HACM9201 Health Law and Ethics

Madhan Balasubramanian

Prof Arthur Van Deth (Singapore)

2018

4.5

Onshore (Australia) Program
1 x 5-day intensive workshop per semester
95 hours of independent study per semester

Offshore (Singapore) Program
2 x 2-day workshops per semester
2 x 2-hour tutorial per semester
99 hours of independent study per semester

HSMT9010 has been successfully completed

Topic only available to students meeting the eligibility requirements for entry to the postgraduate health administration programs.

Assignments; Tutorial participation

This topic provides an introduction to principles of legal reasoning. It surveys most of the important current frameworks, issues, and questions in health law. For students who have not had legal training, the topic assumes no legal knowledge, and has relevance to a broad cross-section of health professionals. The topic also addresses issues of health and research ethics.

The syllabus includes:

The legal system; precedent; case analysis; statutory interpretation.
Legal research: primary sources; secondary sources; books in the library; internet research.
Management of patient and client information.
Negligence; intentional torts.
Medical ethics; reproductive technology and abortion; life and death issues; health professionals in the courts; disciplinary proceedings.
Working within the law; contractual issues; workplace law issues; statutes controlling health services delivery; mechanism of law reform.
Foundations of health and research ethics.

To develop students' understanding of the nature and importance of the constitutional and legal framework in which the health system operates.
To inform students about the specific laws which impact upon health service management and delivery including the legal duties that health services and professionals have to clients.
To develop skills in legal research and writing.
To develop an appreciation of the law as an expression of policy in health as well as a set of rules.
To develop an appreciation of health and research ethics.

On completion of the topic it is anticipated that students will be able to understand and to comment critically on:

principles of legal reasoning and their relevance in areas of health law and population health.
features of the legal system and how they influence the practice of healthcare.
prominent issues in health law and ethics.

It is also anticipated that students will have the skills to research and write on health law topics.

Key dates and timetable

Timetable details for 2018 are no longer published.

This information is from current details held on the Student Information System. Please report any errors or omissions to the relevant College Office.