Course work in international health care ethics

ETHICA

Course work in international health care ethics

International course in research ethics in Bangkok
July 30-August 3, 2001

The Department of Philosophy offers two courses taught in English. Both give 5 Norwegian credits or 15 European Course Credit Transfer System Credits ECTC:

FILEHP

Ethics and Health Policy

This course in usually offered in the Spring Semester. It provides an overview of the ethical basis for various proposals for health sector reform. In particular, it examines the recent proposal to use Disability Adjusted Life Years as a basis for making health policy decisions. There is also an examination of various notions of equity in health policy.

FILERP

Ethics and research policy

This course is usually offered in the Fall semester. It provides an overview of recent controversies in research ethics, such as how on should deal with different ethical standards or different economic conditions in different countries.

Degree work

It is possible to use the two above mentioned courses as part of Masters degrees offered at the University of Bergen. It is also possible to use them as part of degree work (both undergraduate and graduate) in the Department of Philosophy. The courses are open to students admitted to the regular study program in the Department of Philosophy, to students admitted to the various Masters programs as well as to students participating in the various student exchange programs. For exceptionally well qualified students, it is possible to apply for admission to a Ph.D. program in international health care ethics. Financial assistance is available for students from developing and East European countries for this program. It should, however, be emphasised that entry to this program will be extremely competitive, and will only be considered in case of applicants who already have well-developed research proposals.

Course packages

In addition, we have been developing course packages in general medical ethics, and research ethics with an emphasis on HIV vaccine research. The general medical ethics course has been organised five times as part of a continuing medical education program for health care personell in the SEA region; the research ethics course has been organised four times as part of UNAIDS' effort to increase the capacity for ethics review in countries carrying out, or planning to carry out, HIV vaccine trials. We are preparing to make the material from these workshops available in electronic format. Here are some cases used for discussion, as well as a resource allocation case from these workshops