Ethics in Life Sciences and Healthcare: Exploring Bioethics through Manga

Course Description

Is it okay to take pills to help you ace exams? Should you be able to choose the sex of your child? Is abortion murder? These controversial questions will be explored through Manga in this bioethics course. Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field of study that looks into ethical, legal, and social implications of life sciences and health care. This course will help you understand key ethical issues surrounding crucial problems that profoundly impact your life from birth to death. This course will help you understand key ethical issues surrounding crucial problems that profoundly impact your life from birth to death. Topics include: Reproductive technology such as surrogacy and sex-selection of the baby Informed consent Abortion The use of medical technology for the purpose of enhancement Euthanasia Living Donor Organ Transplantation Cloning Technology ES Cells and iPS Cells Lifespan and Eternal Life Brain Death and Organ Transplants You will also learn about ethical arguments and regulations in Japan and other countries concerning life sciences and healthcare. Our hope is, through this course, you will better understand and formulate your own opinions on these important issues. DISCLAIMER: The intention of this course is to present different arguments and perspectives on a number of different topics on bioethics. In other words, this course DOES NOT aim to instill in its audience any particular perspective, religious or otherwise, on each topic. No previous knowledge of bioethics is needed.