University of St Andrews

Key information

SCOTCAT credits : 30

ECTS credits : 15

Level : SCQF level 10

Semester: 1

Availability restrictions: Not automatically available to General Degree students

Planned timetable: To be confirmed

Sometimes there is not enough to go around. Not enough vaccines, not enough hospital beds, or simply not enough money. In this module, we will examine the ethics of allocating scarce resources with a focus on allocation in health care. We will cover theoretical topics, such as theories of fair distribution, the nature of disability, how bad it is to die, and the moral relevance of future populations to present decision-making. We will also look at existing tools, policies, and practices for allocating scarce health care resources and critically assess the value judgments that they embody.

Relationship to other modules

Pre-requisite(s): Before taking this module you must pass PY1012

Learning and teaching methods and delivery

Weekly contact: 2 lectures (x10 weeks) 1 seminar (x10 weeks)

Assessment pattern

As used by St Andrews: 100% coursework.


Re-assessment: Coursework = 100%

Personnel

Module coordinator: Dr J R Millum
Module teaching staff: Dr Joseph Millum
Module coordinator email jrm39@st-andrews.ac.uk

Intended learning outcomes

• Understand and explain core concepts and current debates concerning the allocation of scarce resources
• Explain the most common methods used for allocating health care
• Identify and evaluate the value judgments implicit in policy documents and technical tools for priority-setting
• Critically examine arguments in the philosophical literature
• Articulate and defend their own philosophical views, orally and in writing
• Charitably interpret and understand the reasoning behind ethical views with which they disagree