Exploring Bioethics - NIH Office of Science Education - National ...

Ask each member of the pair to read a different story now. Page 2-28, Step 6In a whole-class discussion, elicit initial reactions to the stories. Page 2-28, Step 7Draw a line to represent a range of possible policies. Ask where on the linestudents would place each example (smallpox, measles) and why.Ask students to describe the roles of the state and respect for persons in eachcase, and then where on the line Maryland’s and their own state’s vaccinationpolicies should go.Ask students questions about respect for persons and vaccination policy in general.Tell students that the examples represent extremes and that there are policyoptions between those extremes.Activity 7: Introducing the Final AssessmentEstimated Time: 10 minutes, plus time to write policyTell students that they are ready to craft and to justify a policy recommendationto their state public health department.Give each student a copy of Master 2.13. Remind students to include ethicalconsiderations and scientific information in their recommendations.Review these three exemptions: medical, religious, and philosophical. Tellstudents to address each one in their policies.Ask students to reflect on these questions as they prepare to write their ownpolicy recommendations: Are all reasons for opting out of vaccinations equallyacceptable? What are the pros and cons of different policies?Page 2-28, Steps 8–9Page 2-28,Steps 10–11Page 2-28, Step 12Page 2-29, Step 13Page 2-29, Step 1Page 2-29, Steps 2–3Page 2-29, Steps 4–5Page 2-30, Step 6123Share additional information about philosophical exemptions. Emphasize thatfewer people opt out in states that add extra steps to the process.Review the questions on Master 2.13.Closure: Mention the idea of balancing respect for persons and responsibility to thecommunity. Ask students how their understanding of this topic has deepened.Homework and Final Assessment: Have each student write a policyrecommendation to the state public health department, referring to Master 2.13.The recommendation can also be in the form of a speech or a newspaper letter tothe editor.Extensions (optional):1. Generate or research additional examples of vaccine policies.2. Explore the concept of responsibility more deeply with students, possiblyreferring to the Responsibility Prompts and Scenarios, available online.3. At the end of Activity 7, deepen and extend the discussion by asking students more questions.Page 2-30, Step 7Page 2-30, Step 8Page 2-30Page 2-31Page 2-3145Module 2 2-33Involves copying a master6