UMS : Unit: DT9060C

Content

This unit explores the foundations and development of bioethics from classical medicine to contemporary healthcare. It examines key principles such as human dignity, the sanctity of life, informed consent, and moral responsibility. Topics covered include abortion, euthanasia, the withholding of treatment, HIV/AIDS, rape, the anencephalic foetus, transplants of donated organs, human research, the allocation of scarce resources, triage and other issues raised by the environment, and modern medical technology: prenatal diagnosis, treatments for infertility, reproductive technology and embryonic stem cell research. Drawing on Scripture, Catholic teaching, and philosophical ethics, students analyse real-life cases and evaluate competing ethical frameworks shaping modern healthcare practice.

Unit code: DT9060C

Unit status: Approved (Major revision)

Points: 24.0

Unit level: Postgraduate Elective

Unit discipline: Moral Theology

Proposing College: Catholic Theological College

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Learning outcomes

1.	Analyse the foundations of Catholic bioethics as grounded in Scripture, the Christian tradition, the Magisterium, and philosophical reasoning concerning the dignity of the human person.
2.	Apply key ethical principles in healthcare—such as the sanctity of life, informed consent, and the duty of care—in light of both Catholic and secular bioethical frameworks.
3.	Evaluate key principles in healthcare ethics—such as the sanctity of life, informed consent, and the duty of care—within Catholic and secular bioethical frameworks, including debates on abortion and voluntary assisted dying
4.	Assess the ethical responsibilities of healthcare professionals in complex clinical cases in relation to patients, families, and broader social contexts, with attention to conscience, justice, and professional integrity.
5.	Critically evaluate the ethical implications of emerging technologies in healthcare—including artificial intelligence—especially in relation to human dignity, decision-making, and moral responsibility.

Unit sequence

48 pts across CT & DT.

Pedagogy

Lectures, tutorials

Indicative Bibliography

Ashley, Benedict M., Jean de Blois, and Kevin D. O’Rourke. Health Care Ethics: A Theological Analysis. 5th ed. Georgetown University Press, 2006.
Beauchamp, Tom L., and James F. Childress. Principles of Biomedical Ethics. 8th ed. Oxford University Press, 2019.
Catholic Health Australia. Code of Ethical Standards for Catholic Health and Aged Care Services in Australia. 2nd ed. Catholic Health Australia, 2016.
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Dignitas Infinita: Declaration on Human Dignity. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2024.
Dicastery for the Doctrine of the Faith. Samaritanus Bonus: On the Care of Persons in the Critical and Terminal Phases of Life. Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020.
Fisher, Anthony. Catholic Bioethics for a New Millennium. Cambridge University Press, 2012.
Lysaught, M. Therese, and Joseph J. Kotva Jr., eds. On Moral Medicine: Theological Perspectives in Medical Ethics. 3rd ed. Eerdmans, 2012.
Pontifical Academy for Life. Rome Call for AI Ethics. Pontifical Academy for Life, 2020.
Shannon, Thomas and Nicholas Kochler. An Introduction to Bioethics. 4th ed. Paulist Press, 2009.
Steinbock, Bonnie, ed. The Oxford Handbook of Bioethics. Oxford University Press, 2007.

Assessment

Type	Description	Word count	Weight (%)
Seminar or Tutorial	Seminar presentation (1,500 word equivalent)	1500	20.0
Critical Review	4000 word critical review of a selected State legislation on voluntary assisted dying	4000	50.0
Oral Examination	Oral exam involves short answer questions and case scenarios.	2000	30.0

Approvals

Unit approved for the University of Divinity by Prof Albert Haddad on 25 Jun, 2026

Unit record last updated: 2026-06-25 09:14:07 +1000