Module:

Latest Module Specifications

Current Academic Year 2025 - 2026

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Module Title
Module Code	(ITS: TP513A)
Faculty		School
NFQ level		Credit Rating

Description

The purpose of this module is to examine contemporary bioethical issues and develop further skills in applying ethical theories and models to practical settings. Students will examine the history of bioethics, its main characteristics as a field of inquiry, and different methods of ethical deliberation. The fifteen principles of the UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights will be used as a template for the teaching of this module, thus exposing students to a broader set of ethical principles than typically discussed in Bioethics (the Four Principles approach). The module will apply the various ethical principles to contemporary bioethical issues, exposing students to a broad range of topical problems. Finally, students will be encouraged to examine one particular issue in depth in a paper which will be presented and defended in the last session.

Learning Outcomes

*Type*	*Hours*	*Description*
Workload	Full time hours per semester
Lecture	2	No Description
Assignment Completion	7	No Description
Class Presentation	10	Preparation
Independent Study	2.1	No Description
Independent Study	10	Reading and assignments
Online activity	5	No Description
Total Workload: 36.1

Type	Description	% of total	Assessment Date
Assessment Breakdown
Essay	n/a	100%	n/a

Reassessment Requirement Type
Resit arrangements are explained by the following categories; RC1: A resit is available for both^* components of the module. RC2: No resit is available for a 100% coursework module. RC3: No resit is available for the coursework component where there is a coursework and summative examination element. ^* ‘Both’ is used in the context of the module having a coursework/summative examination split; where the module is 100% coursework, there will also be a resit of the assessment

Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None
Compatibles	None
Incompatibles	None

All module information is indicative and subject to change. For further information,students are advised to refer to the University's Marks and Standards and Programme Specific Regulations at: http://www.dcu.ie/registry/examinations/index.shtml

Indicative Content and Learning Activities

Introduction into Bioethics
History, Characteristic, and Models of Moral Deliberation

Human Dignity and Human Rights

Benefit and Harm

Autonomy and Individual Responsibility, Consent, and Persons without a Capacity to Consent

Respect for Human Vulnerability and Personal Integrity

Privacy and Confidentiality

Equality, Justice and Equity

Non-Discrimination and Non-Stigmatization

Respect for Cultural Diversity and Pluralism

Solidarity and Cooperation, Social Responsibility and Health, and Sharing of Benefits

Protection of Future Generations, and Protection of the Environment, the Biosphere and Biodiversity

Presentation of Papers

Indicative Reading List

Books:

The following will be recommended to course participants as core texts for the module: 0, :,
Beauchamp, Tom L.; Childress, James F.: 2008, Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 6th, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Ten Have, Henk; Jean, Michele S.: 2009, The UNESCO Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights: Background, Principles and Application, Unesco Publishing, Paris,
Engelhardt, H. Tristram: 1996, The Foundations of Bioethics, 2nd, Oxford University Press, Oxford,
Ten Have, Henk & Gordijn, Bert (eds.): 2001, Bioethics in a European Perspective, Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht/Boston/London,
Henk ten Have: 2016, Global Bioethics: An Introduction, Routledge, London & New York, 1138124109

Articles:
None

Other Resources

None