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HST.935

Narrative Ethics: Literary Texts and Moral Issues in Medicine

Graduate · Historical course

January IAP 2007

This eight-session course, designed for a mixed group of first, second, third and fourth-year medical students, uses literary narratives and poetry to study ethical issues in medicine. This methodology emphasizes the importance of context, contingency, and circumstances in recognizing, evaluating, and resolving moral problems. The seminar will focus on developing the skills of critical and reflective reading that increase effectiveness in clinical medicine. Texts will include short fiction and poetry by authors such as Woolf, Chekhov, Carver, Kafka, Hurston, Marquez and Tolstoy. The instructor will provide necessary philosophic and literary context at the beginning of each session, the balance devoted to class discussion. During the course, students will keep a reading journal that examines the meanings of illness, the moral role of the physician, and the relevance of emotions, culture, faith, values, social realities, and life histories to patient care.

Readings

  • SES #: 1 · TOPICS: Introduction to Narrative Ethics · READINGS: Selections from pathographies, poetry, and autobiography.
    Reading assignment
  • Edson, Margaret. Wit .
    Listed reading
  • Hall, Donald. Without .
    Listed reading
  • Kenyon, Jane. Otherwise .
    Listed reading
  • Kafka, Franz. The Metamorphosis .
    Listed reading
  • Carver, Raymond. Cathedral .
    Listed reading
  • Carver, Raymond. A Small Good Thing .
    Listed reading
  • Chekhov, Anton. Misery .
    Listed reading
  • Moore, Lorrie. People Like That Are the Only People Here .
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 5 · TOPICS: Culture and Perspective · READINGS: Morrison, Toni. The Bluest Eye .
    Reading assignment
  • Selzer, Richard. Imelda .
    Listed reading
  • Selection from: O’Connor, Flannery. A Memoir of Mary Ann .
    Listed reading
  • SES #: 7 · TOPICS: Illness and Being · READINGS: Salzman, Mark. Lying Awake .
    Reading assignment
  • Mates, Susan Onthank. Laundry .
    Listed reading
  • Williams, William Carlos. The Doctor Stories .
    Listed reading
  • Wilder, Thornton. The Angel That Troubles the Waters .
    Listed reading
Sources