85284 - Bioethics

Learning outcomes

At the end of this course, students know: - the main ethical issues in the clinical trials of drugs; - principles regulating independent information on medicinal products; - the problem of conflicts of interest in medical care and in research; how to identify and deal with conflicts of interest.

Course contents

Mod. 1 INTRODUCTION

• Development of bioethics, principles and areas of application
• Issues: Global Health

Mod. 2 BIOETHICS AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT

• Institutional communication in crisis contexts. 
• Issues:  Relationship between pharmacist and patient in evolution; Work-related stress in the pharmacist profession (survey)

Mod. 3 ETHICS IN CLINICAL RESEARCH

• Informed consent and patient autonomy. Animal testing and alternatives. Ethics committees and research review
• Issues: Discussion of case studies and ethical dilemmas in the clinical field

Mod. 4  HIGH-TECH AND BIOTECHNOLOGIES

• Artificial Intelligence and XR in the clinical and pharmaceutical sector
• Issues: impact of AI in clinical research (survey)

Readings/Bibliography

Only for those who do NOT carry out the activities during the lessons, a textbook will be suggested at the beginning of the course.
Handouts and scientific articles will also be provided to consult.

Teaching methods

This course aims to train in the medical health, policy-making, psycho-social, and bio-engineering sectors about the plural perspectives of critical evaluation regarding the contents of the contemporary bioethical debate to develop critical judgment and related risk management.
It emphasizes learning by doing with a practical-based focus. Its learner-centered model enables sessions with specific group work activities.

Innovative methodology
The innovative training activity will consist of meetings with professionals in the sector and teamwork based on three methodologies: a) an investigation to stimulate the student to formulate searchable questions, implement useful actions to solve problems and understand the phenomena presented; b) an analysis aimed at helping students to develop a full awareness of all the factors involved in making a strategic decision; c) a group analysis, designed to allow individual students and groups to be more receptive to new ideas, evaluate different points of view, and develop them creatively and constructively.

Assessment methods

Students will have to successfully complete the proposed exercises and write a final report will get the eligibility.

Those who have not completed the above activities will have to solve a final test. Eligibility is obtained with at least 60% of correct answers. Please, contact the professor to know what are learning documents to study.

Attention: to access the test, the student must have followed at least 70% of the lessons.

Those who do not meet the above requirements will not be able to take the exam.

Teaching tools

Digital presentations, videos, short webinars with subject matter experts, a publication of lecture notes, the use of a forum for ongoing questions and clarifications, collaborative writing and communication.

Multimedia tools, such as Virtuale, Teams, Asynchronous and collaborative communication apps, Grids for carrying out investigations 

Office hours

See the website of Luisa Dall'Acqua