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Module Orientation & Introduction to Medical Law and Medical Ethics
LECTURE 1:
Purpose and structure
o Purpose – module orientation; and to introduce you to
medical law and medical ethics
o Structure
Module orientation
Introduction to medical law
Introduction to medical ethics
Learning objectives
o Recall and repeat key points of information relating to the
module, including: the teaching team; the module structure
and content; teaching methods; Moodle page; assessment
tasks; and key deadlines
o Explain in basic terms what medical law and ethics is
o Describe, appraise and compare, and apply some key schools
of ethical reasoning
PART 1 – INTRODUCTION TO THE MODULE:
Medical law – nutshell
o Ethics
o NHS resource allocation
o Consent to medical treatment
o Medical negligence
o Abortion law and ethics
o End of life decisions and ethics
Teaching and learning of module
o Lecture series consisting of nine lectures
, o Seminar series consisting of seven seminars
o Online assignment support sessions
o Self-guided study
o Asynchronous learning materials
Assessment information – 100%individual coursework
o Coursework
Choice of PQ or EQ
1500 words
Released: week 8
Deadline – Wednesday week 12
PART 2 – INTRODUCTION TO MEDICAL LAW:
Medical law – what is it all about
o Representation of some topical aspects of medical law
Recent pandemic and rationing decisions made
Harold Shipman and recent high-profile medical
scandals and tragedies
Regulation of pregnant and family life
Mental health
Discipline of doctors who abuse their power
Recent abortion debates, especially in the context of US
Assisting dying debate, and resort to Swiss Dignitas
clinic by Britons
Health Minister in Scotland
Medical law is cross and multi-disciplinary
Increasing importance of medical law
Top tips
o Read and consume news
o Think of both sides, pros and cons. Debate respectfully with
peers
o Look at the issue through different ‘lenses’ or perspectives
including ethical ones
PART 3 – INTRODUCTION TO ETHICS:
2
, What is medical ethics
o Ethics
Sub-set of philosophy – study of ‘right’ and ‘wrong’
Framework to follow when making decisions
A method of ‘reasoning’
o Distinction between ‘legal’ and ‘ethical’
o Is there really a role for ethics in the law, medical or
otherwise?
Make a decision: leave it to the doctor?
o Trust issue
o Want issue
o Legitimacy issue
If not a doctor – who?
o Public
o Lawyers
o Religious leaders
o Families
Consequentialism
o Good outcomes – good decision v bad outcome – bad
decision
o Utilitarianism – greatest happiness of the greatest number –
Jeremy Bentham
o Issues
Problems with consequentialism
What is a ‘good’ conclusion?
We don’t always know consequences of actions
Do ends always justify means”
Motives
Long terms gorals undermined
Welfare
o Applying the ethics – would you save one person or use the
funds to buy equipment that would assist many? What would
consequentialist say?
Deontology
o There is a clear right and wrong
3
, Kant – ends do not justify means; we need clear guiding
principle
Rights – and duty – based theories
o Moral belief/guide
Moral objectivism: right and wrong in objective
Moral relativism: subjective/relative to a particular
group
Moral pluralism: there is no single standard
o Issues
What are the ‘right’ guiding principles?
Where do the guiding principles come from?
What if there is a lack of consensus?
o Applying the ethics
Would you save one person or use the funds to buy
equipment that would assist many? What would
deontologist say?
Virtue ethics
o Looks at motivation
o Intrinsically good virtues: human flourishing
o Issues
What is a ‘good motive’?
Harmful to certain groups
Glorification issues
o Applying the ethics
What would a virtue ethicist think of a doctor who
harmed a patient in a medical trial whilst (a) trying to
help them, or (b) simply pursuing their own research
and knowing of risk?
Principlism
o Beauchamp and Childress
Respect for autonomy
Non-maleficence – harm
Beneficence
Justice
o Applying the ethics
4
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