62079 - Ethics and Bioethics

Learning outcomes

At the end of the course, the student will have acquired knowledge of the professional competencies, responsibilities, and ethical obligations of the profession.

Course contents

This course is part of the integrated course Human and Occupational Sciences.
Specific contents of this course include:

Foundations and history of bioethics; main theoretical approaches;professional ethics and deontology; ethical decision making and ethical skills; ethics of scientific research;  ethics of communication; ethics and laboratory practice: genetic diagnosis, predictive testing and newborn screening, management and storage of biological samples, biobanks, anonymization, secondary use of biological material, artificial intelligence in laboratory settings, and human responsibility.

Readings/Bibliography

PowerPoint presentations used during the lectures represent the materials for the exam, along with selected scientific articles on the topics discussed in class.
All materials will be made available after each lecture.

The following readings are also recommended:

M. Balistreri, G. Capranico, M. Galletti, S. Zullo, Biotecnologie e modificazioni genetiche. Scienza, etica, diritto, Bologna, il Mulino, 2020

Corrado Viafora, Alberto Gaiani (eds.), A lezione di Bioetica. Temi e strumenti, Franco Angeli, 2012, Milan.

Teaching methods

Lectures and Structured discussions on selected themes.

Interdisciplinary seminars will be organized.

Assessment methods

The exam for the Ethics and Bioethics course (part of the integrated course Human and Occupational Sciences) will be held in oral form. The exam will cover the contents listed in the “Readings/Bibliography” section.

Evaluation of the Ethics and Bioethics course will take into account the student’s knowledge of the topics, the ability to relate them to professional practice, and communication skills.

The final grade for the integrated course Human and Occupational Sciences (recorded by Prof. Monica Navilli) will be based on the weighted average of the individual assessments obtained in each component course, according to the corresponding number of credits (CFU).

Students with learning disorders and/or temporary or permanent disabilities: please contact the office responsible (https://site.unibo.it/studenti-con-disabilita-e-dsa/en/for-students) as soon as possible so that they can propose acceptable adjustments. The request for adaptation must be submitted in advance (15 days before the exam date) to the lecturer, who will assess the appropriateness of the adjustments, taking into account the teaching objectives.

Teaching tools

The slides and scientific articles used during the lectures will be made available through institutional tools such as the Virtuale platform, along with other materials considered useful and used during the course.

Office hours

See the website of Ludovica De Panfilis