Bioethics in China

Click here for a flyer with more details about the course speakers and application procedures.

**Special Offering** BIOE 688: Bioethics in China: Research, Industry, and Practice (1 CU)
Instructor: Joe Powers
*** Dates: August 24 - September 4, 2012; pre- and post-class TBD ***

This course carries the normal Perelman School of Medicine tuition and fees ($5,202) as well as trip associated fees (estimated at ~$4000, which includes all expenses, travel to and within China, luxury accommodations, daily breakfast, tours, and Chinese visa.)

Class size limited to 14 students. Due to the limited size of the course, interested MBE students should send their CV and a 1 page letter of interest to mbechina@mail.med.upenn.edu.

Course Objective: In 2011, China issued its 12th 5-year plan, which characterizes biotechnology and pharmaceuticals as emerging battlegrounds where countries will be competing for technological leadership during the next wave of development. Understanding and navigating the emerging regulatory environment, cultural and ethical challenges will be critical to competitiveness. This course will provide executive students a broad understanding of bioethical issues in China, specifically:

• Challenges in conducting business and research in China, including organizational practices and business ethics.
• Ethical considerations in outsourcing clinical trials to China
• Pharmaceutical marketing practices in China
• Physician-Patient interactions and the notions of autonomy
• Ethics in health policy
• Intellectual property and the regulatory landscape in China

Course Format: Students will travel to Bejing, Nanjing and Shanghai where the program will include site visits, academic lectures, and meetings with policymakers, Chinese and expatriate business leaders and others. Visits to significant cultural sites will also be included. Class meetings will be held prior to and following the trip to China and will include distinguished guest speakers from the US and abroad.

Student Requirements/Evaluation: Students will be required to read all assigned articles and book chapters and to come to class sessions prepared for discussion. 25% of the course grade will be based on student participation in the breakfast journal club and guest presentations. Students will be required to write a 10-15 page research paper on some aspect of bioethics in China. This paper will count towards 50% of the final grade. Students will be asked to present their paper at the post-trip class, and this presentation will count for the remaining 25% of the course grade.

Email your questions to mbechina@mail.med.upenn.edu.