Unit information: BUOLD Law and Ethics in 2014/15

Unit name	BUOLD Law and Ethics
Unit code	ORDSM0006
Credit points	20
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 2 (weeks 13 - 24)
Unit director	Professor. Robb
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Dental School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This Unit of Teaching will be offered as an Optional Unit as part of a modular distance learning programme. The programme will allow students to build certificate, diploma or masters level qualifications by combining optional 20 credit units. The Law and Ethics Unit has the following three Elements and their general aims are: -

Element 1 Ethical principles and their practical application to dentistry

• To provide students with the underpinning knowledge to understand ethical and in particular medical ethical principles and philosophy.
• To enable students to apply ethical principles to their everyday practice of dentistry.
• To introduce students to the application of medical ethics within the health service and the wider community.

Element 2. The legal underpinning of dentistry and dental practice

• To provide students with an understanding of the law as it applies to the health service and in particular dentistry
• To provide students with the underpinning knowledge to understand legislation and the courts as they impact upon dental practice.

Element 3. Presentation

• To provide the student with the skills of planning, preparing and giving a presentation to their peers

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students should obtain a knowledge and understanding of the following:

• the underpinning ethical principles and concepts that impact on dentistry
• the key ethical issues in dentistry
• the relationship of values on ethics on delivery of dental care and dental team
• the issues of consent, competence, confidentiality, autonomy, harm, beneficence and justice
• the legal underpinning that relates to the delivery of dental care
• the issues associated with risk management in the dental practice
• the balance between ethics and business demands

The student should acquire the skills and attributes necessary for:

• preparing guidance on consent and confidentiality based on current case law
• managing the principles and application of risk management in dentistry.
• preparing an expert and witness to fact report
• preparing and giving a presentation

Teaching Information

Self directed CAL sessions 70% Seminars with videos 5% Webinar presentations 1% Reflecting writing 18% Workshops – case studies, practical exercise 5% Student presentation 1%

Assessment Information

This Unit will have the following four summative assessments: -

1. An MCQ paper covering Elements 1 and 2 (30%)

2. A reflective case study (3 000 words) covering Elements 1 and 2 (30%)

3. A fifteen minute presentation (10%)

4. A final written examination comprising Multiple Short Answer questions of 2 hours’ duration (30%)

Final combined Unit examination and contribution to constituent Element total marks

Element 1. Ethical principles and their practical application to dentistry 45%

Element 2. The legal underpinning of dentistry and dental practice 45%

Element 3. Presentation 10%

Element 1. Ethical principles and their practical application to dentistry (45% Unit mark)

Formative assessment

Online assignments will provide formative assessment and feedback during the Element.

Summative assessment

An MCQ paper covering Elements 1 and 2 will contribute 30% to the final Element mark

A reflective case study covering Elements 1 & 2(3 000 words) will contribute 40% to the final Element mark

Element component of final Unit written examination is 30%

Element 2. The legal underpinning of dentistry and dental practice (45% of Unit mark)

Formative assessment

Online assignments will provide formative assessment and feedback during the Element.

Summative assessment

An MCQ paper covering Elements 1 and 2 will contribute 30% to the final Element mark

A reflective case study covering Elements 1 & 2 (3 000 words) will contribute 40% to the final Element mark

Element component of final Unit written examination is 30%

Element 3. Presentation (10% of Unit Mark)

• A 15 minute oral presentation will contribute 100% of the Element mark

Unit final written examination

A final written examination comprising Multiple Short Answer questions of 2 hours’ duration will contribute to the final marks for each element as follows: -

Element 1. Ethical principles and their practical application to dentistry 30%

Element 2. The legal underpinning of dentistry and dental practice 30%

Reading and References

Beauchamp, T.L. Childress, J.F. (2001) Principles of Biomedical Ethics, 5th. edition Oxford University Press. Data Protection Act (1998) London; The Stationery Office, 1998

Department of Health (2003) Confidentiality: NHS Code of Practice. London www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Publications/PublicationsPolicyAndGuidance/DH_4069253 26.05.08.

Dworkin, G. (1988) The Theory and Practice of Autonomy, Cambridge Studies in Philosophy, Cambridge

General Dental Council (2005) Standards for Dental Professionals, Principles of Patient Confidentiality. General Dental Council. London.

Human Rights Act (1998). London; The Stationery Office, 1998

Information Commissioner Office (2001) Data Protection Act 1998, Legal Guidance. The Stationery Office, London

Information Commissioners Office (2006). What price privacy? The unlawful trade in confidential personal information. The Stationery Office, London

Information Commissioners Office (2006). What price privacy now? The Stationery Office, London

Manson, N.C. and O’Neill, O. (2007) Rethinking informed consent in Bioethics Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

O’Neill, O. (2002) Autonomy and Trust in Bioethics. University Press, Cambridge