Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE HSC3020

 
TITLE Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas in Health Care Practice

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 10

 
DEPARTMENT Faculty of Health Sciences

 
DESCRIPTION This study-unit centres on ethical dilemmas and ethical decision making processes that are common to health care practice. Furthermore, it will explore the different ethical theories and principles to enable the student to reason moral discourse. The acquisition of such will lead the student to focus upon the necessity of morality in care in the patients' best interest. In particular it will explore the ethical concepts of "care" including but not limited to patient related issues as well as professional issues in health care such as righteous practice and ethical conduct; end of life issues including pain and suffering; quality of life, quantity of life and sanctity of life; human dignity and consensus building approach. Using case studies, the student will analyse clinical and organisational issues from an interdisciplinary perspective.

Study-unit Aims:

The aim of this study-unit is to engage students in professional debates about various ethical dilemmas that occur in the practice setting with the intent of exploring the multifaceted dimension of ethical decision making. In so doing, students will be enabled to engage in ethical decision making in an informed and evidence-based manner.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- explain how personal, professional and organisational values impact ethical decision making;
- consider a range of issues that may "answer" ethical dilemmas;
- discuss the moral obligations of the health care provider vis-a-vis patient care;
- recognise the patients' role and perspective in the ethical decision making process;
- discuss an action from an ethical perspective;
- evaluate the usefulness of ethical theories and ethical decision making models in health care.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- engage in critical debates on current and topical ethical dilemmas;
- address ethical challenges in a professional manner;
- reflect on moral dilemmas in own field of practice;
- access, retrieve and utilise evidence that is relevant to the topic of study;
- demonstrate an ability to think and write critically;
- demonstrate effective communication skills.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Beauchamp, T.L. and Childress, J.F. (2001) Principles of biomedical ethics. (5th Edition). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Cauchi, M. (2003) Ethical issues in practice for nurses, midwives and family medicine. Malta: Bioethics Consultative Committee.
Devettere, R.J. (2010) Practical Decision Making in Health Care Ethics: Cases and Concepts. (3rd Edition). Washington D.C.: Georgetown University Press. [Required text].
Foster, I.R, Lasser, J., & Lasser, J. (2010) Professional Ethics in Midwifery Practice. Jones & Bartlett Learning.
Fry, S.T. anston, M-J. ( 2002) Ethics in nursing practice : a guide to ethical decision making. (2nd Edition) Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
Holm, S. (1997) Ethical problems in clinical practice : the ethical reasoning of health care professionals. Manchester: Manchester University Press.
Melia, K. M. (2004) Health Care Ethics: Lessons from Intensive Care. Sage Publications.
Council of Europe, Convention of Human Rights and Biomedicine (1997) (online):
http://fds.oup.com/www.oup.co.uk/pdf/bt/cassese/cases/part3/ch16/1121.pdf
United Nations (1948) The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (online): http://www.un.org/en/documents/udhr/

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Online Learning

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Online Moderated Discussions and Postings SEM1 No 50%
Assignment SEM1 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Noel Borg

 

 
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The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit