MOUNT CARMEL COLLEGE OF NURSING COURSE SYLLABUS HUMANITIES 220 Ethical and Moral Issues 2 Credit Hours Fall Semester, 1995
Faculty: 1 Dónal O'Mathúna, Ph.D.; Office #318; Phone: 234-5414 Class Meetings: Class: Tuesday 8:00-10:00 am in Classroom B Office Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday 3:00-4:00 pm & by appointment Textbook: Munson, R. (1992). Intervention and Reflection: Basic Issues in Medical Ethics, 4th Ed. Belmont, Cal.: Wadsworth. Tolstoy, L. (1886). The Death of Ivan Ilych. Course Description: Explores a variety of ethical and moral issues that impact the individual, family and community. The course focuses on clarification of individual values and the process of ethical decision-making. Special emphasis is placed on ethical and moral issues impacting the health care profession. Course Objectives: At the completion of Humanities 220 the student will be able to: 1. Describe the general historical development of ethics 2. Differentiate between ethics, morality and religion 3. Describe basic ethical theories 4. Describe major moral principle 5. Clarify his/her personal ethical/values system 6. Compare models of ethical decision making 7. Utilize ethical decision making models in professional practice 8. Examine ethical issues in health profession which impact the individual, family, community Units of Study: I. Reasoning & Critical Thinking II. Ethical Theories III. Ethical Principles IV. Models of Ethical Decision Making V. Ethical Issues in the Health Profession
Content Outline: 2 Week Date Topic Assignments 1. 08/22 Introduction, Goals, Ethics 2. 08/29 Ethical Reasoning, Values and Virtues handouts 3. 09/05 Ethical Theories pp. 1-31 4. 09/12 Ethical Principles pp. 31-45 5. 09/19 Abortion I: Pro-Choice Principles pp. 47-67, 72-82 6. 09/26 Abortion ll: Pro-Life Principles pp. 67-72, handout 7. 10/03 Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide pp. 142-158, 163-7 Paper 1 due 8. 10/10 Advanced Directives and Living Wills handouts by Valorie Jones, Social Services Director, MCEH 9. 10/17 a. Midterm 10. 10/24 11. 10/31 12. 11/07 13. 11/14 b. The Ethics of Withdrawal v. Withholding 14. 11/21 Ethics Committees, Ethics Consultations and Catholic Identity at Mount Carmel by Adele Sheffieck, Vice-President, Mission Services, MCMC 15. 11/28 Paper 2 Draft copy due 16. 12/05 Paper 2 due 17. 12/12 Final (8:00-10:00 am) The topics for the six weeks left blank above will be chosen by the students from among the other topics in the textbook. Learning Methods: Lecture/Discussion Video Presentation Case Studies Class Participation
Assignments/Examinations: 3 Exams Midterm Exam: this will be a one-hour exam which will include about 15 multiple-choice questions based on the objective aspects of the course material, and a few essay/short answer questions. Final Exam: this will be a two-hour, cumulative exam of the same type as the midterm. Reading Journal In this journal you should write down your reactions to, reflections on, and questions about, each week's reading. This journal will act as evidence that you have done the reading for that week. Therefore, it must. contain references to at least 3 points made in the reading. These should be referenced by noting the author and page number in the reading (this does not have to be in APA). At least one 8.5" x II" page should be written each week. These may be hand-written. This journal must be personally handed in at class every week. Please turn in only that week's journal (not a notebook). If a class is missed, the journal will be accepted only if it is turned in within one week of class along with the student's handwritten class notes made by reading over two other sets of notes. If a video was watched during class, a summary of the main points raised in that video must also be turned in. This is not intended to be a gruelling assignment, but one in which you get credit for doing the reading and reflecting on it. I will not be able to read every one of your journais, but will read every second or third one. These will be graded according to the following scale: 10 points -well done, including the three references 8 points -satisfactory, but some aspect missing or poorly done 6 points -unsatisfactory 0 points -nothing turned in Paper on The Death of Ivan Ilych This paper should be 2-3 pages long, and should describe what you learned about death and people who are dying from reading Tolstoy's book. Particular reference should be made to how the story affected your views on how to relate to dying people. For example, did it reinforce certain ideas you had, go against some ideas, cause you to change some ideas, or not affect you at all? In commenting on these things, reference must be made to specific passages, or events in the story. One page of your paper must also deal with how this novel would contribute to a discussion on euthanasia. How would your reactions to the death of Ivan influence your views on euthanasia? Has reading the novel given you any new insight into this issue? Case Study Analysis Paper This paper will analyze a case chosen by' the student from either his/her experience or from the textbook. It should be 3-5 pages long and start with a short summary of the case, highlighting the ethical decisions and issues. Four sections will follow. The conclusions reached by the patient, physician, nurse and any other involved person will be given. The reasons, values, principles and theories justifying each person's conclusion should be clearly stated. If any of
these four persons was not involved in the case, a position will have to be invented. Take this into consideration when choosing a case, as you may be more or less comfortable creating positions. Finally, the student will state what his/her own conclusion in this case would have been, and give it's ethical justification. 4 NOTE: a first draft of this paper is due one week before the actual paper is due. This draft will be submitted for "peer review." The aim of this is to help improve the papers, and help students learn from others' papers. This draft should have your Social Security Number on it, not your name. One point will be deducted from the score of your final paper if your draft copy is not ready on time, or you do not participate in the peer review. First Alternative to the Case Study Paper A presentation on one of the issues to be discussed in the second half of the course may be done instead of the Case Study Paper. This will be a 10-minute presentation of the main arguments either for or against one of the controversial topics in that issue. Another student will then present the opposite argument. Each student will be expected to answer one question from the other student. A summary sheet containing the main points and references must also be prepared (no more than 1 page). This assignment will be limited to 2 students per week for each of the six topics to be assigned on the second week of class. The grade will be based mostly on the content of the presentation. More details will be given out later on how the presentation will be graded. Second Alternative to the Case Study Paper Another option for the second paper would be to visit the Mount Carmel Ethics Committee and write a paper about this. The paper would be 2-3 pages long, in APA format. In it you would describe the general role and functions of ethics committees at hospitals or nursing homes. For this, you should have one or two references. Then, describe the meeting you attended and your reactions to It. When Ms. Sheffieck gives her presentation in class on November 21, you will also be required to give a short informal summary of your reactions to the ethics committee. The Ethics Committee meets in the Medical Center on the second Monday of the month from 5:30-7:30 pm. This semester, the meetings will be on Sep 11, Oct 9 and Nov 13. Only one student will be able to attend each meeting. Students interested in this assignment should give me their names in writing before the end of the second class (8/29). If more than three students want to do this assignment, names will be drawn at the end of that class. Evaluation: Points Midterm 25 Final Exam 35 Case Study Paper 20 Paper on the Book 10 Reading Journal 10
Course Letter-Grade Determination: A = 91-100% B = 82-90 % C = 73-81 % D = 67-72 % E = 66 % and below 5 Academic Dishonesty Statement: Students are referred to the Academic Dishonesty Statement located in the Student Handbook, pages B6-B8. Anyone found cheating on any work will receive a zero for that work. A second offense will result in an E for the course. Students who have questions about what constitutes academic dishonesty or procedures associated with academic dishonesty should consult with the instructor. Faculty Expectations of Students: 1. Attendance in class is expected. 2. Involvement in class discussions is expected. 3. Reading assignments should be completed prior to the respective class meeting. 4. Assignments should be turned in on due dates. 10% of the grade for that work will be deducted for each week (or part of a week) that an assignment is late. 5. Prompt notification of faculty is expected if the student is unable to complete an assignment on time. 6. Opportunity for make-up exams is limited. It is the student's responsibility to notify the faculty prior to a scheduled exam if a make-up exam is to be arranged. Only serious reasons for missing an exam will be accepted (illness, family emergency, etc.). 7. All papers handed in (but not the reading journals or first drafts) should be formatted and referenced according to APA guidelines. All papers not formatted according to this method will have one point deducted from them. 8. Although this is not an English course, English is the language to be used! In the interests of communication and understanding, grammatically correct English will be expected. All papers containing five or more spelling or grammar mistakes will have one point deducted from them. DPO 8/17/95
Humanities 220 -Fall 1995 Course Outline Week Date Topic Assignments 1. 08/22 Introduction, Goals, Ethics 2. 08/29 Ethical Reasoning, Values and Virtues handouts 3. 09/05 Ethical Theories pp. 1-31 4. 09/12 Ethical Principles pp. 31-45 5. 09/19 Abortion I: Pro-Choice Principles pp. 47-67, 72-82 6. 09/26 Abortion ll: Pro-Life Principles pp. 67-72, handout 7. 10/03 Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide pp. 142-158, 163-7 Paper 1 due 8. 10/10 Advanced Directives and Living Wills handouts 9. 10/17 a. Midterm by Valorie Jones, Social Services Director, MCEH b. The Ethics of Withdrawal v. Withholding 10. 10/24 Treating or Terminating: Impaired Infants pp. 103-24 11. 10/31 AIDS and Its Issues: Confidentiality; Social Issues pp. 205-32, 252-3 12. 11/07 Ethics Committees, Ethics Consultations handouts and Catholic Identity at Mount Carmel by Adele Sheffieck, Vice-President, Mission Services, MCMC 13. 11/14 Genetic Issues pp. 407-444 14. 11/21 Medical Ethics and the Bible handout 15. 11/28 Reproductive Technologies pp. 459-92 Paper 2 draft copy due 16. 12/05 Limited Resources pp. 521-38, 549-53 Paper 2 (case study) due 17. 12/12 Final (8:00-10:00 am) DPO 8/28/95