Numbering Code	U-LET06 35431 LJ34	Year/Term	2022 ・ Second semester
Number of Credits	2	Course Type	special lecture
Target Year		Target Student
Language	English	Day/Period	Wed.3
Instructor name	KODAMA SATOSHI (Graduate School of Letters Professor)
Outline and Purpose of the Course	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 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. Topics include: Reproductive technology such as surrogacy and sex-selection of the baby Abortion Informed consent Euthanasia The use of medical technology for the purpose of enhancement You will also learn about ethical arguments and regulations in Japan and other countries concerning life sciences and healthcare. The hope is, through this course, you will better understand and formulate your own opinions on these important issues. This course is based on the idea of flip teaching: you need to watch the lecture video before attending the class and have a discussion with other students. Study Focus: Knowledge, Belief and Religion; Society, Economy and Governance. Modules: Focus I -- Foundations I.
Course Goals	You will learn: Basic terms for bioethics Basics of ethical arguments How decisions are made on critical bioethics issues Regulations and public policies related to bioethical issues in Japan and other countries
Schedule and Contents	Discussion topics include: 1. What is Bioethics? 2. The Ethics of Assisted Reproductive Technology 3. The Ethics of Truth-Telling 4. Is Abortion “Murder”? 5. What’s Wrong with Enhancement? 6. Is Euthanasia Wrong? 7. Living-Donor Organ Transplantation 8. Cloning Technology 9. ES Cells and iPS Cells 10. Lifespan and Eternal Life 11. Brain Death and Organ Transplants 12. Genome Editing and Ethics 13. The Problem with "Suicide Tourism" 14. Forgoing Life-Sustaining Treatment 15. The Ethics of Ageing
Evaluation Methods and Policy	Class attendance and active participation (70%), small quiz tests that come with the video lectures (30%).
Course Requirements	None
Study outside of Class (preparation and review)	This course is based on the idea of flip teaching: you need to watch the lecture video before attending the class and have a discussion with other students. Each lecture video with a small quiz test lasts for less than one hour.
Textbooks	Textbooks/References	EXPLORING BIOETHICS THROUGH MANGA: Questions on the Meaning of "Life" , Kodama, Satoshi & Natsutaka, (Kyoto: Kagakudojin), ISBN:978-4759827774
References, etc.	Medical Ethics: A Very Short Introduction 2nd ed., Tony Hope and Michael Dunn, (Oxford University Press), ISBN:978-0198815600