Biotechnology Regulation

Code:

PDB008

Acronym:

PDB008

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Ethics in Health Sciences

Instance: 2024/2025 - 2S

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

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
PDB	30	Current Studies Plan	1	-	6	60	162

Teaching language

Portuguese and english

Objectives

The essential aim of the Curricular Unit of Biolaw is that the student acquires the necessary knowledge in Biolaw, namely in very specific areas.  In particular, the instruments and legal standards within the Life Sciences and Health. Especially in what concerns the technical and operational dimensions of this area. In the conceptual plan the aims are the acquisition and knowledge of the core concepts in Biolaw.

Learning outcomes and competences

With this curricular unit the student must gather the necessary skills for understanding any area in Biolaw. Moreover the student must be adequately prepared to make a regular update in these areas.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1- The function of Law. Concept of Biolaw and relation with the concept of Bioethics. 

2- The need of the legislator to combine fundamental principles (like freedom) with the preservation of fundamental juridical goods.

3- Juridical problems raised by the use of Medically Assisted Procreation. Status of the in vitro human embryo.

4- Juridical problems raised by prenatal diagnosis. Voluntary pregnancy termination and selective reduction according to the Portuguese juridical regulation.

5- Juridical aspects of the use of cloning technology.

6- Personal rights concerning disease.

7- Juridical policy of organ transplantation.

8- Juridical aspects of predictive tests for late onset diseases.

9- The problem of euthanasia and other decisions according to the Portuguese law and international policies.

Mandatory literature

Gilbert Meilaender; 1- Bioethics: A Primer for Christians, Third Edition, 2013
Lewis Vaughn; 2- Bioethics: Principles, Issues and Cases, 2009
Marcia A. Lewis, Carol D. Tamparo; 3- Medical Law, Ethics, & Bioethics for the Health Professions, 2012
Thomas A. Shannon, Nicholas J. Kockler; 4- An Introduction to Bioethics, 2009
Pereira de Melo, H.; 5- Implicações Jurídicas do Projecto do Genoma Humano, Coimbra: Gráfica de Coimbra, 2007

Teaching methods and learning activities

Teaching methodologies have different strategies: a) Theoretical Lectures: about different themes related to the Curricular Unit; b) Seminars: Prepared and guided discussion of specific themes, defined in advance, with the participation of professors and students; c) Group Work: Pedagogical activity of analysis and problem solving, orientated by the professors and actively prepared by the students; and d) Presentation of Case-Problems by the students.

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	50,00
Trabalho escrito	50,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Frequência das aulas	60,00
Trabalho escrito	102,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

The Continuous Assessment is performed by the responsible professor for the group of students who attend the Curricular Unit. An assessment of the whole pedagogical process and of the evolution of each student's capacities is at stake: Evolution in the communication skills, evolution of the human relation, of the regular attendance in the Curricular Unit, of the interest and participation in the pedagogic process, and, finally, of the theoretical and practical knowledge. It is possible to make use of audio-visual techniques.

Calculation formula of final grade

The Final Assessment of the curricular unit is made by the Continuous Assessment (50%) and a Final Examination that evaluates the acquisition of theoretical and practical knowledge (50%).