“Ethics in Life Sciences and Healthcare: Exploring Bioethics through Manga”
Instructor: Satoshi Kodama
See "Meet the Course Staff" section for more details.
Course Description
Is it okay to take pills to help you ace exams? Should you be able to choose the sex of your child? Is abortion murder? These controversial questions will be explored through Manga in this bioethics course. Bioethics is an interdisciplinary field of study that looks into ethical, legal, and social implications of life sciences and health care.
This course will help you understand key ethical issues surrounding crucial problems that profoundly impact your life from birth to death.
Topics include:
- Reproductive technology such as surrogacy and sex-selection of the baby
- Informed consent
- Abortion
- The use of medical technology for the purpose of enhancement
- Euthanasia
You will also learn about ethical arguments and regulations in Japan and other countries concerning life sciences and healthcare. Our hope is, through this course, you will better understand and formulate your own opinions on these important issues.
DISCLAIMER: The intention of this course is to present different arguments and perspectives on a number of different topics on bioethics. In other words, this course DOES NOT aim to instill in its audience any particular perspective, religious or otherwise, on each topic.
Prerequisites
No previous knowledge of bioethics is needed.
Lectures
Each course will be provided with short lecture videos (with Manga!) by the instructor, Satoshi Kodama, along with a set of short Problems related to the contents of the lecture videos. By watching the videos and answering the Problems, we hope that all participants will gain some basic knowledge on bioethics. We also hope that the participants will actively engage in discussion and exchange opinions on issues of bioethics with peers. We welcome all questions and comments!
Assignments and Grading Criteria
The grading criteria of this course is below. To pass the course, students must mark the score of 60% or more.
A: 80% or more
B: 70% - 79%
C: 60% - 69%
F: Less than 60%
This course consists of 5 weeks. Each week has a set of Problems and Completion Checklists counting for 16%. The total of Problems counts for 80%. During this course, learners are asked to work on four Homework assignments.
- Problems and Completion Checklists: 80%
-Every week
-Due date: End of the course
- Homework 1: 4%
-Week 1
-Due date: End of Week 1 (Wednesday, April 6, 23:30 UTC)
- Homework 2: 4%
-Week 3
-Due date: End of Week 3 (Wednesday, April 20, 23:30 UTC)
- Homework 3 (Peer Assessment): 8%
-Week 4
-Submission due date: End of Week 4 (Wednesday, April 27, 23:30 UTC)
-Peer Assessment due date: End of the course (Thursday, May 5, 23:30 UTC)
- Homework 4: 4%
-Week 5
-Due date: End of the course (Thursday, May 5, 23:30 UTC)
Please pay attention on the due dates of each Problem, Homework, and so on. To avoid any kinds of unexpected troubles including the Internet disconnection, we strongly recommend all learners to submit them with time to spare.
If you are on the verified track and mark the passing score, certificates will be issued by edX under the name of KyotoUx after the end of the course.
Course Schedule
Week |
Start Date |
Topic |
Homework |
1 |
March 31 |
The Ethics of Assisted Reproductive Technology • What is Assisted Reproductive Technology? • Sex Selection • Pros & Cons of Sex Selection • Ethical Issues Associated with Assisted Reproductive Technology |
Yes |
2 |
April 7 |
The Ethics of Truth-Telling • Cancer and Its Disclosure in Japan • Pros & Cons of Cancer Disclosure • Paternalism & Self-Determination • Informed Consent & Patient-Centered Medicine |
No |
3 |
April 14 |
Is Abortion Murder? • Current Situation of Abortion in Japan • Ethical Discussions in Japan • Ethical Discussions in Europe & America • Social Problems Related to Abortion |
Yes |
4 |
April 21 |
What’s wrong with Enhancement? • Use of Medical Technologies for Enhancement • The Ethical Pros and Cons of Enhancement – The Anti-Use Position • The Ethical Pros and Cons of Enhancement – Where Are Enhancement Technologies Heading? |
Yes |
5 |
April 28 |
Is Euthanasia Wrong? • Euthanasia and Death with Dignity • Japanese Cases of Euthanasia • For and Against Euthanasia • Palliative Medicine • Living Wills |
Yes |
This course will end on Thursday, May 5, 2016.
For Japanese Learners
日本の受講生の方へ
本講義では以下の書籍を教材として用います。この授業では扱わなかった問題や、マンガの続きを書籍では読むことができます。興味のある方はぜひご覧ください。
児玉聡・なつたか(2013)『マンガで学ぶ生命倫理:わたしたちに課せられた「いのち」の宿題』化学同人