Ethics in Biomedicine

Research and practice in biomedicine continues to evolve more rapidly than at any other time in history, raising fascinating but complex moral and ethical challenges for those studying and working in the field. Understanding ethics in biomedicine and the relationship between science and society has become an essential element in biomedical degree training.

This module builds on the Biomedicine and Society module, aiming to help students develop a deeper understanding of key ethical principles used in biomedicine and some major cultural, social and political influences that define research agendas and fuel ethical debates in the public perception of biomedicine.

The module takes on a seminar format structured around three core themes:

• The development of ethical principles in biomedicine
• Ethical practice and current debates in animal and human research including clinical trials
• Ethical challenges such as those emerging in genetics and regenerative medicine and how these are debated in the media.