Summer 2007

All page references are to Furrow et al., Bioethics (5th ed. 2004).

Class 1 

Handouts:

(a) Gunther & Diekma
(b) Brosco & Feudtner
Casebook pp. 1-30, 87-91

  • Introduction to bioethics; the "pillow angel" case 

Class 2 

Pp. 31-68; 85-87

  • Human reproduction and birth
  • Abortion  
  • RU-486 & "Plan B"

Class 3

(a) Pp. 68-83;

(b) Handout: Gonzales v. Carhart

(c) Pp. 91-104

  • Partial-birth abortion
  • Wrongful birth, wrongful conception, wrongful life

Class 4 

Handout: assisted reproduction schematic
Pp. 104-28, 153-59

  • Assisted reproduction
  • Cloning & stem-cell research

Class 5  

Pp. 159-208

  • Fetal-maternal decisionmaking
  • Issues in human genetics

Class 6   

Pp. 209-28, 233-37

  • Catch up (if needed)
  • Defining death

Class 7 

Pp. 243-56

  • U.S. Constitution & the "right to die"
  • Watch PBS program, "The Death of Nancy Cruzan" [IVS 02493; 88 mins.]

Class 8  

Pp. 256-97

  • The "right to die" -- patients with decisional capacity

Class 9 

(a) Pp. 297-309, 228-33, 309-311

(b) Handouts: Texas Health & Safety Code §§ 166.009, 044-046, .052-.053

  • The "right to die" -- decisionmaking for patients who lack advance directives
  • Dealing with the problem of "medically futile" treatment

Class 10

Pp. 341-65

  • The "right to die" -- children & newborns
  • Catch up (if needed)

Class 11

Pp. 365-98

  • Physician-assisted suicide and active euthanasia

Class 12

Handouts:
(a) Gonzales v. Raich 

(b) Gonzales v. Oregon

  • Federal regulation of end-of-life interventions

Class 13

Handout: "Critical Care Without Consent"
Pp. 408-49

  • Regulation of human-subject research

Class 14

Pp. 450-72

  • Catch up (if needed)
  • Human organ transplantation