Healthcare providers often need to make difficult ethical decisions, but sometimes do not have the tools needed to make those decisions.

This short course aims to equip participants with the skills they need to deal with the complexities of the healthcare environment – specifically those related to critical thinking and ethical reasoning.

By the end of the course, participants will be able to identify and critically analyse complex ethical dilemmas commonly encountered in healthcare, articulate and defend decisions to patients, colleagues, and other stakeholders and to navigate diverse viewpoints and foster open dialogues in healthcare settings.

The course will consist of 5 x 90-minute sessions held online.

The sessions consist of a presentation by the facilitator, followed by interaction and discussion. All course material covered in each session will be made available to participants and additional resources will be provided. There is minimal preparation required for each session.

Entry requirements: Medical or allied healthcare professional degree, with biomedical ethics as an advantage.

The course is intended for healthcare professionals and senior health sciences students. Please note: Background/introductory knowledge of biomedical principles is a prerequisite as this is not an introductory course.

Learning outcomes:

  • Identify and critically analyse complex ethical dilemmas commonly encountered in healthcare
  • Develop strong communication skills to articulate discussions and decisions in healthcare
  • Navigate diverse viewpoints and foster open dialogues in healthcare

Course content:

Session 1: Let’s have an argument: Introduction to critical thinking
Session 2: More arguing: Analysing and evaluating arguments
Session 3: What counts as ethics?: Identifying ethical dilemmas
Session 4: Ducks and Rabbits: Foundational moral theories and applications
Session 5: Dealing with Dilemmas

A Certificate of Completion and CPD points will be issued to participants who successfully complete the course.