Please note: there may be some adjustments to the teaching arrangements published in the course catalogue for 2020-21. Given current circumstances related to the Covid-19 pandemic it is anticipated that some usual arrangements for teaching on campus will be modified to ensure the safety and wellbeing of students and staff on campus; further adjustments may also be necessary, or beneficial, during the course of the academic year as national requirements relating to management of the pandemic are revised.

Contemporary Issues in Healthcare Law LAW4120

  • Academic Session: 2022-23
  • School: School of Law
  • Credits: 30
  • Level: Level 4 (SCQF level 10)
  • Typically Offered: Runs Throughout Semesters 1 and 2
  • Available to Visiting Students: Yes
  • Available to Erasmus Students: Yes

Short Description

This course will address two main areas of contemporary interest in the field of Healthcare Law - issues arising at the end of life, and issues arising in relation to genetics. Semester one will focus on the end of life and semester two will focus on genetics.

Timetable

Weekly teaching sessions - 15 x 2 hour seminars. The final seminar of the second semester is a revision seminar.

Requirements of Entry

Entry to LLB Honours or permitted visiting students 

Excluded Courses

None

Co-requisites

None

Assessment

Assessment

One three-hour unseen exam requiring students to answer three questions. 

 

Reassessment

In accordance with the University's Code of Assessment reassessments are normally set for all courses which do not contribute to the honours classifications. For non honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students, and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions are listed below in this box.

Main Assessment In: April/May

Are reassessment opportunities available for all summative assessments? Not applicable

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. For non Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

Course Aims

The principal aim of the course is to examine topics of contemporary interest in Healthcare Law, focussing on legal and ethical issues that arise at the end of life, and in relation to genetics.

Further aims are to develop the analytical and critical skills of students by detailed examination of the relevant law and regulation in specific topic areas; to develop students' ability constructively to criticise current law and practice and to suggest and evaluate possible reforms; and to foster critical understanding and evaluation of areas of controversy within the subject matter.  Topics may vary from year to year but in relation to the end of life may include the definition of death, the withdrawal of life prolonging medical treatment, advance decisions/directives, and euthanasia and assisted suicide; and in relation to genetics may include issues such as genetic information and confidentiality, embryo testing, gene therapy, genetic modification, cloning, and research on embryos.

Intended Learning Outcomes of Course

By the end of this course students should be able to:

 

■ identify the current law in both the UK and other jurisdictions, where relevant, as it relates to the subject matter of this course

■ evaluate and criticise constructively the current law in this area

■ propose, evaluate, and constructively criticise possible reforms of the law

■ understand and critically evaluate areas of controversy within the subject matter 

Minimum Requirement for Award of Credits

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.