| Biology |
Lesson
2: Organ transplantation – the
facts and dilemmas |
| Curriculum
Key: |
Could
link with homeostasis in all schemes;
fulfils How Science Works |
Objective(s)
1.
Understand that research and developments
have enabled medical scientists
to advance in their abilities
to transplant organs
2. Make life & death decisions
based on both scientific and social
evidence.
3. Be able to explain the ethical
dilemmas and protocols associated
with human organ transplantations |
Resources
needed
Organ
transplant key dates cards
Time sheet, PowerPoint, GP notes
and personal background cards,
hospital records, clinical director
report proforma and ‘Medicine
Today’ worksheet. |
Starter:
10
minutes
Using
the ‘organ transplant – key dates’
cards/info. Place them in chronological
order. Students must look carefully
at the clues that can be found
within the detail to order the
events |
Teacher
input/assessment
Organ
rejection is key to the successes
that follow. Note the complexity
of the surgery as the research
develops. |
Main
Activity 1: 20
minutes
Given
2 very seriously ill cardiac patients
– make a life/death decision based
on the evidence provided. Set
the scene with a PowerPoint and
then divide into groups to scrutinise
the personal, GP related notes
and cardiac team’s test analysis. |
Teacher
input / assessment
Show
PowerPoint. Divide class into
suitable groups. (see teacher
notes). Hand out evidences for
them to make an informed choice
for the organ recipient. |
Main
Activity 2: 15
minutes (optional)
Card
sort. Cards
have quotes from various resources
including scientific and medical
journals and the popular press.
Students work in groups of up
to four, reading and sorting into
Scientific evidence for, Scientific
evidence against and Non-scientific
evidence.
Groups give three minute feedback
on their findings to class |
Teacher
input / assessment
Each
team must produce a report on
how they came to their decision.
Perhaps they could report back
to the whole group.
|
Plenary:
15
minutes
Given
a newspaper article students must
answer the accompanying questions.
This is a comprehension exercise
focusing on ‘scientific evidence’,
‘ideas’, ‘ethical issues’ and
‘conjecture’ |
Teacher
input / assessment
Students
need to read the article carefully
and answer the questions (either
individually or in small groups). |
Learning
Outcomes:
All
students must: complete
a transplant time line, make a
group decision and give a supporting
reason for their choice based
on the evidence provided.
Most
students should: as
above plus appreciate that there
is more to organ transplanting
than just who seems to be the
most deserving recipient. Take
an active part in the decision
making and give suggestions for
the outcome of the alternative
choice.
Some
students could: Lead
their groups and link ethical
dilemmas and medical facts. Make
a decision and offer a rationale
for the application of their ethical
approach into making their moral
decision. |
Key
Skills: Collecting
evidence to make an informed decision.
Role play. Communication and data
presentation
Key
words: Xenotransplant,
organ rejection, ethics, cardiac
disease
Homework:
Write
‘Hospital front page news’ or
finish newspaper article comprehension. |
Differentiation:
More
able: Will
lead/influence the decision making
based on evidence and be able
to communicate their decision
with a coherent argument.
Less
able: Will
be party to the decisions/report. |
