Course and Module Catalogue

This module takes an interdisciplinary and comparative approach to medical law and ethics.  It considers a range of contemporary issues where medicine, ethics and the law intersect, including a selection of the following: the regulation of professional negligence, informed consent, abortion, end of life decision-making (including assisted dying and non-treatment decisions), advance decision-making, foetal protection policies and embryo research.  Consideration of how the same legal problems have been resolved in different jurisdictions can help both in the critical comprehension of the issues of medical ethics and the law within England and Wales, but also in the development of a critical ability to discover the best possible way of reforming the law. 

Diverse delivery models and use of technology will enhance the student learning experience and inclusivity.  Lectures will be used to introduce students to the key debates and themes in the research literature at a high level appropriate to level 3 students.  Seminars will be used to discuss the key issues and will encourage a high level of participation from all the students by discussing previously circulated questions.  They will incorporate an element of peer-to-peer learning, allowing students to become conversant with the main theories in the literature and to share that knowledge with their peers whilst practicing their presentation and critical analysis skills, core transferable skills that address the employability agenda.