International Bioethics Education Program

This 3-credit course will introduce undergraduate and graduate students to theoretical and practical aspects of bioethics in a European context.  Continental health professionals and bioethicists work in an environment that differs from the American context in three important dimensions: the political structure of their health care systems; the cultural influence of their religious histories; the theoretical perspective of continental moral philosophy.  The University of Salamanca in Spain is one of the oldest universities in Europe. It will be used in this course as a focal point for examining the interplay of these three dimensions in shaping institutional and professional approaches to specific problems in bioethics, including environmental ethics, reproductive technologies, and health care justice. The course includes a ten-day trip to Salamanca, Spain over Spring Break, where students are taught by instructors and faculty from the University of Salamanca.  Teaching will include some guided field experiences and regular discussion sessions with the course faculty.  Prior to the trip, students attend six hours of lectures, either at Case Western Reserve University or via a web-based tutorial, and are expected to become familiar with elements of political theory and continental moral philosophy relevant to the in-country discussions.  Following the trip, students meet with instructors for an additional four hours.