Principles of Law, Medicine and Ethics

LAWS30731 Principles of Law, Medicine and Ethics 20 Semester 1 Undergraduate Level 3 Alexandra Mullock Unit coordinator 1 FHEQ level (Framework for Higher Education Qualifications) ' Last part of a Bachelors ' European Credit Transfer & Accumulation System Rating : 10.0 The unit explores the over-arching ethical principles and moral debates that have shaped the development of the law in this area, before examining five key topics:Reproductive rights and abortion lawConsent to medical treatment and patient autonomyMedical negligencePrivacy and medical confidentialityEnd-of-life law and assisted dying The unit explores the over-arching ethical principles and moral debates that have shaped the development of the law in this area, before examining five key topics:Reproductive rights and abortion lawConsent to medical treatment and patient autonomyMedical negligencePrivacy and medical confidentialityEnd-of-life law and assisted dying The unit aims to: explore legal and ethical concepts and dilemmas within medicine and healthcare. The course will introduce students to key issues governing the boundaries and obligations within healthcare. This is a dynamic area of law that is regularly the subject of public debate because of the morally contentious nature of many issues within healthcare. While statutes have been created to regulate some issues, such as abortion, other legal dilemmas have been determined by the courts, drawing from criminal, civil, public and human rights law principles. The course examines how moraland ethical debates have influenced, or been influenced by, the law. Students will reflect critically on the relationship of morality and the law in relation to areas of conflict, such as autonomy v paternalism.We are all patients at some points in our lives, and so in addition to the academic, intellectual and professional benefits of studying this area of law, students will gain an appreciation of their rights as a patient throughout their lives, and how the therapeutic obligations of health care professionals are regulated.This optional course is available to LLB law, Law with Criminology and Law with Politics within the third year. Registration is also open to study for students on international placements and from across SoSS. Identify and explain the foundations of key legal principles within medical law. Understand how the law has developed in terms of key statutes and common law principles, and how moral and ethical arguments have shaped the development of the law. Critically engage with how law has responded to the conflicting arguments over how to regulate matters such as abortion, consent, privacy and assisted dying. Identify and be able to explain the statutes and common law principles governing this area. Crictically discuss relevant principles and develop arguments in support of their individual critical viewpoint. Having understood the sources of law, relevant codes of practice and otjher professionals (e.g. Professional guidance for health care professionals), students should be able to carry out research into the law and policies pertaining to medicine and healthcare provision as developments occur. Develop the ability to explain and critique the law both verbally and in written work. Analyse real life scenarios to advise parties involved in problems within healthcare. Engage in advocacy matters relating to medical and health care disputes. Work effectively in collaboration with others to understand and summarise factual information and subjective viewpoints that are open to dispute. Reflect on conflicting ethical principles and understand how and why opposing views are formed, and how to approach conflict in a sensitive, mutually respectful way. Presenting and communicating complex and ethically sensitive material effectively. LECTURES:The lectures will introduce and explain the key principles and frameworks of the law foreach topic. The key learning objectives for each topic will be explained and illustrated. Case studies will be discussed to bring the law to life and the lectures will be interactive, seeking student opinion on fundamental issues (e.g. by asking students to vote). Students will be invited to reflect on important moral debates, e.g. the conflict between the sanctity of life and allowing people to exercise autonomy when patients refuse life-sustaining medical treatment. The lectures will also include a summary activity designed to support the MCQ assessment.WORKSHOPS:Each workshop will include a mixture of learning activities to promote engagement and self-discovery, and to encourage students to develop a range of intellectual, practical and transferable skills. In the first workshop, for example, the students will be given examples of the key ethical principles, before being asked to discuss in small groups how these map onto a selection of hypothetical problems in health care. Another workshop will require students to engage in role play as an Ethics Committee to determine outcomes for patients who might not benefit from continued treatment, and there will also be an advocacy activity in which students will form claimant and defendant legal teams to argue a case. There will also be activities designed to support engaging with academic articles and essay writing, in order to work towards the final summative assessment.OTHER SUPPORT:Open office hours 0 Other 40% 2 Written assignment (inc essay) 60% Students will sit an online multiple choice questionaire (MCQ) that will cover the whole course. This will be worth 40%. The second assessment will be coursework, with a choice of essays, with a max word limit of 2000 words. This will be worth 60% Informal Assessment:Students will have the opportunity to receive feedback on written work through a non-assessed essay.FeedbackFormative feedback will be provided with optional non-assessed coursework and in relation to seminar exercises. Y The main reading is a text book: M Brazier, E Cave and R Heywood, Medicine, Patients and the Law, Manchester University Press 2023, 7th Edition. Lectures 22 Practical classes & workshops 8 0 170 Restricted to LLB (Law) and LLB/BA (Law with Politics).This course is available to study abroad students providing they have some knowledge of the law.