BETH 517 - Passive Ethics: Suffering, Futility, & Death

Most traditional discourse regarding ethics deals with the discussion and adjudication of the actions taken by an individual. This course will focus on the individual or group that is “acted upon” by those who make decisions and take actions. In particular, the course will look at the meaning of suffering by investigating how it has been defined and how it impacts medical decision making. This course will also use a variety of methods to understand how conflict develops when either physicians or families declare that care is “futile.” Finally, it will pay close attention to decision making when death is imminent.

Credit(s): 3

Type of Course: Course Elective