units

ATS2637

Faculty of Arts

12 April 2013 20 June 2013

Undergraduate - Unit

print version

6 points, SCA Band 1, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered, or view unit timetables.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Arts
Organisational UnitCentre for Human Bioethics
OfferedCaulfield First semester 2013 (Day)
Clayton First semester 2013 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Tatjana Visak

Notes

Previously coded INT2180

Synopsis

The human body and its parts are increasingly being bought and sold internationally by pharmaceutical companies, researchers, kidney and surrogate brokers and by individuals directly. In this unit we discuss the ethical issues that arise with the international commercialisation of the human body, focusing on the concepts of coercion and exploitation. Should such markets be prohibited altogether, or simply reformed and regulated to reduce exploitation and harm? Specifically, we discuss gene patents and access to medicines in the developing world, research conducted on poor people in developing countries, international markets in organs; surrogacy and embryo trading.

Outcomes

On successfully completing this unit, students will have:

  1. Familiarity with the range and nature of international markets in the human body
  2. Familiarity with the major ethical concepts and arguments used in discussing markets in, and commercialisation of, the human body
  3. Skills enabling them to critically analyse key ethical and policy issues related to these practices
  4. The ability to make informed judgements about these ethical and policy issues.

Assessment

Written work: 80%
Class test: 20%

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Tatjana Visak

Contact hours

One 1-hour lecture per week
One 1-hour tutorial per week

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Human rights theory
Philosophy
International studies
Bioethics

Prerequisites

A first-year sequence in International Studies, Bioethics, Philosophy or Human Rights Theory.

Prohibitions

ATS3637, CHB2100, CHB3100