Health Law and Ethics

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. 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.