PAPER 2: Medical/Scientific Ethics Paper:
The second paper will be on a controversial issue involving medical or
scientific ethics. We will discuss some possible topics in class and analyze at
least one medical ethics issue. Your paper should have a definite thesis
statement giving your view on the issue.
This will be a researched paper with certain minimum requirements:
Minimum of 5 sources
Minimum of 5 quotes
Length 5-7 pages including your list of sources
APA citation style (for reference, see
www.purdue.edu (https://www.purdue.edu/)
Online Writing Lab, APA)
THESIS: -paper must have a thesis: your position or view of the topic
-thesis must be a statement not a question
NARROW TOPIC:
-you need to narrow your topic. You don’t want a very general paper on a huge topic; you want
a focused topic and detailed information on that
-don’t get too narrow or you will not be able to develop your ideas
There are two classic types of argument: arguments of value and arguments of policy.
Medical ethics topics pose the interesting challenge of often having elements of both types of arguments.
Argument of Value: This is based on ethics, values and taste.
For this reason, it’s very difficult to persuade someone of your opinion.
Reviews of music, food, films or books are arguments of value.
Arguments of Policy: These are arguments about how something should be handled.
One example is a campus smoking policy.
Body Paragraphs: estimate 2/3 page maximum. You need several main points. Break some of your main points into subpoints with each being developed into its own paragraph. (Develop with quotes, facts, information)
DO NOT STRUCTURE BODY PARAGRAPHS: Positive aspects/negative aspects
Body Paragraphs should be separate, specific points about your topic
SAMPLE PAPER TOPICS: I am defining medical/scientific ethics rather broadly so something where new developments in science have impacted ethics would be fine. Feel free to choose your own topic.
– Tuskegee syphilis study
-cloning extinct animals
-designer babies
-gender testing of athletes
-organ donation (should organs be for sale? Medical tourism: Organs from people in impoverished countries?)
-surrogate mother/parents
-gender assignment to newborns
-genetically modified food/food labelling
-Patents on genes and gene products
– Use of knowledge of a person’s genome (health care, jobs, premarital)
– Xenotransplantation (organ transplants between species)
– Cloning technologies for infertile couples/individuals
– Growth enhancements (as in growth hormones) for meat animals
– face transplants
– Experimental gene therapy use in humans
– Frozen embryo ownership and/or disposal
– Use of information from the Human Genome Research Project
-Transgenics and evolution
– Use of cells/tissues removed during surgical processes or after death (Henrietta Lacks and others)
–  Use of biological agents in bio-terrorism
– Irradiation of our food supply 
-Use of bioengineered (transgenic) crops to feed humans (safety)
– genetically altered fish as a protein source
– Fish farming and its effect on the environment
-DNA vaccines to control disease
-Implantable brain chips
– Use of biotechnology to extend age in humans
-Should it be mandatory to report infectious diseases?
-Should vaccines be mandatory?