AT 6-001_FA22: The COVID pandemic has caused many people to think more critically about the world of medicine. More and more people have begun to ask: where did the ethical principles of medicine originally come from, and which of these principles may now need to change or evolve? In this course, students will examine ancient writings on medical ethics that continue to influence medicine today, focusing primarily on the cultures of ancient Greece and Rome (including works by Hippocrates, ?The Father of Medicine?). We will investigate the cultures and scientific beliefs that brought about the ancient ideas about medical ethics, and how they have shaped the ethics of modern medicine. Ethical issues to be discussed include: the doctor-patient relationship, dissection, abortion, quarantine, the development and use of biological weapons, research standards, and the idea of healthcare as a human right. With each ethical issue, we will discuss both the insights that the ancient perspectives can offer for the practice of medicine today, and how medicine has evolved or needs to continue to evolve. Embodying the goals of a well-rounded liberal arts education, this topic should be engaging for students who are interested in either the humanities or the sciences?or both!
- Profesor: Michael Goyette