce class, expectations and assignments. Review expectations, class organization, assignments and semester plans. Discuss basic Toolkit. Collect information about previous experience with ethical issues. Introduce contemporary theories for considering ethics and compare the Toolkit to these perspectives. 9/5 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for initial cases/situations to apply the Toolkit. Introduce the issues around the case of Henrietta Lacks including owning nature, patient and individual rights and intellectual property. 9/12 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with intellectual property/owning nature. Introduce issues associated with vaccines. 9/19 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with community rights and individual dangers. Introduce issues, ideas and cases associated with human augmentation. 9/26 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with access to health care and elective treatments. Introduce ideas, issues and cases associated human subject research. 10/3 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with human subjects research. Introduce ideas, issues and cases associated with working in cost constrained environments. 10/10 Introduce ideas, issues and cases associated with conflict of interest. 10/17 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with conflict of interest. Introduce ideas, issues and cases associated with animal research. 4

5 10/24 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with animal research. Introduce ideas, issues and cases associated with cloning, stem cells and tissue harvesting. 10/31 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with therapeutic cloning. Introduce issues, ideas and cases associated with scarcity of resources and global responsibility. 11/7 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for issues associated with the rationing of health-related services. Introduce the issues, ideas and cases associated with genetic predetermination of position in society. 11/14 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for personalized and group therapy issues. Review the Toolkit and ideas developed during the semester. Assess progress on team cases. 11/21 Read, discuss and turn in assignment for final cases. Work on cases. 11/28 Make case study presentations. Evaluate the course. 5