94800 - Ethical Issues in Heath Communication

Learning outcomes

At the end of this module students will be able:

- to identify the main ethical issues arising in the communication between doctor and patient, and between healthcare institutions and citizens

- to discuss simple reality-based cases

Course contents

Introductory course, no background in philosophy is required.

- Ethics, law and deontologies (profesisonal codes): differences

- Main contemporary ethical frameworks (Utilitarianism, Kantian theories, Principlist, virtue, feminist and case-based ethics)

- Ethics in doctor-patient communication

- Ethics in healthcare institution-citizen communication

Readings/Bibliography

Class notes are the main text.

Optional reading: Lalumera, E. (2022) Etica della comunicazione sanitaria. Bologna, il Mulino.

Same syllabus for attending and non-attending students.

Teaching methods

Traditional classroom lectures, with discussion.

Assessment methods

Oral colloquium. The oral test is passed with correct answers to 2 questions. An answer can be incorrect for the following reasons:

- absent, insufficient or incomplete understanding of key concepts presented during classes

- absent, insufficient or incomplete knowledge with parts of the required readings

Teaching tools

Files uploaded to Virtuale, ppt presentations during classes.

Office hours

See the website of Elisabetta Lalumera