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Unit of study_

BETH5104: Bioethics, Law and Policy

2025 unit information

BETH5104 Bioethics, Law and Policy centres on the following question: What is the relationship between bioethics, law and policy? The goal of the course is to investigate the effects of bioethics debates on law and policy (e.g., UNESCO’S Universal Declaration on Bioethics and Human Rights), and how law and policy shape some of the issues we address in bioethics (e.g., voluntary assisted dying laws). We will explore key similarities and differences between law and bioethics, in terms of subject matter and in terms of approaches and methods as well. Topics and cases related to clinical care, public and global health, and research will guide the conceptual work we will conduct collectively and individually.

Unit details and rules

Managing faculty or University school:

Medicine and Health

Study level Postgraduate
Academic unit Public Health
Credit points 6
Prerequisites:
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None
Corequisites:
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None
Prohibitions:
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None
Assumed knowledge:
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None

At the completion of this unit, you should be able to:

  • LO1. Understand the nature of law and how it relates to bioethics
  • LO2. Understand the limits of the legal paradigm in resolving ethical dilemmas.
  • LO3. Demonstrate awareness of the ethical positions taken by the law on key contentious issues in biomedicine and take a view on whether or not these positions are desirable.

Unit availability

This section lists the session, attendance modes and locations the unit is available in. There is a unit outline for each of the unit availabilities, which gives you information about the unit including assessment details and a schedule of weekly activities.

The outline is published 2 weeks before the first day of teaching. You can look at previous outlines for a guide to the details of a unit.

Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2024
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2024
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2025
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Semester 1 2025
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Outline unavailable
Session MoA ?  Location Outline ? 
Semester 1 2021
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2021
Block mode Remote
Semester 1 2021
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Block mode Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2022
Block mode Remote
Semester 1 2022
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal evening Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney
Semester 1 2023
Normal evening Remote
Semester 1 2023
Online Camperdown/Darlington, Sydney

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Modes of attendance (MoA)

This refers to the Mode of attendance (MoA) for the unit as it appears when you’re selecting your units in Sydney Student. Find more information about modes of attendance on our website.