Case Analysis Template and Guidelines
I. Title
Title should be both descriptive and creative. Example:
“Confidentiality and the Prevention of Harm: A Psychologist’s
Dilemma.” (as in the Tarasoff case)
II. Abstract
The abstract is a very brief description of the case you’ve selected
and the bioethics issues it raises. If your analysis leads to some
kind of conclusion you can include that here.
III. Case Narrative
Just the facts, Ma’am. The narrative should simply tell the story
focusing on the person who must make a difficult decision. “Sally
is an optometrist on a preceptorship in a private clinic in Denver
Colorado. Her supervisor Frank has asked her to do Goldman
Tonometry on a patient…, etc.”
IV. Character List/Role Descriptions
Who are the characters in your story? “Characters” can refer to
actual people or agencies or other institutions. For example a
“character” behind the scenes may be an insurance company, a
family member not present, indirectly involved employees, etc.
List each character and their ‘role’ in the narrative. What is the
JOB, the SELF-UNDERSTANDING of each character? What are the
rules that go with each of these roles?
V. Questions
Questions should help isolate the relevant facts, concepts, and
implied moral commitments that make the case a dilemma. The
questions ideally will be structured to lead the reader into greater
depth and complexity.
VI. Case Hypotheticals with Questions
Sometimes changing a case study a little bit can greatly help to
isolate important issues. Don’t be afraid of hypotheticals.
Example. We talked about late term abortions with NARAL.
They really didn’t want to talk about them because they are rare.
However, closely thinking through the case of late-term abortion
can reveal many issues that are relevant for the discussion more
generally. Philosophers will sometimes perform thought
experiments, paint pictures that are wholly implausible practically
speaking, but nevertheless reveal something important
conceptually that does have application in discussion of more
practical matters. So, create one or two adjustments to your
case and pose a few questions based on that. It may produce
some insight.
VII. Analysis Paper
In this section you will essentially write a paper setting your case
into its larger context as domain of bioethics using concepts,
principles and theories discussed in class and our text. For
example if your case were dealing with a specific instance of
assisted suicide you would write about the general issues, both
practically and philosophically the practice raises. Expected
length for this section is 8 – 12 pages.
Title should be both descriptive and creative. Example:
“Confidentiality and the Prevention of Harm: A Psychologist’s
Dilemma.” (as in the Tarasoff case)
II. Abstract
The abstract is a very brief description of the case you’ve selected
and the bioethics issues it raises. If your analysis leads to some
kind of conclusion you can include that here.
III. Case Narrative
Just the facts, Ma’am. The narrative should simply tell the story
focusing on the person who must make a difficult decision. “Sally
is an optometrist on a preceptorship in a private clinic in Denver
Colorado. Her supervisor Frank has asked her to do Goldman
Tonometry on a patient…, etc.”
IV. Character List/Role Descriptions
Who are the characters in your story? “Characters” can refer to
actual people or agencies or other institutions. For example a
“character” behind the scenes may be an insurance company, a
family member not present, indirectly involved employees, etc.
List each character and their ‘role’ in the narrative. What is the
JOB, the SELF-UNDERSTANDING of each character? What are the
rules that go with each of these roles?
V. Questions
Questions should help isolate the relevant facts, concepts, and
implied moral commitments that make the case a dilemma. The
questions ideally will be structured to lead the reader into greater
depth and complexity.
VI. Case Hypotheticals with Questions
Sometimes changing a case study a little bit can greatly help to
isolate important issues. Don’t be afraid of hypotheticals.
Example. We talked about late term abortions with NARAL.
They really didn’t want to talk about them because they are rare.
However, closely thinking through the case of late-term abortion
can reveal many issues that are relevant for the discussion more
generally. Philosophers will sometimes perform thought
experiments, paint pictures that are wholly implausible practically
speaking, but nevertheless reveal something important
conceptually that does have application in discussion of more
practical matters. So, create one or two adjustments to your
case and pose a few questions based on that. It may produce
some insight.
VII. Analysis Paper
In this section you will essentially write a paper setting your case
into its larger context as domain of bioethics using concepts,
principles and theories discussed in class and our text. For
example if your case were dealing with a specific instance of
assisted suicide you would write about the general issues, both
practically and philosophically the practice raises. Expected
length for this section is 8 – 12 pages.