Medical law and ethics

LWM56

Medical Law and Ethics is a fascinating area to study dealing with some of the most contested and controversial issues of our time; assisted dying, abortion, and embryo research to name three. New technologies such as stem cell research, face transplants and pre-implantation genetic testing have attracted considerable media and public interest.

To study medical law at this level, it is essential to also consider the ethical issues which under pin questions about how we should regulate controversial medical practices.

This course requires students to use sophisticated analytical skills in evaluating complex legal and ethical dilemmas and to challenge their own and others’ received wisdom while becoming aware of the importance of providing defensible reasons for their views.

Study as an individual course

Module A: Basic concepts in medical law

LWM56A

Bioethics
Consent
Capacity
Confidentiality

Module B: Access to treatment and malpractice litigation

LWM56B

Resource allocation
Medical malpractice
Product liability and the regulation of medicines
Liability for occurrences before birth

Module C: Legal and ethical issues in medical practice

LWM56C

Mental health law
Clinical research
Organ transplantation
End of life decisions

Module D: Legal and ethical issues in reproduction

LWM56D

Abortion
Embryo and stem cell research
Assisted conception
Surrogacy

Assessment

Each module will be assessed by a 45-minute unseen written examination.

Sequence

It is strongly recommended you attempt the modules in order.

How to apply

You can apply to study a module individually as a standalone unit or as part of a Postgraduate Certificate, Postgraduate Diploma or Master of Laws qualification. (In either scenario, they must be studied in order.)

These modules also contribute towards the following specialist pathways for Laws:

Common Law
Human Rights Law
Legal Theory and History
Medicine and the Law

Apply via Postgraduate Laws.

Dr Tracey Elliot

Dr Tracey Elliott joined the University of Leicester School of Law in 2010. After graduating from Birmingham University, Tracey was called to the Bar and practised from 4 Paper Buildings and 9-12 Bell Yard, specialising in criminal litigation and advisory work and acting for both prosecution and defence. She remains a (non practising) door tenant at 9-12 Bell Yard. She has worked as a lecturer at Queen Mary University of London and as a visiting lecturer/teacher at City University, the University of Surrey, King’s College, London and the LSE. She has lectured to the legal and medical professions and assisted with advocacy training at Gray’s Inn. She has also worked in Poland, lecturing to Polish judges, prosecutors and Ministry of Justice officials on the UK legal system. Her PhD thesis examined the development and use of the justification of necessity in medical law. Her current research projects relate to the treatment and care of vulnerable adults and those who lack capacity.