Bioethics in Film – BIO/HPS 394 – Syllabus
“Death and dying” – LSE 104 – Spring 2010
Instructor: Professor Jason Scott Robert (Jason.Robert@asu.edu)
School of Life Sciences, Center for Biology and Society, and Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes
Office: LSC 280A (enter through LSC 280) / Office hours: By appointment / Phone: 480.727-8857
Co-instructor: Jenny Brian (jenny.brian@asu.edu).
School of Life Sciences, Center for Biology and Society, and Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes
Contact Jenny if you have any technical difficulties with the my.asu/Blackboard site.
Office: LSC 280 / Office hours: By appointment / Phone: 480.965-2719
This class meets SIX TIMES ONLY, as follows:
Thursday, 28 January, Introduction
Thursday, 11 February, Film #1: Marvin’s Room
Thursday, 25 February, Film #2: Wit
Thursday, 11 March, Film #3: Ososhiki
Thursday, 1 April, Film #4: The Sea Inside
Thursday, 29 April, Conclusion
Description
This one-credit course is designed as a forum for the identification and normative discussion of moral, societal,
and political issues as represented through the medium of film. The Introduction and Conclusion sessions will
run from 5:45-7:30pm. The film sessions will begin with the screening of the film at 5:40pm, followed by a
short break and then a group discussion until approximately 8:30pm.
The theme for Spring 2010 is “Death and Dying.” We will explore the social, clinical, legal, ethical, and
personal/interpersonal aspects of the illness experience, the process of dying, and the event of death through the
medium of film. These four films will allow us to compare and contrast the ways death affects different
individuals, including the patient, family members, nurses, doctors, colleagues and friends.
During the films and discussions, you should keep a Journal of notes and questions. Between the film sessions,
you will complete your readings and participate in online discussions, with an aim to probe the key issues in an
informed and respectful manner. At the end of the semester, you should submit your Journal to supplement your
participation grade, and either (1) a Final Paper exploring a theme that cuts across at least two of the films, or
(2) a submission for the Bioethics and Film database: http://bioethicsandfilm.asu.edu.
Materials
For each film, there are several readings to be completed in advance. A course reader will be available at the
Alternative Copy Shop – 715 South Forest Ave, Tempe – 480-829-7992. There may be additional readings and
resources on the course’s MyASU/ Blackboard site, including background readings about ethics and about
writing philosophically/conceptually about film. Visit the course website via http://www.asu.edu/myasu.
ON THE DAY OF EACH FILM, PLEASE CHECK THE BLACKBOARD SITE FOR A ONE-PAGE
FILM GUIDE. Copies of the film guide will also be available in class.
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Assessment/Grading
Attendance and participation (40%), online discussions (30%), final assignment (30%).
 Attendance is mandatory. Students who miss class, or fail to complete the sign-in sheet, will be
penalized, as the class meets only six times over the course of the semester.
 Participation in class, and especially in online discussions, is an absolute requirement. In-class
participation can be demonstrated by asking questions, answering discussants’ questions or those of
other students, and submitting a detailed Journal of thoughts and questions from the film screenings.
The online discussion forums are the only ongoing ‘contact’ you have with your fellow students in this
course, and with the instructors. After each film you will be asked to make one original posting to the
discussion board; one response to someone else’s posting; and at least one response to someone’s
response to your original posting. Additionally, between the screenings of the films, it is highly
recommended that you use the discussion forums as an opportunity to engage publicly and
collaboratively with the readings and other material of interest. Quantity and quality both matter,
though quality more so.
Note: Your online postings and your final assignment will be much improved if you keep a Journal
while watching each film. Indeed, keeping a Journal is an integral part of active participation in this
course. Watching films is fun, but it is also hard work, requiring keen attention to details at multiple
levels of analysis. While your Journal will not be assessed directly for content, it should reflect your
ability to engage conceptually (and aesthetically) with the films. What are the film’s main themes? How
successfully does the film articulate its message? How does this film fit in with the other films we have
screened? These are some of the questions that should preoccupy you as you watch each film.

The final assignment for the course is either (1) a Final Paper or (2) a submission for the Bioethics and
Film online database. (1) The Final Paper will require students to elaborate on one bioethical theme
apparent in at least two of the film sessions. It is not a research paper so much as a reflective, in-depth
critical analysis and discussion, grounded in the relevant assigned literature. While students are
welcome to conduct independent research, this is neither required nor necessary. (Any resources you use
– including posts on the discussion board – must be properly cited.) Assignments will be 4-6 doublespaced pages in length, and graded according to quality of argument, evidence of original thought, and
clarity of expression. (2) Alternatively, students may select a film not previously screened in the
Bioethics in Film course and, with instructor approval, may prepare and submit an entry for the
Bioethics and Film online database. Submissions comprise a film guide (a synopsis of the film and a list
of thoughtful discussion questions), and some recommended peer-reviewed and/or popular literature
that you annotate. The final assignment will be due via the Blackboard dropbox on 5 May 2010.
Plagiarism: If you submit work that is not your own, you will be fully disciplined in accordance with
university policies. Plagiarism or cheating in any form will not be tolerated. It is your responsibility to be
aware of, understand, and adhere to the rules and regulations of Arizona State University.
In the “Student Academic Integrity Policy” manual, ASU defines “’Plagiarism” [as] using another's
words, ideas, materials or work without properly acknowledging and documenting the source. Students
are responsible for knowing the rules governing the use of another's work or materials and for
acknowledging and documenting the source appropriately.” Academic dishonesty, including
inappropriate collaboration, will not be tolerated. There are severe sanctions for cheating, plagiarizing
and any other form of dishonesty. For further details, please consult
http://www.asu.edu/studentaffairs/studentlife/judicial/academic_integrity.htm.
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Policies
 Any assignment submitted late, without an appropriate excuse, will be penalized 25% per day (including
weekend days).
 Students with permanent or temporary disabilities who would like to discuss course requirements and
accommodations are asked to see Prof. Robert as soon as possible.
Protocol and Rules for Using the Discussion Board
We will be using the MyASU/Blackboard system for a large portion of our class discussion. We need to
respect each other and understand that this is an academic environment. There are rules that we need
follow. Please note that:
 These boards will be monitored and anything that the instructor or TA finds inappropriate or offensive
will be taken down.
 The instructor can remove any student from the forum if they continue in disrespectful behavior. This
will count against the participation grade.
 Even though this information is posted to the Discussion Boards, it is for use only in this course and is
not to be shared with anyone outside of our class setting.
 Student postings to the Discussion Boards are the work/property of the individual. Anyone suspected of
using another person’s response as his or her own in any of the required course work will have
committed plagiarism (see below).
Writing resources:
The ASU Writing Center – http://www.asu.edu/duas/wcenter/ is very helpful, and especially valuable handouts
to help improve your writing are available at http://www.asu.edu/duas/wcenter/handouts.html.
Schedule (see next page for reading assignments)
28 January – Course introduction
11 February – Marvin’s Room
Blackboard discussion assignments are due Monday, 15 February (1 - your original contribution),
Tuesday, 16 February (2 - your response to someone else’s original post), and Wednesday, 17 February
(3 - your response to someone else’s response to a post, ideally your own).
25 February – Wit
Blackboard discussion assignments are due Monday, 1 March (1 - your original contribution), Tuesday,
2 March (2 - your response to someone else’s original post), and Wednesday, 3 March (3 - your
response to someone else’s response to a post, ideally your own).
11 March – Ososhiki
Blackboard discussion assignments are due Monday, 22 March (1 - your original contribution),
Tuesday, 23 March (2 - your response to someone else’s original post), and Wednesday, 24 March (3 your response to someone else’s response to a post, ideally your own).
1 April – The Sea Inside
Blackboard discussion assignments are due Monday, 5 April (1 - your original contribution), Tuesday, 6
April (2 - your response to someone else’s original post), and Wednesday, 7 April (3 - your response to
someone else’s response to a post, ideally your own).
29 April – Course conclusion, final class discussion
Final assignment and journal due 5 May.
Reading list
Online resources
 Ann Bumpus, “Writing the philosophy paper”, Dartmouth Writing Program,
www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/humanities/philosophy.shtml (last edited 12 July 2005).
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
Karen Gocsik, “Writing about film”, Dartmouth Writing Program,
www.dartmouth.edu/~writing/materials/student/humanities/film.shtml (last edited 12 July 2005).
28 January – Course introduction
Kellehear, A. On dying and human suffering. Palliative Medicine 2009; 23: 388-397.
11 February – Marvin’s Room
Hardwig, J. Going to meet death. Hastings Center Report 2009 (July-Aug); 39(4): 37-45.
Meisel, A. and L.H. Roth. Must a man be his cousin’s keeper? Hastings Center Report 1978; 8(5): 5-6.
25 February – Wit
Carter, H., MacLeod, R., Brander, P., and McPherson, K. Living with a terminal illness: patients’ priorities.
Journal of Advanced Nursing 2004; 45(6): 611-620.
Hartocollis, A. At the end, offering not a cure but comfort. New York Times 2009. Available online at:
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/20/health/20doctors.html.
11 March – Ososhiki
Didion, J. A Year of Magical Thinking. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Selected pages.
1 April – The Sea Inside
Thomas, L. Dying as failure. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science 1980; 447: 1-4.
Battin, M.P. 2005. Ending Life: Ethics and the way we die. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press, pp. 88-107
(Ch 4: Is a physician ever obligated to help a patient die?).
29 April – Course conclusion, final class discussion
No readings are assigned.
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