Short course
Medical Ethics: An Introduction
Course status:
Applications being accepted
Dates and time:
05/11/2026 - 03/12/202616:30 - 18:30
Study format:
In-person weekly
Fees:
£190.00
Medical practice is essentially a peoples' profession and healthcare professionals (HCPs) ought not only be proficient in the science/knowledge of medicine but also in the art.
Ethical decisions do not come by chance. They require an understanding of the principles and values that underpin such decisions. Humanism is as essential as techne, when providing patient-centred care.
This course introduces ethical issues that arise in the clinical context focusing on the principles and virtues required to make ethical decisions. Using real-life cases/scenarios/film clips, the aim is to provide practical experience and equip you with skills to identify, analyse and resolve ethical issues in a manner that is both ethical (good/right) and practically wise.
The purpose is to develop a deeper understanding of the HCPs responsibilities and valuing diverse perspectives when making decisions.
Book this course
Book your place online using the button below.
Course starts Thursday 5 November 2026
This is an in-person course which requires your attendance at the weekly meetings in Oxford on Thursdays, 4.30-6.30pm.
Week 1:Philosophical foundations of ethical decision making and practical wisdom
Week 2: Consent, confidentiality and trust
Week 3: Ethical issues in the use of Artifical reproductive technologies
Week 4: Ethical issue at the End of Life and Euthanasia
Week 5: Research ethics
Course aims
To develop ethical decision-making skills and practical wisdom.
Course objectives
- To understand the philosophical foundations of ethical decision making.
- Use experiential knowledge to develop skills that are important in making ethically wise decisions.
Learning outcomes
At the end of this course students will have been given the opportunity to learn how to:
- Identify and analyse ethical issues.
- Present their arguments for or against a decision they consider right/wrong.
- Demonstrate the importance of context and facts as integral to making ethical decisions.
- Develop a respectful understanding of alternative (others’) views and perspectives.
Level and demands
The Department’s Weekly Classes are taught at first year undergraduate level.
Teaching methods
The purpose is to engage students in the knowledge-exchange environment so as to reinforce or transform their knowledge.
The following methods may be employed:
- Didactic lectures (one day of the week will be to introduce the topic)
- Case discussion (real-world clinical cases )
- Narrative (stories that either the students bring or in newspapers regarding a specific issue)
- Movie/s to engage students to identify an ethical issue
- Role play exercises
Assessment methods
This course is not accredited, so there are no assessments or coursework.
Dr Aisha Malik
Dr. Aisha Y. Malik (MBBS, M.Phil., MSc, D.Phil, AFHEA), a haematologist by training, teaches/facilitates medical/public health ethics (after obtaining her D. Phil), as a Senior Teaching Fellow and now as Senior Associate Tutor (part-time) at Warwick Medical School. She worked as Senior Research Fellow on the PMC project at HSMC, University of Birmingham. She is an expert member on a Health Research Authority (HRA) , Research ethics committee (REC).She also teaches medical ethics at medical institutions in Pakistan (AKU and LUMS-LLI) and is an Associate of The Phronesis Associates. Her areas of interest are Phronesis and decision making, Gender and decision making, and Justice in international research.
Digital badge
Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. In order to be issued with your badge, you will need to have attended at least 80% of the course.
After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add this badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so.
Fees
| Description | Costs |
|---|---|
| Course fee | £190.00 |
Funding
If you are in receipt of a UK state benefit, or are a care-leaver in the UK, you may be eligible for a reduction of 50% of tuition fees. Please see the below link for full details:
Concessionary fees for short courses
Recommended reading
Recommended reading is optional and you are not required to purchase these books to study this course.
Library facilities
All weekly class students may become borrowing members of the Rewley House Library, part of the Bodleian Libraries, for the duration of their course. Prospective students whose courses have not yet started are also welcome to use the Library for reference.
- More information about the Library can be found on the Bodleian Libraries website.
- This guide for Weekly Class students also provides further information.
Preparatory reading
- Groundwork of the Metaphysics of Morals / Immanuel Kant
- Ethical problems and genetics practice / Mike Parker
- Autonomy and Trust in Bioethics / Onora O’Neill
- Death’s dominion:ethics at the end of life / Wood, S.
Module code: O26P452PHW
How to enrol
Please use the ‘Book now’ button on this page.