Case Studies


Advanced Statements Contextualised Scenario

Lindsey Dow

This case has been developed for common learning for nurses and medical students and uses reflection and problem solving to enable students to explore ethical and legal issues concerning advanced statements, withholding and withdrawing treatment.



Asbestos Contextualised Scenario

Nick Johnson

This scenario is intended for use with second or third year undergraduate law students. It is appropriate to any module or course that includes the study of lawyers? roles and responsibilities and may be particularly well suited to a clinical module or professional ethics class. It exemplifies the problems of advising a client where the client's instruction or preferred course of action may conflict with the legitimate interests of third parties, the wider society or the solicitor's own moral stance. This case study is based on a scenario developed as part of the Professional Conduct course on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice.



Beginning of Life Contextualised Scenario

Janet Holt

This case concerns Diane Blood who requested to use her dead husband's sperm to conceive a child- offering the opportunity to look at consent, rights, advocacy & moral vs legal judgments.



Best Interests Contextualised Scenario

Jennifer Jackson

This scenario examines some of the ethical issues that may arise concerning parental proxy decision making regarding surgery on children. It uses two cases, each of which raises issues concerning children's competence to be involved in decisions; the notions of best interests and best health interests; how interests are related to wishes and welfare the role of parents in assessing best interests and parental rights in deciding for their children.



Burglar Contextualised Scenario

Nick Johnson

This scenario is intended for use with second or third year undergraduate law students. It is appropriate to any module or course that includes the study of lawyers? roles and responsibilities and may be particularly well suited to a clinical module or professional ethics class. It exemplifies the problems of advising a client where the client's instruction or preferred course of action may conflict with the legitimate interests of third parties, the wider society or the solicitor's own moral stance. This case study is based on a scenario developed as part of the Professional Conduct course on the Legal Practice Course (LPC) at the Oxford Institute of Legal Practice.



Conjoined Twins Contextualised Scenario

Jan Wood-Harper

In 2000, the case of conjoined twins, Jodie and Mary, provoked a unique and widely publicised debate, involving not only the medical team and the parents, but also lawyers, religious leaders and ethicists, as to whether or not surgery to separate them should proceed. Complex legal and moral issues focussed on parental rights in relation to welfare of children, duties of medical professionals, the sanctity and value of human life, and the rights and interests of the twins.



Defective Cot Contextualised Scenario

Nick Johnson

This scenario is intended for use with second or third year undergraduate law students. It is appropriate to any module or course that includes the study of lawyers? roles and responsibilities and may be particularly well suited to a clinical module or professional ethics class. It exemplifies the problems of advising a client where the client's instruction or preferred course of action may conflict with the legitimate interests of third parties, the wider society or the solicitor's own moral stance.



Diane Pretty Contextualised Scenario

N. Athanassoulis

This scenario examines some of the ethical issues surrounding euthanasia. It compares a case in which a patient requests the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment (artificial ventilation) with a case in which the patient requested assistance in the termination of her own life. Both cases concern euthanasia in mentally competent patients.



Dothiepin Contextualised Scenario

Bryan Vernon

This scenario gives medical students a chance to think about a patient who is refusing treatment when there is a serious risk of death. The woman, a patient with MS, has been found after attempting suicide and brought to the hospital by her husband where she refuses treatment. Her wish to die can be understood, but her competence may be compromised. Having considered defensible reasons for treating and not treating, students have to decide which course they would follow.



Edward Bilton Contextualised Scenario

Lindsey Dow

This case has been developed for common learning for nurses and medical students and uses reflection and problem solving to enable students to explore ethical and legal issues concerning advanced statements, withholding and withdrawing treatment. Main ethical issue: the legal, ethical and clinical issues surrounding a young persons advanced statement that he did not want to be kept alive in the face of severe disability.



Ethical Research Contextualised Scenario

Alison Wearden

On week one, students have a 2 hour introductory session, in a mixed lecture/discussion format, on research ethics and ethical theories (primarily distinguishing deontological and teleological theories) and ethical codes (with particular emphasis on the BPS ethical guidelines). Students are then given an anonymised version of a real-life research protocol and ethics application. The following week, in group discussion, they 1) identify the ethical dilemmas involved in the study from the viewpoint of the two theoretical perspectives taught in the previous week, and 2) consider how the application might be dealt with by an ethics committee operating to BPS guidelines.



Gamete Donation Contextualised Scenario

John Bryant

This is a series of four mini case studies that may be used as discussion starters. The topics range from embryo selection to use of natural resources.



Genetics Contextualised Scenario

Jan Deckers

The case uses an imaginary couple, Katie and Mark, who experience a range of medical problems involving the need to make difficult decisions about genetics. The students are invited to identify the ethical issues involved, and stimulated to work through the options that are available. Ethical justification is required to choose from the variety of courses of action that are available to Katie and Mark.



Hydration and Nutrition Contextualised Scenario

Bristol University, UWE and North Bristol NHS Trust

This case has been developed for common learning for nurses and medical students and uses reflection and problem solving to enable students to explore ethical and legal issues concerning hydration and nutrition in severe illness. .



Myotonic Dystrophy Contextualised Scenario

John Bryant

The case study deals with the ethical dilemmas that arise following a positive diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy and asks in particular who should have access to the genetic information that relates to a specific individual. The question is asked in relation to family members, employer and insurance companies. It also raises questions about the genetic testing of children.



Parent Contextualised Scenario

Nick Johnson

This scenario is intended for use with second or third year undergraduate law students. It is appropriate to any module or course that includes the study of lawyers? roles and responsibilities and may be particularly well suited to a clinical module or professional ethics class. It exemplifies the problems of advising a client where the client's instruction or preferred course of action may conflict with the legitimate interests of third parties, the wider society or the solicitor's own moral stance.



Renal Transplant in Cats Contextualised Scenario

Carol Gray

The morality of using healthy cats as donors for renal transplant surgery is considered. This case is complicated by the circumstances of the recipient cat's owner. The ethical dilemma of carrying out transplant surgery in animals is explored from three perspectives - that of the transplant surgeon, the general practitioner and the recipient animal's owner. The involvement of an ethics committee widens the scope of the discussion.



Thalassaemia Contextualised Scenario

John Bryant

This case study presents the problems faced by a young couple who discover that they are both carriers of a serious genetic condition. In particular it looks at the dilemmas to be dealt with in relation to starting a family and impact of their genetic carrier status on reproductive decisions.



Withholding and Withdrawing Treatment Contextualised Scenario

Lindsey Dow

This case has been developed for common learning for nurses and medical students and uses reflection and problem solving to enable students to explore ethical and legal issues concerning advanced statements, withholding and withdrawing treatment.



CSR Case Study - Tiri

Julie Gallimore

This case study is about an employee of the NGO Tiri, and looks at how his values interact with those of his employer.



CSR Case Study - Cadbury Trebor Bassett

Julie Gallimore

This case study is of an employee at Cadbury Trebor Bassett, and her thoughts about how her values and those of her employer interact.



CSR Case Study - Oxfam

Julie Gallimore

This case study is of an employee of Oxfam, and looks at her thoughts about how her values interact with those of her employer.



CSR Case Study - Co-operative Group

Julie Gallimore

This case study is about an employee of the Co-operative Group, and looks at how he thinks his own values interact with those of his employer.



CSR Case Study - The Fairtrade Foundation

Julie Gallimore

This case study is of an employee of the Fairtrade Foundation, and looks at how her values interact with those of her employer.



CSR Case Study - Birmingham Library Service

Julie Gallimore

This case study is about an employee of the Birmingham Library Service, and looks at how his values interact with those of his employer.



CSR Case Study - Price Waterhouse Coopers

Julie Gallimore

This case study is about an employee of Price Waterhouse Coopers, and looks at how her values interact with those of her employer.



History of Art Case Study

Andrew Cochrane

Teaching philosophy within a history of art department.



History and Philosophy of Science Case Study

Andrew Cochrane

Teaching Philosophy/HPS within courses on Sustainability, Rural Development, Natural and Environmental Science and Environment and Heritage.



French Case Study

Andrew Cochrane

Teaching philosophy in a French department.



Cognitive Science Case Study

Andrew Cochrane

Teaching philosophy of cognitive science within a school of computer science.



Psychology of Religion Case Study

Christopher Alan Lewis

Teaching the Psychology of Religion in a School of Psychology



Interview on Psychology of Religion Teaching outside TRS departments

Andrew Cochrane

An interview with Dr Nicholas Gibson on Psychology of Religion Teaching outside TRS departments.



Interview about teaching Spirituality and Responsibility

Andrew Cochrane

An interview with Revd Simon Robinson about teaching spirituality and responsibility.


Go back to document type list