Brain Fuel

This course examines the contemporary quandaries in bioethics. The “right to die,” euthanasia, mandatory vaccination, apotemnophilia (amputating a seemingly healthy limb) and informed consent will all be examined. Imagine an ill juvenile whose parents refuse to allow their child to have a blood transfusion because they fear it will damage his soul. How does society deal with this dilemma and even others vastly more challenging? The lecture will also explore the ethical issues of health-care rationing, organ allocation and sales, and even malpractice reform. No previous knowledge of either law or medicine is presumed.