Unit information: Introduction to Medical Law in 2015/16

Unit name	Introduction to Medical Law
Unit code	SSCM30002
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Professor. Huxtable
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None, other than those pre-requisites for undertaking study on the programme.
Co-requisites	None
School/department	Bristol Medical School
Faculty	Faculty of Health Sciences

Description including Unit Aims

This unit introduces the key features of medical law, in particular its legal underpinnings. Students are introduced to legal studies and some of the background issues and themes in medical law, in particular those areas of the law which form the basis for medical law. Students are also introduced to the relationship between medical law and bioethics. The sessions are designed to provide students with a basic grounding in medical law, in advance of (and during) the Medical Law unit run by the Law School.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this unit a student should:

• Be able to demonstrate knowledge of the legal themes and issues studied;
• Be able to undertake legal research and thereby locate legal sources;
• Be able to express the legal concepts and principles studied accurately;
• Be able to apply the legal concepts and principles studied;
• Be able to critique the legal concepts and principles studied;
• Have an appreciation of the links between medical law and bioethics.

Teaching Information

Students receive 12 x 2-hour seminars led by staff members.

Assessment Information

Summative assessment comprises a written assignment of 4000 words, chosen from a selection of essay and problem-style questions (these latter are a familiar method of assessment in Law). Formative assessment comprises: preparation of seminar exercises; participation in seminar activities, including group-work and oral presentations; a written assignment of 2000 words.

Reading and References

• Brazier, M. and Cave, E. (2011) Medicine, Patients and the Law (5th Edition), Penguin, London
• Herring, J. (2010) Medical Law and Ethics (3rd Edition), Oxford University Press, Oxford
• Jackson, E. (2013) Medical Law: Text, Cases and Materials (3rd Edition), Oxford University Press, Oxford