Course detail

Health Ethics

FEKT-BPC-ETIAcad. year: 2025/2026

The course deals with an overlap of biomedical ethics, particularly the ethical implications of biotechnology. Technical and biotechnological approach is extended to include humanistic and social dimension. Emphasis is placed on an interdisciplinary approach that is essential discussion on moral dilemmas arising from the development and application of biomedical technologies.

Language of instruction

Czech

Number of ECTS credits

3

Mode of study

Not applicable.

Department

Faculty of Medicine, Masaryk University Brno (LF MU)

Entry knowledge

Knowledge at secondary school level and of completed subjects in the study area

Rules for evaluation and completion of the course

Credit test.
Case Study.
Credit test is focused on finding knowledge about basic concepts.
Presenting and defending a case study validates the orientation of the selected issues of biomedical ethics, the ability to perceive the context and by argument to justify an opinion.
Education is compulsory. Properly excused absences can be replaced in consultation with the teacher.

Aims

The course deals with ethical aspects of biomedical research and practice and provides the students with the general fundamentals of biomedical ethics, including bioethical standards.
The student:
- Have a basic knowledge of biomedical ethics
- Is able to identify ethically relevant aspects of biomedical technologies
- Is able to apply appropriate bioethical standards
- Is able to discuss the various ethical and social aspects of biomedical technologies
- is capable of critical thinking and reasoning in the field of bioethics.

Study aids

Not applicable.

Prerequisites and corequisites

Not applicable.

Basic literature

KUŘE, Jozef et al. Kapitoly z lékařské etiky. Brno: MU Brno, 2012. ISBN 978-80-210-5951-1. (CS)
MAPPES, Thomas a David DeGRAZIA. Biomedical ethics. 6. vyd. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2006. ISBN 0-07-297644-6. (EN)
MIKULÁŠTÍK, M., Komunikační dovednosti v paxi, Praha: Grada, 2010. (CS)
PLEVOVÁ, I., SLOWIK, R. Komunikace s dětským pacientem, Praha: Grada, 2010. (CS)
POKORNÁ, A., Komunikace se seniory, Praha: Grada, 2010. (CS)
THOMASMA, David a Thomasine KUSHNEROVÁ. Od narození do smrti. Praha: Mladá fronta, 2000. ISBN 80-204-0883-5. (CS)

Recommended reading

Not applicable.

Classification of course in study plans

  • Programme BPC-BTB Bachelor's 3 year of study, winter semester, compulsory

Type of course unit

 

Lecture

13 hod., optionally

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Technology and ethics
2. Biomedical research and origin of
biomedical ethics
3. Methodical approaches used in biomedical ethics
4. Communication ethics in medicine
5. Research on human beings. Research on animals.
6. Protection of information and management of sensitive information
7. Hazard as an ethical category
8. Genetic engineering
9. Genetic diagnostics
10. Assisted reproduction
11. Stem cells and cloning
12. Institutional and organisational ethics
13. Basic bioethical documents, ethical standards of grant applications

Fundamentals seminar

13 hod., compulsory

Teacher / Lecturer

Syllabus

1. Technology and ethics
2. Biomedical research and origin of biomedical ethics
3. Methodical approaches in biomedical ethics
4. Communication ethics in healthcare
5. Research on human beings. Research on animals
6. Protection of information and management of sensitive information
7. Hazard as an ethical category
8. Genetic engineering
9. Genetic diagnostics
10. Assisted reproduction
11. Stem cells and cloning
12. Institutional and organisational ethics
13. Basic bioethical documents, ethical standards of grant applications