Lancaster University

The module will be structured around four core themes. The indicative content will include key themes as below:

Lectures

Biomedicine in society – Setting the context

Biomedicine in society – a historical introduction

Power, policies and politics

Research ethics in biomedicine

Animal and human research

Animal research: ethical issues

Cadavers, autopsies, and other stories

Ethical debates in human experimentation

Biomedicine and media

Public debates about genetics, stem cell research and drug safety

Media influence on disease prioritisation in research

Ethics in communication between biomedicine and society

Health inequalities and differential access

Clinical trials – access and randomisation

Health literacy and the expert patient

Cultural differences in research focus, access and participation

 

Workshops/seminars

Working in small groups each student will attend one 3 hour seminar/workshop session per week (weeks 1,2 and 4) and one 4 hour seminar/workshop (week 3). Each seminar/workshop will involve reading and preparation of material for critical evaluation and discussion. Students will prepare short presentations based on each of the weekly topics.

Indicative topics will include

Comparing the historical role and practice of biomedical research in shaping health politics and policies with that of contemporary biomedicine.

Critically evaluating ethical debates in animal and human research

Biomedicine in the media: examining public versus professional perception of a current debate of medical research

Health inequalities: assessing the role and influence of biomedicine in specific cultural and social contexts

None

This aims to equip students with

A broad understanding of some key concepts and ethical debates in the public perception of biomedicine

Skills to critically evaluate the place of biomedicine in a cultural and social context

An awareness of how professional and public debate informs research ethics and research agendas in biomedicine

This aims to equip students to:

The ability to critically evaluate the role of different academic disciplines to inform debates in scientific theory and practice

The ability to work in a team to present ideas coherently, concisely and effectively

The ability to reflect on and interpret information from different public and professional sources

On completion of this module a student should have gained the skills to be able to:

Describe the historical context of biomedicine in society

Identify at least two different models of health and medicine around the world

Evaluate the influence of political, public and private interests in determining research agendas

Critically discuss the ethics of animal research and human experimentation

Discuss disease definition and disease prioritisation in biomedical research and the mechanisms that influence funding decisions

Describe the role of biomedical research may have in reducing or increasing health inequalities

Have an understanding of the value of applying varied research methods in biomedicine

Identify at least one major current media debate related to biomedicine and society

Subject specific knowledge will be assessed through timed examinations, tests and CWA assignments whilst the generic outcomes of ‘Biomedicine and Society’ will be assessed through CWA consisting of an essay that draws on a presentation where students demonstrate their ability to critically evaluate and discuss key biomedical debates in the public and professional domain.

One 1500 word assignment, worth 25% of the overall module mark

Weekly online tests, worth 9% of the overall mark

An end of module test, worth 16% of the overall mark

A final exam question worth 50% of the overall module mark

Veatch R M et al (eds) Case studies in biomedical ethics: Decision-making, principles, and cases Oxford University Press, 2009

Britten N, Medicines and society: Patients, professionals and the dominance of pharmaceuticals, Palgrave Macmillan, 2008

Marie M et al (eds) Animal bioethics: Principles and teaching methods, Wageningen, 2005

Students will be expected to undertake some additional reading to prepare for weekly seminars

Biological Sciences

Biological Sciences with Biomedicine

Biomedical Science

Biochemistry

Biochemistry with Biomedicine

Biochemistry with Genetics

Cell Biology

Cell Biology with Biomedicine

and year abroad variants of above and potential for Natural and Combined Sciences