Credits
0.5
Topics will include the meaning of justice; health as a communal rather than solely an individual phenomenon; effects of poverty on wellbeing; at-risk patient populations; health care professionals and justice. Using a combination of lectures and directed discussion, Justice and Health Care seeks to answer the questions: given the effects of socio-economic factors on wellbeing, what might justice mean in health care? what might a culture of care require? Students will be evaluated on one short in-class presentation, two 3-5 page reflection papers, one final examination and class participation.
Students successfully completing this course will be able to demonstrate the following learning outcomes. (Not all categories will be required for all courses.)
(A) IN RESPECT OF GENERAL ACADEMIC SKILLS students will develop
— critical thinking skills through case work and directed discussion;
— effective communication skills through in-class discussions and assigned reflection papers;
— the ability to marshal factual information required for bioethical analysis through lectures and assigned readings;
— the ability to work collaboratively to moral and personal insight through directed in-class discussions.
(B) IN RESPECT OF THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE CONTENT OF ONE OR MORE THEOLOGICAL DISCIPLINES, through the readings and lectures students will develop:
— an understanding of approaches to Moral Theology and bioethical theory;
— an understanding of Catholic Church teaching on various bioethical issues;
— an understanding of historical and current intersections of Catholic Moral Theology and Bioethics
(C) IN RESPECT OF PERSONAL AND SPIRITUAL FORMATION students will have the opportunity:
— to become aware of personal assumptions and biases operative in their understandings of Moral Theology, Catholic Church teaching, and issues in Bioethics;
— to consider alternative approaches to and understandings of bioethical issues in light of Catholic Church teaching;
— to have in-depth dialogue about issues, ethical theory, Catholic Church teaching and personal moral and spiritual development in a forum that is curated and safe.
(D) IN RESPECT OF MINISTERIAL AND PUBLIC LEADERSHIP students will have:
— a familiarity with current bioethical issues;
— the capacity to bring critical thinking to those issues;
— the ability to view those issues in light of Catholic Church teaching.
A detailed course schedule is available for download.
Week 1
Introduction to Justice and Health Care; review of Bioethics and bioethical theories; discussion of justice
Week 2
A “culture of care” and “revolution of tenderness” as visions for health care
Week 3
Social determinants of health; reconsidering the meanings of “health” and causes of ill health
Week 4
Poverty and health care
Week 5
Poverty, children and health
Week 6
Food insecurity and health
Week 7
Housing and health
Week 8
Aboriginal health and the social determinants of health
Week 9
Social isolation and health
Week 10
Health care professionals and justice in health care
Week 11
Global health and justice
Week 12
Summary: building a culture of care
