Case 10 Culture (16June)

Your last case! Make good arguments!  Use your theories and readings, especially Macklin, to help you assess the case.

Case 13 Cochlear Implants (16June)

Is making a child hearing something that ought to happen, or something that the parents can ethically choose not to do?  Should parents be forced to authorize the surgery?  What the best analogy:  Is being hearing-impaired like having a cleft palate?  Like having a cosmetic birth defect?  Like not being immunized?  Like a boy not being circumcised?  Use your ethical theories and your readings to give rich, thoughtful responses and challenge each other.

Reflections on Philosophy & Ethics (16June)

Please comment on at least several if not all of these questions -- use separate posts if you like.   

• What have you learned in this course that surprised you?
• Would you take another course in philosophy if money/time weren't major barriers?  
• Do you have an understanding of the philosophical dimensions of the study of biomedical ethics?
• Have you developed an appreciation for the relevance of metaphysical, epistemological, and ethical questions in our daily lives?
• Have you improved in your skills of analysis and critique, as well as in written and oral communication due to this course?

Final Essays: thinking out loud (16 June)

An excerpt from your final exam to collectively consider here.  Respond to at least two of the points below:

v  How do you define health?

v  What does your ideal health care system look like? (Briefly sketch it out—what kinds of services should it provide?  Who is covered?  How is it paid for?).  You might consider what you saw in the Emperor of All Maladies -- the cost of treatment for cancer, and other high costs associated with medical care (we've seen some stories about it in our Current Events blog).

v  Kai Nielsen writes:  “If there is the need for some particular regime of care and the society has the resources to meet that need, without undermining structures protecting other at least equally urgent needs, then, ceteris parabus, the society if it is a decent society, must do so” (p. 652).  Do you agree with Nielsen?  Does his argument apply to the U.S.?  Explain.  Can a just society refuse to provide health care to all of its citizens?  Is health care a right, and if so, what kind?  For whom is it a right (citizens, military, the elderly, children, all, none?). 

June Current Events

Me & Earl & the Dying Girl -- a film review
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/12/movies/review-in-me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl-a-comfort-zone-that-cannot-last.html?hpw&rref=movies&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-region&region=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well

Brain Tumor’s Genetic Makeup Critical in Treatment, Research Finds
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/11/health/brain-tumors-genetic-makeup-critical-in-treatment-research-finds.html?

Saving Affordable Health Insurance - NYTimes.com
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/10/opinion/saving-affordable-health-insurance.html?referrer=

Federal Panel Backs Approval of New Drug to Fight Heart Attacks - NYTimes.com
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/10/health/cholesterol-levels-ldl-drugs-heart-attacks-fda-panel.html?emc=edit_th_20150610&nl=todaysheadlines&nlid=25414714&_r=0&referrer=
More genetics at work!

Global Diabetes Rates Are Rising as Obesity Spreads - NYTimes.com
http://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/08/health/research/global-diabetes-rates-are-rising-as-obesity-spreads.html?referrer=
Related to our HC Elsewhere

Blood Pressure Pills and Antidepressants Are Surprisingly Effective Against Ebola — NOVA Next | PBS
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/next/body/blood-pressure-pills-and-antidepressants-are-surprisingly-effective-against-ebola/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=pbsofficial&utm_campaign=nova_nextBy combing through already approved drugs, NIH researchers have stumbled upon a number of potentially effective Ebola fighters.

Finland is really good at keeping babies alive. Here's one reason why.
http://www.upworthy.com/finland-is-really-good-at-keeping-babies-alive-heres-one-reason-why?c=ufb1Parenting is really hard. Finland knows how to make it slightly easier.

Nigeria Female Genital Mutilation Outlawed
http://nigeria.aplus.com/a/nigeria-bans-genital-mutilation?utm_campaign=i102&utm_source=a61196&so=NdGYunjJqQgTHhSe734wxE&ref=ns"More than 130 million girls and women have experienced female genital mutilation or cutting ..."  Related to our Macklin reading for next week.

Rochelle Shoretz, Founder of Cancer Support Group, Dies at 42 - NYTimes.comhttp://mobile.nytimes.com/2015/06/03/nyregion/rochelle-shoretz-founder-of-cancer-support-group-dies-at-42.html?nlid=25414714&src=recpb&_r=0&referrer=
Related to Emperor of All Maladies videos.

The Health Care Supreme Court Case: Who Would Be Affected? - NYTimes.com
Sort of a Q&A about what could happen in the upcoming decision. Are you concerned about the pending decision?  Why?

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2015/03/03/us/100000003546814.mobile.html

Reflections on Facing Death film (16June)

Thinking about death & dying is philosophical thinking:  who am I? what will happen to me after I die?  what gave my life meaning, etc.  It can also give us a way to think holistically about biomedical ethics.  What did you see in the video that relates to class?  Are we fully addressing the needs of dying patients?  Critique our health care system:  what could we be doing better with respect to the dying?

Emperor of All Maladies (9June)

Watch at least the final episode, which discusses genetics.  Note what surprised you (in that or any episode -- be sure to explain clearly what episode & segments you are referencing)?  How does what you are viewing in the videos relate to what you've read for this week?  Be specific -- use examples from the videos and specific passages/quotes from the readings. (you might need to jot down notes while you are watching the videos for better recall)