aVLET021p Medical Ethics 1 - lecture

Faculty of Medicine
spring 2027
Extent and Intensity
1/0/0. 1 credit(s). Type of Completion: z (credit).
In-person direct teaching
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Bc. Michal Koščík, Ph.D. et Ph.D. (lecturer)
Leandro Loriga, M.Sc., Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Martin Loučka, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Tatiana Malatincová, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D. (lecturer)
doc. PhDr. Miroslav Světlák, Ph.D. (lecturer)
Mgr. Bc. Kateřina Smolková (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
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
Medical ethics is an integral part of medical education, as it helps students understand how to make decisions in situations that are not only clinically complex but also morally challenging. The course introduces students to the fundamental principles of ethical reasoning in medicine and demonstrates how to apply them in practice.
Students will learn to identify ethical problems, navigate issues such as informed consent, confidentiality, and the fair allocation of healthcare resources, and reflect on them in a structured way. Emphasis is also placed on developing professional values, including respect, responsibility, and a sensitive approach to patients.


The course thus provides a foundation for the formation of professional identity in the context of contemporary medicine, which is rapidly evolving and continuously presenting new ethical challenges.

Learning outcomes

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


1. Explain the basic concepts of medical ethics and clarify their relevance to medical practice


2. Distinguish between ethical and legal norms in healthcare and evaluate their relationship using specific examples


3. Identify an ethical problem in a model clinical or societal situation and analyse it in a structured way using fundamental ethical principles


4. Compare different approaches to selected bioethical issues (e.g., autonomy, justice, beginning and end of life) and justify their own position


5. Apply principles of ethical reasoning to situations in public health or conflicts of interest and propose an ethically justifiable solution


6. Reflect on the role of values, responsibility, and professional integrity in shaping the identity of a physician.

Key topics

Foundations of Medical Ethics


Brief history and importance of Medical Ethics; moral dilemma; principlism.


Main concepts in Medical Ethics (deontology, utilitarianism, narrative and discursive ethics, virtue ethics) and their clinical relevance


Ethics and Law in Healthcare


Ethics and law as normative systems; their relationship and limits; professional codes of ethics; patient autonomy and paternalism


Public Health Ethics


Tension between individual rights and collective responsibility; vaccination, regulation of behaviour, allocation of resources; global health inequalities


Conflicts of Interest in Medicine


Influence of economic and institutional factors on decision-making; relationships with the pharmaceutical industry; impact on trust and quality of care; prevention and regulation


Critical Thinking and Moral Reasoning in Medicine


Ethical reasoning; working with arguments; decision-making under uncertainty; professional responsibility


Basic Principles of Clinical Ethics in Practice


How to be a good doctor. Ethics of care: recognising ethical problems in healthcare.

Study resources and literature
    required literature
  • LAETUS O.K. LATEGAN & GERT J. VAN ZYL (Eds). Healthcare Ethics for Healthcare Practitioners. Sun Media Bloemfontein, 2017.
    recommended literature
  • A companion to bioethics. Edited by Helga Kuhse - Peter Singer. 2nd ed. [Malden]: Wiley-Blackwell, 2012, xiii, 622. ISBN 9781444350845. info
  • JONSEN, Albert R. A short history of medical ethics. 1. vyd. New York: Oxford University Press, 2000, xi, 153. ISBN 9780195134551. info
  • VEATCH, Robert M. The basics of bioethics. Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2000, xii, 180. ISBN 0130839760. info
    not specified
  • SHAFER-LANDAU, Russ. A concise introduction to ethics. New York: Oxford University Press, 2020, xi, 223. ISBN 9780190058173. info
  • Methods in medical ethics. Edited by Jeremy Sugarman - Daniel P. Sulmasy. 2nd ed. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown University Press, 2010, xiii, 353. ISBN 9781589017016. info
  • The Blackwell guide to medical ethics. Edited by Rosamond Rhodes - Leslie Francis - Anita Silvers. 1st ed. Malden: Blackwell Pub., 2007, xii, 435. ISBN 9781405125840. info
  • BEAUCHAMP, Tom L. and James Franklin CHILDRESS. Principles of biomedical ethics. 7th ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 2013, xvi, 459. ISBN 9780199924585. info
Approaches, practices, and methods used in teaching

The course is delivered through interactive lectures. Active student participation is expected, including the formulation and argumentation of individual viewpoints in relation to presented ethical, legal, and clinical issues.


Teaching includes guided discussions and work with model situations (case studies), followed by joint analysis. These activities support the development of skills in identifying ethical dilemmas, thinking about them in a structured manner, and proposing appropriate solutions. Emphasis is also placed on respectful communication, openness to diverse perspectives, and reflection on one’s own attitudes.


Short written or oral tasks may be used during the course to support the application of ethical principles to specific situations. An integral part of the course is independent study of required literature and preparation for discussions on selected topics.

Method of verifying learning outcomes and course completion requirements

Learning outcomes are assessed through a written credit test. The test primarily evaluates understanding of key concepts in medical ethics, the ability to distinguish between ethical and legal aspects of healthcare practice, and orientation in the main ethical issues covered in the course.


The test consists of multiple-choice questions with four options, only one of which is correct. No penalty is applied for incorrect answers. The minimum passing threshold is 60% of correct answers.


The test content is based on lectures and required reading.

Awarding of credit is conditional upon achieving the minimum passing threshold in the test.
Alternate completion

The course is based on lectures and supported by structured study materials and learning resources.


In justified cases (e.g., study abroad, long-term illness, parental responsibilities), it is possible to complete the course without attending lectures, subject to prior agreement with the course lecturers.

Language of instruction
English
Teacher's information
Contact person: doc. PhDr. Alena Slezáčková, Ph.D.
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
The course is taught annually.
The course is taught every week.
Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
The course is also listed under the following terms spring 2021, spring 2022, spring 2023, spring 2024, spring 2025, spring 2026.
  • Enrolment Statistics (spring 2027, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/med/spring2027/aVLET021p