Bioethics
This course provides learners with a review of contemporary bioethics issues.
Bioethics presents learners with an overview of the major bioethics concepts, principles, and issues. Each module includes background on a particular topic along with relevant case studies. Learners are introduced to essential and foundational elements of the topic grounded by the field’s scholarly literature.
This course was written and peer reviewed by experts.
Language Availability: English
Suggested Audiences: Faculty, Healthcare Professionals, Students
Organizational Subscription Price: $500 per year/per site
Independent Learner Price: $99 per person
To purchase CE credits and units, you need to be affiliated with an organization that subscribes to this course or buy it as an independent learner first. Learn more about CE/CME Credits.
Provides a history of bioethics – as a concept, term, field, and set of rules – and its evolution across time. The module includes a review of the conceptual beginnings of bioethics, the emergence of bioethics think tanks, the inclusion of bioethics principles into law and policy, and where bioethics might be going in the future.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19194 (English)
Author(s): Nicolle K. Strand, JD, M.Bioethics - Temple University
Explores different ethical frameworks commonly used in bioethics such as deontology, consequentialism, and case-based reasoning. The module deepens the discussion by applying different frameworks to bioethics cases.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19195 (English)
Author(s): Rebecca D. Pentz, PhD - Winship Cancer Institute, Emory School of Medicine; Laurel Lyckholm, MD - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Describes the challenges of making medical decisions for children and how those decisions raise ethical complexities. The module also discusses how ethical issues are affected by the child’s age and development, including the transitions that occur as an adolescent approaches adulthood.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19196 (English)
Author(s): Rebecca Benson, MD, PhD, FAAP - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine; Laurel Lyckholm, MD - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Presents the ethical issues encountered in inpatient and outpatient medicine. The module focuses on common ethical issues related to adult patient care, such as how to maintain confidentiality and handle the disclosure of medical errors.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19197 (English)
Author(s): Laurel Lyckholm, MD - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine; Rebecca Benson, MD, PhD, FAAP - University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine
Addresses the ethical issues surrounding decisions about whether to pursue or avoid procreation. Topics covered include the ethics of using artificial reproductive technologies and whether there is a right to procreate.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19198 (English)
Author(s): Yvette Pearson, PhD - Old Dominion University; Alison Reiheld, PhD - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Examines the demographic changes occurring in the U.S. and the related ethical implications for healthcare systems. The module also discusses ethical challenges related to caring for older adults such as ageism, medical futility, and advance care planning.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19199 (English)
Author(s): Nancy S. Jecker, PhD - University of Washington
Focuses primarily on health-related genetic testing and genetic engineering of humans. The module explores the relevance of genetic determinism to ethical discussions of genetic testing and engineering, as well as ethical issues related to privacy and informed consent in genetic testing. It also includes a discussion on the ethics of inheritable genetic modifications (germ-line interventions) and somatic cell gene therapy.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19200 (English)
Author(s): Yvette Pearson, PhD - Old Dominion University; Nicolle K. Strand, JD, M.Bioethics - Temple University
Examines different conceptions of gender and how these conceptions can raise bioethical issues. The module includes a discussion on how gender influences medical research and the provision of clinical care.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19201 (English)
Author(s): Robyn Bluhm, PhD - Michigan State University; Alison Reiheld, PhD - Southern Illinois University Edwardsville
Focuses on distributive justice as it arises in the context of healthcare services. The module discusses questions about how to allocate scarce healthcare resources among different individuals and groups within a society. It also examines the ethical tension between the role of physicians as gatekeepers versus patient advocates.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19202 (English)
Author(s): Nancy S. Jecker, PhD - University of Washington
Explores ethical issues related to the use medical technologies for enhancement. The module presents practical and ethical arguments for and against the use of enhancement technologies and a review of how different stakeholders, such as members of the public and the media, perceive enhancement technologies.
Recommended Use: Required
ID (Language): 19203 (English)
Author(s): Robyn Bluhm, PhD - Michigan State University; Laura Y. Cabrera, MA, PhD - Michigan State University
Provides a collection of supplemental bioethics resources.
Recommended Use: Supplemental
ID (Language): 19205 (English)
The suggested audiences are students and faculty, particularly those who have an interest in bioethics or clinical areas. Healthcare professionals and individuals involved in biomedical research may also find topics in this course valuable.
Organizational subscriptions provide access to the organization's affiliated members. This allows organizations to meet the needs of learners who may benefit from an overview of bioethics.
Independent learners can take this course to expand their knowledge of bioethics and the complex issues associated with bioethics.
The course consists of self-contained modules. Each module consists of an in-depth discussion along with case studies and a quiz. Learners go through each module at their own pace.
Although completion time will vary by learner, each module takes about 25-35 minutes to complete. The modules are designed so that learners can complete them in one sitting or in multiple sittings, and there is no time limit for any of the activities.