Medical Devices Engineering MSc
Bioethics for Biomedical Engineering 4 ENG4189
- Academic Session: 2026-27
- School: School of Engineering
- Credits: 10
- Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
- Typically Offered: Semester 2
- Available to Visiting Students: Yes
- Collaborative Online International Learning: No
- Curriculum For Life: No
Short Description
This course will introduce students to the application of ethics in the field of Biomedical Engineering. The subjects covered will include the use of animal origin implants, the use of genetically modified organisms to the preparation of ethical approval applications for experimental studies.
Timetable
2 lectures per week
Excluded Courses
None
Co-requisites
None
Assessment
70% Written Exam
30% Written Assignment
Main Assessment In: April/May
Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable
It is the default expectation that all courses will offer opportunities for reassessment or deferred assessment. Where it is not possible to offer this in some assessment components, the grade achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade, and any exceptions for this course are described below.
[No exceptions]
Course Aims
The aims of this course are to:
■ consider ethics and various ethical theories, including legal protection for ethical practices and "whistleblowing";
■ provide students with the knowledge to allow the consideration of whether or not something is ethical;
■ consider approaches to "Conflict of Interest" and ethical working practices;
■ introduce the constraints of working ethically with different subjects or participants, including influence of cultures and people considered unable to provide consent;
■ introduce students to the ethical issues associated with genetically modified organisms, animal and human (both patients and non-patient) trials and stem cell research;
■ provide students with the knowledge to organise experiments from calculation of subject numbers through to applying for ethical approval.
Intended Learning Outcomes of Course
By the end of this course students will be able to:
■ describe the ethical framework within which biomedical engineering functions, including the legal constraints;
■ consider and apply ethical constraints to obtaining informed consent for studies, whistleblowing, studies with animals and people, conflicts of interest;
■ discuss the constraints of working with animal origin materials, stem cells and modified organisms;
■ calculate the number of subjects needed for experiments with human or animal subjects;
■ prepare and submit an ethical approval form for experimental studies.