This course will explore the relationship between ethics and law in the context of health care, public health, biomedical research, and biotechnology. Students will first be given a brief grounding in traditional moral and ethical theory (deontology, consequentialism, principlism, etc.). Using United Kingdom and United States examples and case studies, students will then explore the intersection of ethical theory and legal regulation across historical and contemporary controversies in bioethics. Course readings, discussion, and a short final paper will enable students to consider how ethics and law can help us clarify the debates and resolve difficult issues.

Topics may include those where the U.S. and U.K. legal systems differ or converge substantially. Among the former are topics including the legal regulation of abortion and assisted reproductive technology, the role of conscience in medical practice, and forensic use of genetic information. Among the latter are topics including human subjects research, newborn screening, and regulation of transplantable organs. In addition, the course may include consideration of topics arising out of the Covid-19 pandemic, including the appropriateness of human challenge trials for vaccine or other research.