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Bioethics in Practice (POPH90270)

Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)

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Overview

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Semester 1
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This subject introduces students to ethical decision-making, with a focus on health. It explores ethical issues in public health and clinical care, in both Australian and global contexts.

Students will be introduced to frameworks for making rigorous ethical decisions in practice, and learn skills for analysing ethical problems across diverse types of health work and in interprofessional groups.

Topics include: vaccination, voluntary assisted dying, reproduction, children’s healthcare, and resource allocation.

Intended learning outcomes

Upon completion of this subject students will be able to:

  • Describe the process of ethical analysis in practice
  • Reflectively identify and challenge moral intuitions
  • Critically appraise normative bioethics literature
  • Outline key concepts and frameworks in health ethics
  • Use these concepts and approaches to perform an ethical analysis

Generic skills

  • Application of theoretical concepts to practical problems
  • Critical and creative thinking
  • Reflective practice

Last updated: 11 July 2025