BETH5204: Semester 1, 2022

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Units BETH5204 Semester 1 2022 [Block mode]

Unit of study_

BETH5204: Clinical Ethics

Overview

This unit will facilitate students to critically review the ethical issues that underlie the delivery of healthcare. Students will explore: dominant theoretical approaches relevant to ethical reasoning in the clinical context; key ethical concepts in the clinical encounter (such as autonomy, professionalism and confidentiality); major contexts in which ethical issues arise in clinical practice (such as the start and end of life); and the role of clinical ethics consultation. The unit will also consider specific issues and populations within clinical practice, such as healthcare in underserved populations. This Unit is taught predominantly online. Depending on student interest, periodic interactive workshops will also be offered. These can be attended in person, or via Zoom (synchronously or asynchronously).

Details

Academic unit	Public Health
Unit code	BETH5204
Unit name	Clinical Ethics
Session, year ?	Semester 1, 2022
Attendance mode	Block mode
Location	Remote
Credit points	6

Enrolment rules

Prohibitions ?	None
Prerequisites ?	None
Corequisites ?	None
Available to study abroad and exchange students	Yes

Teaching staff and contact details

Coordinator	Ainsley Newson, ainsley.newson@sydney.edu.au
Administrative staff	For queries relating to BETH5204 specifically, please contact relevant staff via the details available on the Unit's Canvas page. For all candidature-related or other administrative enquiries please email: ssph.education-support@sydney.edu.au

Type	Description	Weight	Due	Length
Assignment	Essay Written assessment	55%	STUVAC	2,500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Assignment	Case study analysis Written assessment	35%	Week 06	1,500 words
Outcomes assessed:
Participation	Participation Participation	10%	Weekly	n/a
Outcomes assessed:

Detailed information for each assessment can be found on Canvas.

Assessment criteria

Assessments are graded in accordance with the marking matrix for all BETH Units of Study. A copy of this matrix is available in the Canvas site for this Unit of Study.

Late submission

In accordance with University policy, these penalties apply when written work is submitted after 11:59pm on the due date:

Deduction of 5% of the maximum mark for each calendar day after the due date.
After ten calendar days late, a mark of zero will be awarded.

Special consideration

If you experience short-term circumstances beyond your control, such as illness, injury or misadventure or if you have essential commitments which impact your preparation or performance in an assessment, you may be eligible for special consideration or special arrangements.

Academic integrity

The Current Student website provides information on academic honesty, academic dishonesty, and the resources available to all students.

The University expects students and staff to act ethically and honestly and will treat all allegations of academic dishonesty or plagiarism seriously.

We use similarity detection software to detect potential instances of plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty. If such matches indicate evidence of plagiarism or other forms of dishonesty, your teacher is required to report your work for further investigation.

Weekly schedule

WK	Topic	Learning activity
Week 01	Introduction 1: bioethics in health care	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 02	Introduction 2: Ethical theories and methods	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 02	Intensive 1: Case-based interactive session	Seminar (5 hr)
Week 03	Core concepts 1: Autonomy and consent	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 04	Core concepts 2: Deciding for others	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 05	Core concepts 3: Professionalism	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 06	Core concepts 4: Truth telling and confidentiality	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 07	Core concepts 5: Clinical care where resources are limited	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 08	Applications 1: The beginning of life	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 09	Applications 2: Children	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 09	Intensive 2: Case-based interactive teaching	Seminar (5 hr)
Week 10	Applications 3: Ageing and end of life	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 11	Applications 4: Voluntary assisted dying	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 12	Clinical Ethics Support 1: principles and foundations	Individual study (9 hr)
Week 13	Clinical Ethics Support 2: Practices and Controversies	Individual study (9 hr)

Study commitment

Typically, there is a minimum expectation of 1.5-2 hours of student effort per week per credit point for units of study offered over a full semester. For a 6 credit point unit, this equates to roughly 120-150 hours of student effort in total.

Required readings

All readings are available through Canvas, via the ‘Reading List’ link.

Learning outcomes

Learning outcomes are what students know, understand and are able to do on completion of a unit of study. They are aligned with the University’s graduate qualities and are assessed as part of the curriculum.

Outcomes
Graduate qualities

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

LO1. Identify and describe relevant moral theories used to consider ethical issues in health care
LO2. Outline, synthesise and critically reflect on predominant concepts in clinical ethics and their application in health care
LO3. Synthesise and critically engage with the theoretical and practical aspects of clinical ethics support

Graduate qualities

The graduate qualities are the qualities and skills that all University of Sydney graduates must demonstrate on successful completion of an award course. As a future Sydney graduate, the set of qualities have been designed to equip you for the contemporary world.

GQ1	Depth of disciplinary expertise Deep disciplinary expertise is the ability to integrate and rigorously apply knowledge, understanding and skills of a recognised discipline defined by scholarly activity, as well as familiarity with evolving practice of the discipline.
GQ2	Critical thinking and problem solving Critical thinking and problem solving are the questioning of ideas, evidence and assumptions in order to propose and evaluate hypotheses or alternative arguments before formulating a conclusion or a solution to an identified problem.
GQ3	Oral and written communication Effective communication, in both oral and written form, is the clear exchange of meaning in a manner that is appropriate to audience and context.
GQ4	Information and digital literacy Information and digital literacy is the ability to locate, interpret, evaluate, manage, adapt, integrate, create and convey information using appropriate resources, tools and strategies.
GQ5	Inventiveness Generating novel ideas and solutions.
GQ6	Cultural competence Cultural Competence is the ability to actively, ethically, respectfully, and successfully engage across and between cultures. In the Australian context, this includes and celebrates Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, knowledge systems, and a mature understanding of contemporary issues.
GQ7	Interdisciplinary effectiveness Interdisciplinary effectiveness is the integration and synthesis of multiple viewpoints and practices, working effectively across disciplinary boundaries.
GQ8	Integrated professional, ethical, and personal identity An integrated professional, ethical and personal identity is understanding the interaction between one’s personal and professional selves in an ethical context.
GQ9	Influence Engaging others in a process, idea or vision.

Outcome map

Learning outcomes	Graduate qualities
Learning outcomes

Closing the loop

Every year, the course coordinators carefully consider feedback from students together with their own evaluations to optimise this Unit of Study. This Unit is research-led.

Key dates
Key dates through the academic year, including teaching periods, census, payment deadlines and exams.
Student administration
Enrolment, course planning, fees, graduation, support services, student IT
Expectations of student conduct
Code of Conduct for Students, Conditions of Enrollment, University Privacy Statement, Academic Integrity
Academic appeals
Academic appeals process, special consideration, rules and guidelines, advice and support
Learning and teaching policy
Policy register, policy search
Financial support
Scholarships, interest free loans, bursaries, money management
Study resources
Learning Centre, faculty and school programs, Library, online resources
Health and support
Student Centre, counselling & psychological services, University Health Service, general health and wellbeing

Disclaimer

The University reserves the right to amend units of study or no longer offer certain units, including where there are low enrolment numbers.

To help you understand common terms that we use at the University, we offer an online glossary.

Current students

Overview

Details

Enrolment rules

Teaching staff and contact details

Assessment

Assessment criteria

Late submission

Special consideration

Academic integrity

Weekly schedule

Study commitment

Required readings

Learning outcomes

Graduate qualities

Outcome map

Closing the loop

Disclaimer

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