Unit information: Dissertation in Health Care Ethics and Law in 2014/15

Unit name	Dissertation in Health Care Ethics and Law
Unit code	MEDIM6100
Credit points	60
Level of study	M/7
Teaching block(s)	Academic Year (weeks 1 - 52)
Unit director	Dr. Quigley
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	COBMM0001 SSCMMNEW1 COBMM003 SSCMMNEW2
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Medical School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This Unit will enable students to demonstrate their abilities to independently carry out a sustained piece of academic work that makes a genuine and original contribution to knowledge in health care ethics and law. Under appropriate supervision students will develop and finalise a research question and will undertake the necessary research, critical engagement with literature and scholarship to answer it; utilising methodologies of analysis in health care ethics and law. They will demonstrate their comprehensive understanding and application of the chosen topic, the relevant methodology and critical evaluation of the argument(s) being advanced. The final dissertation shall not exceed 20,000 and shall be a minimum of 15,000 words.

Aims:

This unit provides the opportunity for students to pursue independent research work in health care ethics and law and to present the results in an examinable form. Students will learn how to plan and implement a plan for research, analysing and critiquing relevant literature and arguments on their chosen topic.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this Unit, students will be able to:

1. Develop an appropriate research question and plan and implement high-quality academic writing
2. Demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the complex ethical, legal and professional issues arising from the chosen topic;
3. Critically assess and apply these complex ethical and legal issues, including developing original arguments and reflecting on their validity;
4. Undertake independent research (under appropriate supervision) on the chosen topic, drawing on appropriate methodology and research tools to reach reasoned conclusions; and
5. Show extensive evidence of soundly reasoned and clearly communicated scholarship in health care ethics and law.

Teaching Information

The dissertation will be introduced at a dedicated ‘Dissertation Day’, where students will be taught advanced research strategies and will have the chance to workshop potential dissertation topics with staff and their peers. Students will then receive individual supervision by academic staff in whilst writing, which will take place during terms 2 and 3 of the second year of study.

Assessment Information

A dissertation with a maximum of 15,000 words, examined internally and externally. If deemed necessary by the Exam Board, a viva will be held.

Reading and References

1. Swetnam D. (2004). Writing Your Dissertation: The Bestselling Guide to Planning, Preparing and Presenting First-Class Work, 3rd Edn. Oxford: How To Books.
2. Murray R. (2006). How to Write a Thesis, 2nd Edn. Maidenhead: Open University Press.
3. Salter M & Mason J. (2007). Writing Law Dissertations: An Introduction and Guide to the Conduct of Legal Research. Harlow: Pearson Education.
4. Baggini J & Fosl JS. (2007). The Ethics Toolkit: A Compendium of Ethical Concepts and Methods. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing.
5. Curtler, H. (2004). Ethical Argument: Critical Thinking in Ethics. Oxford: Oxford University Press.