2017/18 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

IDEA5313M Ethical Issues at the End of Life

15 creditsClass Size: 30

Module manager: Dr Carl Fox
Email: ca.fox@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2017/18

Module replaces

IDEA5303M Abortion, Euthanasia, Life and Death

This module is not approved as an Elective

Objectives

The module aims to provide philosophical basis for critically examining the moral issues at the end of life, considering background theory as well as more specific issues, such as:
- Theory: examining the morality of killing and the value of human life; quality of life; the implications of consequentialism as applied to the morality of killing – the difference between killing and letting die, and alternatives to consequentialism; slippery slopes.
- Applied: Palliative care; suicide; active and passive euthanasia; withdrawing treatment.

On completion of this module, students should:
- Be familiar with a number of key philosophical texts relating to end of life decisions.
- Understand the difference between withdrawing treatment and euthanasia, and the difference between active and passive euthanasia.

Syllabus

Will include topics such as:
- The wrongness of killing
- Consequentialism and non-consequentialism
- Suicide and assisted suicide
- Palliative care
- Quality of life and best interests
- Withdrawing treatment
- Active and passive euthanasia

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Seminar	8	2.00	16.00
Private study hours			134.00
Total Contact hours			16.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			150.00

Private study

Detailed study of required readings plus advance preparation of discussion questions for seminars. Preparation of answers to set coursework assignment questions. Independent reading and research for the preparation of assessments.

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

1 x 3000 word essay and 1 x Annotated Bibliography 500 words

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Essay	3000 words	90.00
Report	Annotated Bibliography 500 words	10.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 26/04/2017

Disclaimer

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