Law School Module Details
The information contained in this module specification was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change, either during the session because of unforeseen circumstances, or following review of the module at the end of the session. Queries about the module should be directed to the member of staff with responsibility for the module.
Title MEDICO-LEGAL PROBLEMS
Code LAW541
Coordinator Professor A Alghrani
Law
A.Alghrani@liverpool.ac.uk
Year CATS Level Semester CATS Value
Session 2021-22 Level 7 FHEQ First Semester 20

Aims

The aims of the module are:

- To investigate and elucidate the law which applies in the context of health care decision making and its relationship to bioethics.

- To enable students to understand the impact of the law on patients, practitioners and society.

-To understand the interplay between human rights and healthcare.

- To understand how the law regulates medicine, the importance of consent and in particular consequences of a failure to adequately inform patients of significant risks / alternative treatments and the move away from paternalism to patient autonomy in the context of informed consent (Montgomery).

- To understand what legal redress patients have when they claim the medical treatment received fell below the care in breach of the duty of care owed by the hospital/ doctor to the patient and also the law surrounding civil negligence.

- To examine the impact of the increasing use of the criminal law on healthcare ethics and practice; and to examine and assess whether the use of the criminal law improves patient safety or not.

- To examine and evaluate the law surrounding medical confidentiality and privacy of medical information.

Learning Outcomes

(LO1) To demonstrate a detailed understanding of key medical law themes and concepts which provide a foundation of knowledge in law, medicine and health care;

(LO2) To demonstrate an ability to adopt a critical perspective to existing medical law and to identify areas that might be reformed;

(LO3) To develop a broad awareness of current controversies in medical law;

(LO4) To demonstrate a critical awareness of the competing interests at the heart of medical law disputes.

(LO5) To be able to research cases and analytically read judgments in order to critically comment on cases.

(S1) Teamwork

(S2) Problem solving skills

(S3) Ethical awareness

(S4) Communication skills

Syllabus
 

- Introduction: Law, Regulation and Health Care Practice Today

- Healthcare and Human Rights

- Consent: Autonomy, Capacity, Informed Consent

- Informed Consent

- Negligence

- Criminalising Medicine / Gross Negligence Manslaughter

- Confidentiality & Privacy

- How to write a Case Commentary

Teaching and Learning Strategies

Teaching Method 1 - Seminar
Description: The students will participate in 10 two hour seminars. While these will be led by the module leader, student participation is encouraged through the use of allocated questions and journal club. The seminars will therefore be interactive and students will be expected to come having done some guided reading.
Attendance Recorded: Yes

Teaching Schedule
  Lectures Seminars Tutorials Lab Practicals Fieldwork Placement Other TOTAL
Study Hours   24

         24
Timetable (if known)              
Private Study 176
TOTAL HOURS 200

Assessment
EXAM Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
             
CONTINUOUS Duration Timing
(Semester)		 % of
final
mark		 Resit/resubmission
opportunity		 Penalty for late
submission		 Notes
Coursework - Case Commentary There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1  2500 words    80       
Coursework - Case commentary plan There is a resit opportunity. Standard UoL penalty applies for late submission. This is an anonymous assessment. Assessment Schedule (When) :Semester 1  850 words    20       

Recommended Texts
Reading lists are managed at readinglists.liverpool.ac.uk. Click here to access the reading lists for this module.

Other Staff Teaching on this Module
Professor M Fox Law Marie.Fox@liverpool.ac.uk
Dr LJ Frith Philosophy L.J.Frith@liverpool.ac.uk

Modules for which this module is a pre-requisite:
 

Pre-requisites before taking this module (other modules and/or general educational/academic requirements):
 

Co-requisite modules:
 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on a required basis:
 

Programme(s) (including Year of Study) to which this module is available on an optional basis:
 

Additional Programme Information