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74551-01 - Seminar: Contemporary Debates: Children and Bioethics (2 CP)
| Semester | spring semester 2025 |
| Course frequency | Once only |
| Lecturers |
Sophie Ayoub (sophie.ayoub@unibas.ch)
Eva De Clercq (eva.declercq@unibas.ch) Bernice Simone Elger (b.elger@unibas.ch, Assessor) |
| Content | Pediatrics turns bioethics on its head. Children lack the legal competence and sometimes the capacity to fully understand and consent to medical treatments and participation in clinical research. As a result, the field of pediatric healthcare and research raises unique ethical questions that complicate the usual frameworks and principles of bioethics: Can parents and healthcare providers make healthcare decisions on behalf of children? Should we empower children to have a greater say as they mature? How should we balance the child’s best interest with the rights of caregivers? This seminar explores the ethical challenges involved in pediatric healthcare and research through a lecture series on topics such as prenatal genetic testing, neonatal care, child euthanasia, pediatric palliative care, and children’s medical tourism. By engaging with these topics, students will develop a nuanced understanding of the ethical challenges in pediatric healthcare and research, and the ways in which these issues often require a shift in established bioethical frameworks and principles. The “Contemporary Debates in Bioethics” is a lecture series offered once every semester. Each time, it focuses on another aspect of current debates and potential ethical concerns and conflicts. During the spring 2025 semester, the focus of the lectures will be on children and bioethics. If you have questions concerning the format, the learning objectives and/or your participation, please contact Sophie Ayoub (Sophie.ayoub@unibas.ch). |
| Learning objectives | After having attended this seminar series, you will have gained a better understanding of the ethical complexities involved in pediatric healthcare and research. You will also gain new perspectives on traditional frameworks and principles in bioethics. |
| Bibliography | Suggested readings will be provided a few days before each session on ADAM. |
| Comments | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 1 Address: Spitalstrasse 21, 4056 Basel Time: 12:15 – 13:45 (Central Europe Time) 17.02.2025 24.02.2025 03.03.2025 17.03.2025 24.03.2025 31.03.2025 07.04.2025 14.04.2025 28.04.2025 05.05.2025 |
| Admission requirements | The seminar series is open to both Unibas students and the general public. Unibas students who wish to receive 2 ECTS to their transcript have to register to the course on the Course Directory and attend in-person in order to get the credit points. If you are not an Unibas student, or do not wish to receive credit points, you may either attend the sessions in-person or over Zoom (a link will be sent a few days before each session). |
| Language of instruction | English |
| Use of digital media | No specific media used |
| Course auditors welcome |
| Interval | Weekday | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|---|
| wöchentlich | Monday | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
Dates
| Date | Time | Room |
|---|---|---|
| Monday 17.02.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 24.02.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 03.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 10.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Fasnachstferien |
| Monday 17.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 24.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 31.03.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 07.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 14.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 21.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | Ostern |
| Monday 28.04.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 05.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 12.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 19.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Monday 26.05.2025 | 12.15-13.45 | USB Gebäude B, Hörsaal 3 |
| Modules |
Aufbaumodul (Teil C) (Transfakultäre Querschnittsprogramme im freien Kreditpunkte-Bereich) Basismodul (Teil A) (Transfakultäre Querschnittsprogramme im freien Kreditpunkte-Bereich) Doctorate Biomedical Ethics: Recommendations (PhD subject: Biomedical Ethics) Doctorate Nursing Science: Recommendations (PhD subject: Nursing Science) Electives Master Nursing: Recommendations (Master's Studies: Nursing) Modul: Biblische und systematische Theologie (Master's Studies: Theology) Modul: Ethik des Christentums - materiale Ethik, Ethik der Lebensführung (ST/E 2) (Master's degree subject: Theology) Modul: Ethik des Christentums – materiale Ethik, Ethik der Lebensführung (ST/E 2) (Master's Studies: Theology) Modul: Praktische Philosophie (Master's degree subject: Philosophy) Specialization Module Global Europe: Global Ageing and Health (Master's Studies: European Global Studies) |
| Assessment format | continuous assessment |
| Assessment details | 1. Attend at least 8 lectures and participate actively. In case of unavoidable further absences, please contact us. These can possibly be compensated by an additional assignment (e.g. an additional short essay) 2. Students will be required to write a 1300-word reflection (excluding the bibliography). As part of the assignment, they will use ChatGPT to ask questions on given topics and then critically analyze these AI-generated perspectives in their text. The analysis should incorporate their personal insights, addressing the ethical issues raised and exploring potential solutions. Additional guidelines and detailed instructions will be provided during the introductory class. This assignment aims to develop students' ability to engage with emerging AI tools while deepening their understanding of complex ethical challenges. |
| Assessment registration/deregistration | Reg.: course registration; dereg.: teaching staff |
| Repeat examination | no repeat examination |
| Scale | Pass / Fail |
| Repeated registration | no repetition |
| Responsible faculty | Faculty of Medicine |
| Offered by | Institut für Bio- und Medizinethik |