PY4670 Ethics and the allocation of health resources

Academic year

2023 to 2024 Semester 1

Further information on which modules are specific to your programme.

Key module information

SCOTCAT credits

30

The Scottish Credit Accumulation and Transfer (SCOTCAT) system allows credits gained in Scotland to be transferred between institutions. The number of credits associated with a module gives an indication of the amount of learning effort required by the learner. European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) credits are half the value of SCOTCAT credits.

SCQF level

SCQF level 10

The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework (SCQF) provides an indication of the complexity of award qualifications and associated learning and operates on an ascending numeric scale from Levels 1-12 with SCQF Level 10 equating to a Scottish undergraduate Honours degree.

Availability restrictions

Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable

To be confirmed

This information is given as indicative. Timetable may change at short notice depending on room availability.

Module coordinator

Dr J R Millum

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module Staff

Dr Joseph Millum

This information is given as indicative. Staff involved in a module may change at short notice depending on availability and circumstances.

Module description

Sometimes there is not enough to go around. Not enough vaccines, not enough hospital beds, or simply not enough money. In this module, we will examine the ethics of allocating scarce resources with a focus on allocation in health care. We will cover theoretical topics, such as theories of fair distribution, the nature of disability, how bad it is to die, and the moral relevance of future populations to present decision-making. We will also look at existing tools, policies, and practices for allocating scarce health care resources and critically assess the value judgments that they embody.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisites

BEFORE TAKING THIS MODULE YOU MUST PASS PY1012

Assessment pattern

100% coursework.

Re-assessment

100% coursework.

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact

2 lectures (x10 weeks) 1 seminar (x10 weeks)

Scheduled learning hours

30

The number of compulsory student:staff contact hours over the period of the module.

Guided independent study hours

259

The number of hours that students are expected to invest in independent study over the period of the module.

Intended learning outcomes

  • Understand and explain core concepts and current debates concerning the allocation of scarce resources
  • Explain the most common methods used for allocating health care
  • Identify and evaluate the value judgments implicit in policy documents and technical tools for priority-setting
  • Critically examine arguments in the philosophical literature
  • Articulate and defend their own philosophical views, orally and in writing
  • Charitably interpret and understand the reasoning behind ethical views with which they disagree