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CLASH OF
ETHICS
This course compares and contrasts the “quality
of life” ethic with the “equality/sanctity of life” ethic.
Course work requires a fair amount of out-of-class reading with
assignments that involve critiquing articles and texts that
support each viewpoint. Students learn to defend the equality
of life ethic by understanding what drives the opposing
viewpoint.
HISTORY OF
ABORTION, EUTHANASIA AND THE PRO-DEATH AND PRO-LIFE MOVEMENTS
This lecture and discussion course covers
attitudes toward and the practice of abortion and euthanasia
from ancient times to the present. It includes discussion of
principal organizations and leaders on both sides of the issue,
Roe v. Wade and subsequent key court decisions, and key
legislation and legislative proposals of the past.
BIOLOGICAL
FUNDAMENTALS
This course teaches the basic biological facts
from fertilization to death. Students master the basics of
fetal development, as well as what constitutes actual death.
Course work also deals with sophisticated objections to the
consistency of a biologically-based “equality/sanctity of life
ethic” including those related to twinning, parthenogenesis and
related issues.
PRO-ABORTION
ARGUMENTS
This course reviews and critiques pro-abortion
arguments ranging from the population explosion and the Judith
Jarvis Thompson “violinist” argument.
DEBATING
PRO-LIFE AND PRO-ABORTION PROPOSALS
This course reviews the content and arguments
related to pro-life and pro-abortion legislative proposals
including informed consent, unborn pain, parental involvement,
anti-coercion, embryonic stem cell funding, abortion funding and
others.
LIFESAVING
MEDICAL TREATMENT, FOOD AND FLUIDS: ETHICS AND LAW
This course examines the ethical issues
surrounding the provision and withholding of lifesaving medical
treatment, food and fluids including the history of and court
decisions on infanticide and euthanasia from Karen Ann Quinlan
to Terri Schindler Schiavo. It covers advance directives
including the “Will to Live.”
ASSISTING
SUICIDE AND DIRECT KILLING
This course examines in detail legislative
proposals on the federal and state levels to legalize assisted
suicide and active euthanasia.
INVOLUNTARY
EUTHANASIA: HOSPITAL ETHICS COMMITTEES AND GOVERNMENT RATIONING
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“Answering some of the
difficult questions that surface with these topics
forced us to expand our thinking and learn the
real facts of the arguments.”
–Denise Degroot ‘08 |
This course deals with the growing practice and
threat of denial of lifesaving medical treatment against
the wishes of patients and families. It covers “futility
protocols” in health care facilities and legislation to require
treatment pending transfer in cases in which hospitals refuse to
treat endangered patients. It examines the impact of government
imposed rationing on patients with particular emphasis on
Medicare and proposals for health care reform.
PRACTICUM
Reading, lecture, and discussion are interspersed
with an intensive practicum in which students repeatedly
practice rebutting pro-abortion and pro-death arguments in
presentations and mock lobbying and media interviews. The
hands-on training offered in the daily practicum exercises is
the core of the Academy training because it gives students
the skills they need to communicate the pro-life position in
real-life situations.
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