23010 - BIOETHICS AND LEGISLATION

Subject type: Mandatory

Coordinator: Marc Terradellas Fernández

Trimester: First term

Credits: 3

Academic year: 2025

Teaching course: 2

• Catalan

BIOETHICS AND LEGISLATION 

The scenario of the exercise of the care professions has undergone in recent years rapid and profound changes that have come to change the nature and objectives of care activities, one of the causes has been the current proliferation of regulations regulating the rights of the user/patient of the healthcare system, of the various care activities, as well as of the requirements and availability of means, the challenges generated by scientific and technological development, social progress and cultural diversity among others, the fact that it involves an increasingly complex and demanding professional exercise which leads to an increase in the scope of competence and in the professional responsibility of the physiotherapist.

This professional responsibility does not only involve monitoring and complying with current legislation, but also generates ethical and moral responsibility, given the various situations and/or ethical-legal conflicts that occur in healthcare practice; it is these reasons that require a deep and interdisciplinary reflection of the health professions in order to provide answers in the search for professional excellence. Bioethics and professional legislation as disciplines offer tools and resources to facilitate reflection and management of possible responses to ethical-legal problems and dilemmas that arise from professional practice.

The subject is intended to deal with and delve into fundamental topics for the profession with the intention of covering the training needs of an area of ​​knowledge that is transversal in the exercise of physiotherapy.

The distribution of the theoretical and/or practical content of the subject can be consulted in the schedule and sections of the corresponding virtual classroom before it starts. 

This subject aims to introduce the gender perspective in its content and development. In addition, the objectives are aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda of the United Nations. 

The classroom (physical or virtual) is a safe space, free of sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and discriminatory attitudes, either towards students or teachers. We trust that together we can create a safe space where we can make mistakes and learn without having to suffer the prejudices of others. 

The contents of the subject of Bioethics and Legislation are:

Part I. Legislation:

Topic 1. Introduction to Bioethics and Health legislation-Professional responsibility.

Topic 2. Legislation and Professional Practice of Physiotherapy. Rights and Duties of the user of the Health System.

Topic 3. Healthcare norms - Civil and criminal liability - professional negligence.

Part II. Bioethics:

Topic 4. Ethics and healthcare bioethics

Topic 5. Bioethical conflicts in assistance and clinical research.

Topic 6. Professional ethics

Topic 7. Care ethics with a gender perspective.

This subject may consider the following indicators detailed in the table below in its assessment proposal: 

A system of quantitative (from 0 to 10) and qualitative (suspended, approved, notable, excellent, honorary registration) is used according to RD 1125/2003. 

The subjects will have evaluation and recovery activities in accordance with the teaching guide and the subject's learning plan, published in their virtual classroom and which will establish the necessary requirements to be able to participate. 

In accordance with current UPF regulations, all students who, having participated in the learning and assessment activities during the term, have obtained a failing grade for the corresponding subject in the quarterly assessment may participate in the recovery process . Those who have not participated in the learning and assessment activities or who have waived the assessment will not be able to participate. If the grade is "not submitted", you will not be able to opt for recovery and therefore the subject will have to be taken again in its entirety in the following academic year. 

Any form of academic fraud will be sanctioned in accordance with the school's assessment regulations. If signs of fraud are detected, including the improper use of generative artificial intelligence tools, the subject's teaching staff may
Call the student for an individual interview with the aim of verifying their authorship.

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in this subject is regulated in the Learning Plan. It should be consulted to find out the specific conditions of use. 

Beauchamp, Tom L. and Childress, James. F. Principles of biomedical ethics. Barcelona: Mason. 1999. ISBN 8445804804.

Fields, Victoria. Brief history of ethics. Barcelona: RBA Books. 2013. ISBN 9788490065303.

Fernandez, Guillermo. Jiménez Murillo, Luis. Mediums Law for healthcare personnel. Barcelona Editorial Marcial Pons; 2011. ISBN 9788497689038

Borrell-Carrió, Francesc. Clinical practice centered on the patient. 1st Ed. Madrid: Triacastela. 2011. ISBN 9788495840561

Official Association of Physiotherapists of Catalonia: https://www.fisioterapeutes.cat/ca

Curtain, Adela. What does ethics really serve? Barcelona: Paidós. 2013. ISBN 9788449328770

Fair Play. Journal of Philosophy, Ethics and Sports Law. UPF Barcelona https://www.upf.edu/web/revistafairplay

Gracia Guillén, Diego. Decision procedures in clinical ethics. 2nd ed. Madrid: Triacastela. 2007. ISBN 9788495840349.

Borja Institute of Bioethics: https://www.iborjabioetica.url.edu/es

Institute of Bioethics of the Health Sciences Foundation: https://www.fcs.es/

Martínez Montauti J. (2018). The doctor-patient relationship. Barcelona: Ediciones Observatorio de Bioethics y Derecho de UB https://www.bioeticayderecho.ub.edu/sites/default/files/libro-relacion-medico-paciente.pdf

Masiá-Clavel, Juan. Take care of life Barcelona: Herder Editorial. 2012. ISBN 9788425431319

Solinis, Germán. (2015). Why a global bioethics? Twentieth anniversary of the Bioethics Program of UNESCO Ed. Organization of the United Nations for Education, Science and Culture: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000231540

Torralba, Francis. Ethics of caring. Madrid: MAPFRE Foundation. 2002. ISBN 8471007703