VLET9X2s Medical Ethics 2 - Seminar

Faculty of Medicine
autumn 2026
Extent and Intensity
0/2/0. 2 credit(s). Type of Completion: k (colloquium).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. et Mgr. Zdeňka Barešová (lecturer)
Mgr. MUDr. Štěpánka Bibrová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Jaroslav Divoký (lecturer)
PhDr. Pavel Humpolíček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Iva Korábová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Michal Koščík, Ph.D. et Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Martin Loučka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Tatiana Malatincová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Martina Novotná (lecturer)
MUDr. Martin Pavlík, Ph.D., DESA, EDIC (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Miroslav Světlák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
MUDr. Rastislav Šumec, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Eliška Vladíková (lecturer)
MUDr. Václav Zvoníček, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Ing. Kateřina Novohradská (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D.
Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine
Contact Person: Blanka Suchá
Supplier department: Department of Medical Psychology and Ethics – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine (70,00 %), Department of Public Health – Theoretical Departments – Faculty of Medicine (30,00 %)
Prerequisites (in Czech)
VLET021p Medical Ethics
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is only offered to the students of the study fields the course is directly associated with.
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Abstract

The Medical Ethics seminar builds on the foundational course Medical Ethics I – Lecture and is intended for senior students with clinical practice experience. Its aim is to deepen students’ ability to engage in ethical reasoning and decision-making in real-life situations where medical knowledge intersects with moral responsibility.

The course focuses on the application of ethical principles in specific clinical scenarios and on the analysis of ethical dilemmas related to the beginning and end of life, resource allocation, informed consent, and the professional responsibility of healthcare practitioners.

Emphasis is placed on discussion, argumentation, and reflection on one’s own attitudes. Students learn to formulate and defend their positions with reference to relevant academic sources and to develop skills in respectful and effective communication in situations involving differing values and perspectives. The course thus contributes to the development of ethical-clinical reasoning and to the formation of professional integrity in future physicians.

Learning outcomes

Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:

  1. analyse ethical dilemmas arising from real or model clinical situations and identify key value conflicts
  2. apply principles of clinical ethics and relevant legal norms to specific cases and propose justified solutions
  3. critically evaluate different approaches to bioethical issues (e.g. autonomy, beneficence, justice) and defend their own position
  4. construct arguments supported by academic sources and engage in respectful and well-reasoned discussion that acknowledges differing perspectives
  5. reflect on their own values, attitudes, and professional responsibility in the context of clinical practice
  6. assess the ethical aspects of healthcare professionals’ conduct, including situations involving conflicts of interest, and propose approaches consistent with professional standards
Key topics

Clinical Ethics in Medical Practice
Principles of clinical ethics and their application; patients’ rights; autonomy and values history

Ethics and Law in Contemporary Medicine
Legal aspects of healthcare: maternity, paternity, and specific healthcare services

Ethics of Modern Technologies in Medicine
Deep Medicine: Ethical Aspects of the Use of artificial intelligence in healthcare

Ethical Decision-Making and Argumentation
The slippery slope argument: Use of ethical arguments in clinical decision-making; Values-based anamnesis.

Ethics of Care for Vulnerable Groups
Specific aspects of working with pediatric patients: informed consent, refusal of treatment, protection of vulnerable individuals

Reproductive Medicine
Current ethical issues in assisted reproduction and related interventions

Intensive Care and End-of-Life Decision-Making
Decision-making in terminal conditions; limits of treatment; palliative care approach

Transplantation Medicine
Ethical aspects of organ donation; brain death; organ procurement from deceased donors
Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • JONSEN, Albert R.; Mark SIEGLER and William J. WINSLADE. Klinická etika : praktický přístup k etickým rozhodnutím v klinické medicíně. Translated by Jaromír Matějek. Vydání první. V Praze: Stanislav Juhaňák - Triton, 2019, 225 stran. ISBN 9788075536532. info
  • VÁCHA, Marek Orko; Radana KÖNIGOVÁ and Miloš MAUER. Základy moderní lékařské etiky. Vyd. 1. Praha: Portál, 2012, 302 s. ISBN 9788073677800. info
    recommended literature
  • KUŘE, Josef; Renata VESELSKÁ; Petra VYSOČANOVÁ; Kateřina KINTROVÁ; Václav ZVONÍČEK; Martin PAVLÍK; Jana HALÁMKOVÁ and Ondřej SLÁMA. Kapitoly z lékařské etiky. Multimediální podpora výuky klinických a zdravotnických oborů. Portál lékařské fakulty Masarykovy univerzity [online] , [cit. 27. 02. 2023], 2023. ISSN 1801-6103. URL info
  • ŠIMEK, Jiří. Lékařská etika. 1. vydání. Praha: Grada, 2015, 222 stran. ISBN 9788024753065. info
  • HAŠKOVCOVÁ, Helena. Lékařská etika. Čtvrté, aktualizované a r. Praha: Galén, 2015, 225 stran. ISBN 9788074922046. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

Teaching is delivered through interactive seminars that emphasize active student participation and the use of their own clinical experience.

The primary method is to work with case studies, including their analysis and group discussion, which supports the development of skills in identifying ethical dilemmas, analysing them in a structured way, and proposing justified solutions.

The course also includes guided discussions focused on formulating and defending individual viewpoints, working with arguments, and engaging with different perspectives. Emphasis is placed on respectful and professional communication, openness to differing views, and reflection on one’s own values and professional responsibility.

An integral part of the course is independent study of recommended literature and preparation for seminar discussions on selected ethical topics.

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Achievement of the learning outcomes is assessed through continuous evaluation of students’ ability to analyse ethical dilemmas, apply principles of clinical ethics to specific situations, and formulate and defend their own positions.

The award of credits is conditional upon regular attendance and active participation in seminars, particularly engagement in discussions and work with case studies. Emphasis is placed on preparation for classes, quality of argumentation, and respectful communication.

Alternate completion

This course is based on interactive seminars, discussions, and the sharing of clinical experience. For this reason, it cannot be completed in an alternative format.

Language of instruction
Czech
Study support
https://is.muni.cz/do/rect/el/estud/lf/ps21/lekarska_etika/web/index.html
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses

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Teacher's information

Contact person: doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D.

The course is also listed under the following terms autumn 2023, autumn 2024, spring 2025, autumn 2025, spring 2026, spring 2027.
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