Ethical Issues in Pediatrics | BTHX 5110/ BTHX 8110

Using real pediatric cases, we will examine some of the most pressing ethical issues faced by clinical teams, patients and families, and ethics consultants.

Topics include the role of the Child Protective Services in the lives of children & families, end-of-life decision-making, care of extremely premature infants, conceptions of disability, adolescents’ independence from their guardians in decision-making and confidentiality protections, research conducted with children, and prioritizing children for scarce resources in public health emergencies. Through robust classroom discussions, we will consider these complex issues from a diversity of perspectives.

This course is intended for professional and academic disciplines working with children such as medicine, nursing, psychology, social work, law, public health, and education, as well as child development, anthropology, and philosophy. Learn more about the course syllabus here.