Simon Fraser University
Engaging the World

Course Outlines

Spring 2025 - HSCI 319W D100

Applied Health Ethics (3)

Class Number: 3491

Delivery Method: In Person

Overview

  • Course Times + Location:

    Jan 6 – Apr 9, 2025: Tue, 2:30–4:20 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Exam Times + Location:

    Apr 14, 2025
    Mon, 7:00–10:00 p.m.
    Burnaby

  • Prerequisites:

    75 units including nine HSCI units with a minimum grade of C-, one of which must be a 200-division course.

Description

CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:

Practical ethical and legal issues in health sciences, emphasizing population and public health. Case studies approach highlighting current ethical dilemmas and decision-making in the context of global to local legal frameworks. Writing.

COURSE DETAILS:

In this course, we will explore ethical issues in health sciences, emphasizing population level health. Fruitful discussion of ethical issues requires a background in ethical theory, and so we will begin the class by considering canonical theories within ethics and frameworks that apply these theories to the context of public health. We will then apply these theories to ethical issues within public health, including the conflict between public health and individual autonomy, the just distribution of health resources, and responsibility for health outcomes. The aim of this course is to provide students with tools to discuss and assess ethical arguments and to form their own views on debates within population and public health. Students will be expected to write position papers, engage in critical analysis, and participate actively in classroom discussions of these topics.

Grading

  • Short essay 1 20%
  • Short essay 2 20%
  • Students presentations 15%
  • Participation 5%
  • Final exam 40%

Materials

REQUIRED READING:

Stephen Holland, Public Health Ethics, 2nd Ed. (Cambridge) ISBN: 0745662196


REQUIRED READING NOTES:

Your personalized Course Material list, including digital and physical textbooks, are available through the SFU Bookstore website by simply entering your Computing ID at: shop.sfu.ca/course-materials/my-personalized-course-materials.

Registrar Notes:

ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS

SFU’s Academic Integrity website http://www.sfu.ca/students/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.

Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the university community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the university. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the university. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html

RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATION

Students with a faith background who may need accommodations during the term are encouraged to assess their needs as soon as possible and review the Multifaith religious accommodations website. The page outlines ways they begin working toward an accommodation and ensure solutions can be reached in a timely fashion.