ASSIGNMENT TOPICS
Compose an essay in response to ONE of these quotation using any 3 assigned readings from the course in Modules 2, 3 or 4 as support for, or as an objection to, your position. At least one of the articles you use should present a counterargument to your position. The use of the relevant readings should indicate your grasp of the author’s position in a way that clearly shows your understanding of an author’s argument, and how it supports, or objects to, your position.
The essay should be 6 pages MAX (1500 words), typewritten, doublespaced, on one of the topics provided below. Write in full sentences, with attention to grammar, spelling, and punctuation. Your paper must be properly documented in APA, i.e. with citations.
- This topic addresses the central function of nursing. “Is it to promote health at all costs, in which case defined how? Or is it to promote autonomous choice in health-effecting decisions?” (Snelling, P.C. The Subversion of Mill and the ultimate aim of nursing.” p.7 )
- “Each [person] is the proper guardian of his own health, whether bodily, or mental and spiritual. Mankind are greater gainers by suffering others to live as seems good to themselves, than by compelling each to live as seems good to the rest.” (Mills, J.S., “On liberty” p. 3 )
ESSAY REQUIREMENTS:
- You are asked to present your position on ONE of two quotations taken from assigned readings in Module 1. I will provide the articles from which both quotations are taken from for you BUT You are not asked to include either of the articles from which the quotation is taken in your essay.
2. Your essay should include a thesis statement that takes a position on the topic. You are basically assessing and evaluating the quotation in terms of your response and using the reading material from the course to assist in your explanation. Please read Module 1, to help guide you in writing your thesis and to add depth to your paper you want to identify the relevant principles, values or ethical theories employed by the author(s) and by you in your response.
- Identify the readings chosen either by author or title of the reading in APA format.
4. The aim of this assignment is to enable you to present your position on either of these two quotations, now that you have come to the end of the course material. A variety of the articles we have studied in this course will be applicable to either topic.
There are different avenues to explore with these topics. Here is a sample of one for each topic, but it is certainly not the only available route.
• If you choose topic #1, and if you answer the first question in the affirmative, then you may want to consider if this means always acting in the interests of an individual patient, or always acting for the good of all patients. If you answer the second question in the affirmative, then you may want to consider whether one holds the position that promoting the autonomy of all patients, without exception, is the right thing to do in health-effecting decisions.
• If you choose topic #2, and if you think Mill is correct, you may also want to consider whether this means that an individual should be responsible for their health, and, if so, to what extent? If you think that he is not correct, then you might ask if an individual is responsible, to any extent, for their health.
BREAKDOWN OF MODULES (Use any 3 readings from Mod 2,3,4)
MODULE 1: Thoeries and Values in Ethics and Bioethics (These are to help guide your understanding of the basic principles and theories of bioethics and ethics that you may find helpful in coming up with your thesis)
Readings include:
- Oberlee, K., & Raffin Bouchal, S. What is ethics? (eReserve)
- Mill, J.S. On liberty. (eReserve)
- Snelling, P.C. The subversion of Mill and the ultimate aim of nursing. (eReserve)
MODULE 2: EQUALITY, JUSTICE and PUBLIC HEALTH
Readings include:
- Harris, J. The value of life.
- Nielsen, K. Autonomy, equality and a just health care system.
- Canadian Nurses’ Association. Ethics in practice: Nurses’ ethical considerations in a pandemic or other emergency.
- Moss, A. and Siegler, M. Should alcoholics compete equally for liver transplantation?
MODULE 3: Beginning of life and Genetic Technologies
Readings include:
- Warren, M.A. On the moral and legal status of abortion.
- Marquis, D. Why abortion is immoral.
- Sumner, W. A third way. (eReserve)
- Purdy, L. Genetics and reproductive risk: can having children be immoral?
- Lippman, A. Prenatal genetic testing and screening: Reinforcing inequities.
- Dreger, A. D. Ambiguous sex-or ambivalent medicine: Ethical issues in the treatment of intersexuality.
- Tunstall, E., Moore, S.K., Walhert, L. Intersex in the age of queer bioethics.
- Hume, M. C. Sex, lies and surgery: The ethics of gender reassignment surgery
MODULE 4 : The End of Life and Value of Life
Readings include:
- Singer, P. Is the sanctity of life ethic terminally ill?
- Rachels, J. Active and passive euthanasia.
- Nesbitt, W. Is killing no worse than letting die?
- Kuhse, H. Why killing is not always worse-and sometimes better-than letting die.
- Sumner, W. Euthanasia:A debate. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM5KL425iaw
- Kluge, E-H. Reflections on dying.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHVBa1H9GRg
- Keown, D. Suicide, assisted suicide and euthanasia: A Buddhist perspective.
