E13: Health Care Ethics

Course Overview

CE Hours

3 CE Credits

Course Description

Health Care Ethics is the study of moral issues that concern health care professionals in medicine, nursing, law, sociology, philosophy, and theology. This course examines real-world ethical dilemmas faced by health care providers, including abortion, assisted suicide, human cloning, and patient consent and confidentiality. Through linked readings, statistics, and multiple perspectives, learners will develop a foundational understanding of ethical decision-making in clinical and professional settings.

Course Learning Objectives

At the end of this course, learners will be able to:

  1. Define health care ethics and explain its role in professional medical practice
  2. Identify the key arguments for and against abortion and describe the clinical procedures, risks, and statistical trends associated with it
  3. Explain key end-of-life terms including advance directives, DNR orders, aid-in-dying, and palliative care
  4. Describe the ethical concerns surrounding human cloning and differentiate between the three types of cloning technologies
  5. Explain the standards for informed consent and identify barriers to its proper application in clinical settings
  6. Identify patient rights related to health information privacy and the conditions under which confidentiality may be ethically and legally disclosed

Course Format and Faculty

Course Format:

Online linked resources and lectures available anytime, 24/7. Includes one multiple-choice exam taken at the end of the course. A passing grade of 75% is required. Upon passing, learners may print their certificate immediately.

Course Developers and Instructors:

R. Klimes, PhD, MPH (Johns Hopkins University) is a scholar and author in health-related research, health behaviors, ethics, end-of-life care, and overall wellness. He has written numerous research reports and books and has held academic and leadership roles in higher education and public health internationally.

Course Time:

Approximately 3 hours for online study, test taking, course evaluation feedback, and certificate printing.