Laurea Magistrale in Medicina e Chirurgia - sede di Torino

Provide an introduction to understanding the issues and language of bioethics, focusing on the three main areas of bioethics in medicine: clinical ethics, research ethics and public ethics. Through individual in-depth studies. The course aims to provide the tools necessary to acquire the knowledge and skills needed to identify the criteria for critically evaluating ethical issues in clinical, organisational or public institutions relating to the main moral questions raised in the field of medicine.

The learning objectives focus on: a) acquiring the general basic knowledge of bioethics necessary to address the bioethical paradigms of the care relationship. b) understanding the various perspectives of the bioethical debate on end-of-life issues. c) focusing on the moral aspects of the beginning of life and assisted reproductive technology in its various applications. d) understanding the prominent ethical issues in the various pathological conditions illustrated in the dedicated single-topic lectures and knowing how to draw up appropriate guidelines. e) reflecting on the ethical aspects of biomedical research and healthcare management and their impact on healthcare system users.

After an introduction to the basics of biomedical ethics, which is essential for acquiring specific bioethical methods and language, the ADE then moves on to single-topic lessons dedicated to specific issues in the bioethical landscape of medicine, with contributions from specialists and lecturers who are experts in the subject area. This offers students a broad overview of ethical issues, enabling them to develop an awareness that is closely derived from the practical nature of the topics covered. In addition to the classic themes of bioethics concerning the end and beginning of life, the course covers the ethical implications of transplants, the moral issues raised by medical genetics, the contribution of “medical humanities” in shaping the doctor-patient relationship as seen from the perspective of cinematic narrative, and the bioethical aspects of clinically inappropriate or disproportionate interventions (“excessive treatment”). Furthermore, light will be shed on the ethical implications of research and the transfer of its results to clinical practice, as well as frontier bioethical issues, human enhancement, transhumanism and the ethics of artificial intelligence.

The course will be delivered through seminar-style lessons held by lecturers and experts on the subject of the lesson. The task of the official ADE lecturers is to encourage students to participate and comment in order to develop their critical thinking and debating skills. Two lessons are dedicated to developing students' dialectical skills in the field of bioethics through the presentation of ethical questions and dilemmas which, using a special computer application, require a response in real time. This phase is followed by discussion and debate.

The multiple-choice test is designed to verify that the ADE objectives have been achieved.

The activity will be offered once at least 20 participants have signed up.