Bioethics and Professional Ethics

Code:

MI341

Acronym:

BDM

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Medicine

Instance: 2023/2024 - 2S

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Department of Community Medicine, Information and Health Decision Sciences
Course/CS Responsible:	Integrated Master in Medicine

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MIMED	251	Plano Oficial 2021	3	-	3	28	81

Teaching language

Portuguese

Objectives

Knowledge: The essential aim of the Curricular Unit of Bioethics and Medical Professional Ethics is that the student acquires the necessary knowledge in health care ethics, especially in what concerns the ethical dimension of health and of disease and its relation with the medical profession. In the plan of the concepts the aims are the acquisition of the more representative ethical theories of human thought.

 

Skills: With this curricular unit the medical student must gather the necessary skills for a responsible exercise of medical profession. The student must be adequately informed about the norms of medical deontology so that his practice is in accordance with the ethical principles of modern medicine. 

Learning outcomes and competences

The syllabus is in accordance with the most important theories in the area of bioethics and medical ethics. In this way coherence with the curricular unit’s intended learning outcomes is demonstrated since the syllabus is a necessary condition so that the student acquires the adequate skills for a true capacitation in this area.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Basic ethics; concepts and definitions; Ethics, bioethics and biomedical ethical principles; informed consent; biolaw, human rights and the rights of cultural minorities;


2. The clinical relationship; conscientious objection; Privacy and confidentiality in clinical practice; Data protection and artificial intelligence; Ethics and mental health; Ethics and occupational health; Medical liability; The pandemic by COVID19;


3. Ethical issues at the end of life; Euthanasia and Living Will; Transplantation of cells, tissues and organs; Palliative Care and Spirituality;


4. The beginning of human life; Medically assisted procreation; Genetic diagnosis; Genetic intervention in humans; termination of pregnancy;


5. Research in Medical Sciences; Experimentation on human beings; Ethics and epidemiological investigation; Ethical Issues in Evidence-Based Medicine;


6. Allocation of resources for health; Distributive justice and public health policies. The ethical prioritization of health;


7. Ethics Committees and other regulatory bodies;


8. International bioethics conventions.

Mandatory literature

Nunes, R.; Gene-Ética, Almedina, 2013
Beauchamp, T., & Childress, J. ; Principles of Biomedical Ethics , Oxford University Press, 2012
Nunes, R.; Testamento Vital, Almedina, 2011
Nunes, R; Ensaios em Bioética, Conselho Federal de Medicina - Brasília, 2017
Rego, G.; Gestão Empresarial dos Serviços Públicos: Uma Aplicação ao setor da Saúde, Vida Económica, 2011

Teaching methods and learning activities

UC of 13 weeks with theoretical classes (1 per week) and theoretical-practical classes (1 per week/class) - Total of 81 hours.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	50,00
Exame	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	18,00
Estudo autónomo	53,00
Apresentação/discussão de um trabalho científico	10,00
Total:	81,00

Eligibility for exams

Participation in classes and other teaching activities in accordance with the regulations in force, and obtaining a classification equal to or greater than 50% in the evaluation carried out.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final grade: 50% exam + 50%continuous assessment
In case of improvement, the percentage obtained in the continuous assessment is maintained, with the student having to take a new final exam

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Assessment of students from special contingents who may not attend classes, under current legislation:
100% final exam