Health Law and Ethics

Course aim

The aim of this course is to promote understanding of the scope, rationale and application of Health Law and
Ethics issues in Australia and internationally. The course critically examines the legal, social and ethical arguments underpinning the legal framework for the protection of patients, the duties imposed on health care practitioners and the promotion of best practice in terms of health policy. The course will put special emphasis on South Australian legislation and case law.

Course content

This course will explore the relationship between the health care practitioner and the patient/client. The topic
areas are as follows: Consent to medical treatment, Medical negligence, Euthanasia and assisted suicide, Mental Health issues, Confidentiality, Access to Medical Records, Organ and Tissue Transplantation and Donation, Surrogacy and Health Practice, and Professional Misconduct. The relationship between law and health care also involves questions of ethics, for example patient autonomy. This course will consider not only what the law is in relation to each of the topic areas but also the ethical implications and possible areas where the law is in need of reform. The course will look at other Australian and international jurisdictions although the focus will be on the law as it relates to the health care practitioner and patient in South Australia.

Textbook(s)

White B, McDonald F & Willmott L 2010, Health Law in Australia, Law Book Co, Thomson Reuters, Prymont NSW

Prerequisite(s)

Successful completion of 36 units

Corequisite(s)

Nil

Teaching method

Component	Duration
INTERNAL, CITY WEST
Lecture	2 hours x 10 weeks
Seminar	2 hours x 10 weeks

Note: These components may or may not be scheduled in every study period. Please refer to the timetable for further details.

Assessment

Report, Research paper

Fees

EFTSL*: 0.125
Commonwealth Supported program (Band 3)
To determine the fee for this course as part of a Commonwealth Supported program, go to:
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Fee-paying program for domestic and international students
International students and students undertaking this course as part of a postgraduate fee paying program must refer to the relevant program home page to determine the cost for undertaking this course.

Non-award enrolment
Non-award tuition fees are set by the university. To determine the cost of this course, go to:
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Not all courses are available on all of the above bases, and students must check to ensure that they are permitted to enrol in a particular course.

* Equivalent Full Time Study Load. Please note: all EFTSL values are published and calculated at ten decimal places. Values are displayed to three decimal places for ease of interpretation.