Contemporary Ethical Problems of Law, Medicine, Animal Protection and Climate Protection [W5-WPiA-PJO-83] semestr letni 2022/2023
Konwersatorium, grupa nr 1

Preparation for discussions on subsequent topics is based on materials made available by the instructors via MS Teams at least 2 days in advance of the first class on a given topic.

Supplementary literature:

a. Bioethic. ed. J. Różyńska, W. Chańska, Warsaw 2013 (choosen fragments);

b. T. Pietrzykowski, Ethical issues of law, Warsaw 2011 (choosen fragments);

c. Beginning of human life. Anthology of bioethic, ed. W. Galewicz, Cracow 2010 (choosen fragments);

d. Around death and dying. Anthology of bioethic, ed. W. Galewicz, Cracow 2009 (choosen fragments);

d. Climatic ABC. e. Climatic ABC. Interdisciplinary foundations of contemporary knowledge about climate change, edited by M. Budziszewska, A. Kardaś, Z. Bohdanowicz, Warsaw 2021 (selected fragments). https://www.wuw.pl/product-pol-13475-Klimatyczne-ABC-Interdyscyplinarne-podstawy-wspolczesnej-wiedzy-o-zmie-klimatu-PDF.html;

e. A. Bielska-Brodziak, A. Gawlik, Genderless children: how the Polish legisla-tor solves the problems of intersex people. NS. 1, Law and Medicine 2016, No. 2, pp. 5-28;

f. A. Bielska-Brodziak, A. Gawlik, Genderless children: how the Polish legisla-tor solves the problems of intersex people. NS. 2, Law and Medicine 2016, No. 3, pp. 6-31;

g. I. Lazari-Pawłowska, Circles of human community, Etyka 1980, vol. 18, pp. 199-219. https://etyka.uw.edu.pl/index.php/etyka/article/view/611/572

Movies:

i. abortion:

 4 months, 3 weeks and 2 days (2007, dir. C. Mungiu);

ii. medically assisted procreation:

 My little Zoe (2019, dir. J. Delpy);

iii. end of human life:

 Towards the Sea (2004, directed by A. Amenábar),

 Jack You Don't Know (2010, dir. B. Levinson);

iv. biological sex and legal gender:

 The Girl (2018, dir. L. Dhont);

v. transplantology:

 21 grams (2003, directed by A. González Iñárritu),

 Face (2018, directed by M. Szumowska);

vi. animal protection:

 Inhabitants of the Land (2005, directed by S. Monson),

 Pokot (2017, dir. A. Holland, K. Adamik);

vii. climate change:

 Age of Stupidity (2009, dir. F. Armstrong),

 David Attenborough: Life on Our Planet (2020, directed by A. Fothergill, J. Hughes, K. Scholey).

I. abortion:

1.1. ethical arguments in the discourse around abortion;

1.2. legal regulation of abortion in Poland - historical and contemporary;

II. the end of human life:

2.1. key concepts - cessation of persistent therapy, sedation, euthanasia, suicide, assisted suicide, homicide and 'natural death'. Boundaries, differences and dilemmas;

2.2. Arguments for and against the legal permissibility of assisted suicide and euthanasia. Examples of legislation in which assisted suicide and euthanasia are permissible;

III. gender identity, biological sex and legal sex:

3.1. the multiple dimensions of biological sex,

3.2. rules for determining legal sex,

3.3. disorders of gender differentiation as difficult cases for the law. Inter-gender and transgender;

3.4. reconciliation of legal sex (correction of birth certificate)

IV. transplantology:

4.1. the concept of transplantation,

4.2. legal rules of organ donation and transplantation;

4.3. legal and ethical challenges related to the trade in human body parts;

V. Protection of animals:

5.1. animals as "moral subjects". Development of the idea of animal protection, the concept of "ethical circles", the phenomenon of species chauvinism,

5.2. spheres of human use of animals (domestic animals, farm animals, wild animals)

5.3. the legal basis of animal protection,

5.4. principles of animal experimentation.

VI. climate change:

6.1. human influence on climate change;

6.2. consequences of climate change and related ethical challenges;

6.3. the concept and challenges of "just transition";

6.4. law in the face of climate change and a just transition

Other topics that may be covered in the class: psychoactive drugs (drugs, legal highs); supplements and medicines; compulsory vaccinations; human and animal experimentation; patient autonomy vs. the idea of paternalism; informed consent, in vitro fertilisation, surrogacy; non-heteronormative relationships and families of choice, women's rights.

After consultation with class participants, other topics may also be discussed - in addition to or instead of the above topics.

Prior to class, teachers provide students with material on the topic (presentation, test and discussion questions) with which they should familiarise themselves. They present the Polish perspective on the issue.

The student then presents the international perspective on the issue (e.g. from his/her own country of origin or another country of choice). The student informs the tutors several days in advance that he/she will prepare a presentation on a particular topic.

After a substantive introduction to the topic, the tutor, together with the students, conducts a discussion, based on the questions that have been prepared in advance.

In the discussion, students present the positions they have prepared; afterwards, other class members have the chance to present their own perspective on the issue or comment on the position of other students.

I. It is the primary duty of class participants to be present at all meetings (with 1 authorised absence).

II. Grading rules:

2.1 Activity in class (participation in the discussion) may raise the final grade one grade upwards.

2.2 Attendance and 1 presentation: pass mark (3)

2.3 Attendance and 2 presentations (author or co-author): good grade (4)

2.4 Attendance, 2 presentations and class activity: a very good mark (5).

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