PHI 015 Introduction to Bioethics
University of California, Davis • Summer 2026
| Instructor | Baoyu (Brian) Dai |
| Time and Location | M, T, W, R; 4:10 p.m.–5:50 p.m.; Bainer Hall 1130 |
| Contact | dbydai@ucdavis.edu |
| Office Hours | Mondays, 10:00 a.m.–11:50 a.m.; SSH 237 |
Description
This course introduces and examines ethical issues related to health care and medical research. Some of the questions we will examine include: Should doctors ever act contrary to the will of the patient? How should decisions be made for patients without decision-making capacity? How should we balance individual liberty and public health, particularly amidst a pandemic? What is the just way to distribute health care resources? Is abortion morally defensible? Should doctors be allowed to assist patients in dying? Should genetic enhancement of human beings be permitted?
These issues are extremely important for two reasons. First, many of them are directly relevant to everyday medical practices. Second, they also raise profound theoretical questions, such as the nature of death and dying, the meaning of free will, and more. If you are interested in the course for either or both of these reasons, this is the class for you. Over the next five weeks, we will explore these important topics together.
Assessment
- In-class Activities (30%)
There will be six in-class assignments during weeks 2, 3, 4, and 6. To complete these assignments, students will first discuss the relevant philosophical issues in small groups. Then each student will complete an individual in-class writing assignment. If you miss an in-class assignment, you should contact me by email as soon as possible. If you have a university-recognized reason for your absence, you may submit the work to me by email. - In-class Midterm Exam (20%)
The midterm exam will be a closed-book, in-class written exam. It will cover material from weeks 1 to 3. You will receive further instructions on the format of the exam in advance. - In-class Paper (20%)
There is one major writing assignment for this class. It will be written in class. Students should purchase one Bluebook from the UC Davis Bookstore for the essay. You will receive further instructions and details about the paper in advance. - Take-home Essay Revision/Reflection (10%)
Essay revision and reflection are essential parts of one's academic and personal growth. Students may either revise the essay they wrote in class or submit a reflection on that essay. Students will receive further instructions one week before the due date. - Take-home Final Exam (20%)
The final exam will be a closed-book take-home exam. You will receive further instructions and details one week before the exam date.
Reading Schedule
All readings will be posted on Canvas.
| Date | Topic | Reading/Reference | Assignments |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jun. 22 | Introduction | Ravitsky, “Post-Covid Bioethics,” The Hastings Center. | |
| Jun. 23 | Bioethics Methodology | Tom Beauchamp, “Principlism in Bioethics.” | |
| Jun. 24 | Philosophical Writing | No required readings. | |
| Jun. 25 | Patient Autonomy | Childress and Siegler, “Metaphors and Models of the Doctor-Patient Relationship.” Ackerman, “Why Doctors Should Intervene.” | |
| Jun. 29 | Informed Consent | DeGrazia and Millum, A Theory of Bioethics, pp. 118–127. | |
| Jun. 30 | Incompetent Patients | DeGrazia and Millum, A Theory of Bioethics, pp. 127–131. | Assignment 1 |
| Jul. 1 | Confidentiality | Kleinman et al., “Bioethics for Clinicians: 8. Confidentiality.” | |
| Jul. 2 | Conscientious Objection | Schuklenk and Smalling, “Why Medical Professionals Have No Moral Claim to Conscientious Objection Accommodation in Liberal Democracies.” | Assignment 2 |
| Jul. 6 | Self-protection or Duty to Care | Iserson, “Healthcare Ethics During a Pandemic.” Schuklenk, “What Healthcare Professionals Owe Us: Why Their Duty to Treat During a Pandemic Is Contingent on Personal Protective Equipment.” | Assignment 3 |
| Jul. 7 | Clinical Research | DeGrazia and Millum, A Theory of Bioethics, pp. 77–83. Emanuel, “What Makes Clinical Research Ethical?” | |
| Jul. 8 | Midterm Review | Come to class with questions. | |
| Jul. 9 | Midterm Exam | No readings. | In-Class Midterm |
| Jul. 13 | Pandemic Ethics | Baylis, “Coronavirus: The Watchword Is Solidarity, Not Autonomy.” Xafis et al., “The Perfect Moral Storm: Diverse Ethical Considerations in the COVID-19 Pandemic.” | Assignment 4 |
| Jul. 14 | Moral Status | DeGrazia and Millum, A Theory of Bioethics, pp. 175–187. | |
| Jul. 15 | Abortion: Moral Status | Harman, “Creation Ethics: The Moral Status of Early Fetuses and the Ethics of Abortion.” | |
| Jul. 16 | Abortion: Fetus vs. Pregnant Individuals | Thomson, “A Defense of Abortion.” | Assignment 5 |
| Jul. 20 | In-Class Essay | Remember to bring a Bluebook. | In-Class Essay |
| Jul. 21 | Prenatal Genetic Testing | Ravitsky, “The Shifting Landscape of Prenatal Testing: Between Reproductive Autonomy and Public Health.” | |
| Jul. 22 | Surrogacy | Anderson, “Is Women's Labor a Commodity?” | |
| Jul. 23 | What is Death? | Caplan, “Death: An Evolving, Normative Concept.” | |
| Jul. 27 | What is Death? | Caplan, “Death: An Evolving, Normative Concept.” Joffe et al., “The Intractable Problems with Brain Death and Possible Solutions.” | Assignment 6 |
| Jul. 28 | MAiD I | Friesen, “Medically Assisted Dying and Suicide: How Are They Different, and How Are They Similar?” | Essay Revision/Reflection Due |
| Jul. 29 | MAiD II | Wiebe and Mullin, “Choosing Death in Unjust Conditions: Hope, Autonomy, and Harm Reduction.” | |
| Jul. 30 | Final Review | Come to class with questions. |
Grading Scale
| Percentage | Grade | Percentage | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96–100% | A+ | 80–82.9% | B− |
| 93–95.9% | A | 77–79.9% | C+ |
| 90–92.9% | A− | 73–76.9% | C |
| 87–89.9% | B+ | 70–72.9% | C− |
| 83–86.9% | B | 60–69.9% | D |
| 0–59.9% | F |
Course Policies
Accessibility: Accommodations are available for students with disabilities. If you require accommodations, please contact the UC Davis Student Disability Center as early as possible, preferably during the first week of the summer session. To comply with ADA Title II accessibility requirements, all required course materials will be made available through Canvas in accessible HTML format whenever possible.
Late Work: Late submissions for in-class assignments are not accepted unless you email me in advance with a legitimate reason. For the Essay Revision/Reflection Assignment, late submissions will be penalized 5% for each day late, including weekends and holidays.
Academic Integrity: The Code of Academic Conduct is central to the values of our scholarly community and to this course. Students are expected to be familiar with the Code and to ensure that all submitted work is their own and accurately reflects their effort. Violations of academic integrity are taken seriously and will be handled according to university policy.
AI Use Policy: The use of generative AI tools to generate your writing is strictly prohibited in this class.