The module focuses on how the law impacts on the provision of healthcare in England and Wales and the ethical implications of healthcare decision making. The module initially focuses on issues such as consent and refusal of treatment, capacity to make healthcare choices and confidentiality.The module then goes on to consider the legal and ethical issues arising at the beginning and end of life, particular challenges and development of the law. In the second semester topics such as mental health and organ donation will be covered. Medical law is very topical and a focus of this module is to relate the learning to issues reported in the press, encouraging discussion of recent case law and professional issues.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
o Assisted suicide
o Voluntary active euthanasia
o Withholding and withdrawing medical treatment
o Advance decisions and lasting powers of attorney
This module is delivered through a programme of interactive workshops (two hours each week). The feedback/feedforward sessions will outline topics and refer students to cases and articles contained in the handbook. Students should complete the reading and the work set for discussion in advance of the workshops to facilitate informed discussion. Students should also undertake independent research using a variety of sources.
The published articles of the module leader are included as reading materials for all seminars. Film clips are used in teaching sessions to encourage reflection and discussion of issues such as capacity, consent, best interests etc.
Due to the experiential nature of the learning on this degree, and the importance of professional development enabling students to develop practical skills, learn from and interact with others, attendance is compulsory. Any students not attending a minimum of 80% of their timetabled sessions will be at risk of academic failure or termination from the course.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | Interactive workshops and feedback/forward sessions | 66 |
| Guided independent study | 234 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
Formative assessment: towards end of first teaching block
All students will be required to take part in student presentations. Each group will be given feedback and marks awarded for the presentation, although the marks will not count towards module assessment.
Students will be allocated to a group of no more than 10 members three weeks prior to the presentations. Each group will be given a newspaper story to research and prepare for presentation in class. Each member of the group must contribute to the research and preparation of the presentation. Each group may choose up to four of its members to make the presentation. Members of the team will informally assess contributions. It will be noted if a student fails to make adequate contribution to the presentation.
Each team will have up to 12 minutes to present the legal and ethical issues arising in the newspaper report, and five minutes to answer questions from the audience. PowerPoint presentations and inventive use of visual aids are encouraged. Feedback is provided to the group.
Marks are awarded for
Presentation skills
Analysis of legal and ethical issues arising
Coursework 40%
Case study 2,500 words
There are two components to the assessed coursework: essay and research review
Essay: Preparation of an essay analysing the ethical and legal issues relevant to a healthcare topic or topics of the student's choice, taken from a newspaper article. The essay must focus on the significant ethical and legal issues raised by the newspaper article (not the general issues arising from the article). A copy or photocopy of the original article must be appended to the answer â€' this does not count towards the word limit.
Research review: list three cases/articles (at least one of each) used in the research, with a brief note of the search techniques used and a resumé (maximum three lines) of their relevance to the essay.
End of year examination 60%
Two hours
Answer two out of five essay- and problem-based questions
Permitted materials: notes on two sides of A4
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| 1) Demonstrate an understanding and appreciation of the topics covered in the lectures and their application to current medico-legal debate | Formative, summative: coursework â€' marks awarded for consideration of ethical and legal issues arising in the newspaper article Examination â€' marks awarded for demonstration of an understanding of the principles of medical law and a detailed understanding of particular topics covered in this module. Marks awarded for coherent reference to topical medico-legal debate |
| 2) Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of relevant case law and and legislation | Formative, summative: completion of coursework requires demonstration of knowledge of key legislation, eg Mental Capacity Act 2005. It will assess the student's ability to identify and analyse and discuss relevant legal and ethical principles arising in the newspaper article. Examination requires demonstration of relevance of case law and legislation for particular topics. Marks awarded for demonstration of knowledge and understanding of relevant law |
| 3) Research medical law topics using a variety of sources | Formative, summative: preparation of the coursework and answers to exam questions. Marks awarded for evidence of research beyond secondary sources |
| 4) Prepare well-structured and coherent answers to essay and problem questions | Summative: marks awarded for clarity of expression, well-structured and coherent answers in coursework and in answer to examination questions |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Written exam | Written exam | 60% |
| Coursework | Coursework | 40% |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
J Herring, Medical Law and Ethics (Oxford University Press)
C Johnston and P Bradbury, 100 Cases in Clinical Ethics and Law (Hodder Arnold)