| CODE | DNS4004 | |||||||||
| TITLE | Ethics and Jurisprudence | |||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 09 - Years 4, 5 in Non-Modular Undergraduate Course | |||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | Not Applicable | |||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Dental Surgery | |||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | This study-unit comprises an introduction to forensic medicine with emphasis on those topics of medico-legal importance that may present in dental practice, and those areas where a dental expert is required. These include identification, wounds, injuries from fire, the significance of bitemarks and poisoning. There is also coverage of legislation regulating dental practice. The ethical part of the study-unit covers the fundamental aspects of biomedical principles, discussing the rules of confidentiality, truth telling and fidelity in the doctor patient relationship. The four principles of Beneficence, Non-maleficence, Justice and Autonomy are introduced. There is discussion of patient rights and research ethics including informed consent. There is emphasis on parental rights and problems specific to the elderly and young adults. There is also discussion of the problems of allocation of scarce resources and justice in Health care. The study-unit includes discussion of practical problems, including definitions of death, assisted suicide, cadaver organ donation and advance directives. Learning Objectives The main aims of the study-unit are: - to foster medico-legal awareness - to appreciate the role of the dental surgeon in a forensic investigation and - to become aware of ethical issues in dental practice. By the end of the study-unit the student should acquire an understanding of: a. Forensic Medicine 1. the principles of a medico-legal investigation 2. the basic pathological concepts regarding wounds and interpretation of injuries 3. the procedures used to establish identity of a body, particularly the role of dental examination 4. the significance of bitemarks and their interpretation 5. the use of forensic science in an investigation 6. the importance of medical evidence and medico-legal reports 7. the limitations of expert medical evidence 8. the legislation relevant to medical issues 9. an understanding of basic ethical principles 10. an awareness of professional ethical issues and guidelines of behaviour. b. Ethics 1. the four Principles of biomedical ethics 2. theory and use of informed consent 3. knowledge of competence, truth telling, privacy and confidentiality; including working knowledge of EU directive on Data Protection 4. understanding of malpractice and negligence 5. the principle of double effect 6. knowledge of ethical theories of justice 7. application of ethical principles to health care and in particular to the dental clinical situation. 8. discuss bioethical issues relating to a broader area of bioethics, including organ donation, beginning and end-of-life dilemmas and decisions, genetics. Reading List - Simpson's Forensic Medicine by Richard Shepherd 12th Edition Publishers : Arnold ISBN 0-340-764228 - Medical Ethics, A Case-Based Approach by L. Schwartz, P.E. Preece, R. A. Hendry, Saunders, ISBN 0-702-02543-7 - Our Genetic Future by Pierre Mallia, Printwell, ISBN 99932-0-288-6 - Your Rights as a Patient by Pierre Mallia, PEG, ISBN 99909-0-320-4 A very good forensic web site: http://www.forensicmed.co.uk/ For Maltese Legislation: http://www2.justice.gov.mt/lom/home.asp Various Internet Resources are available for pathology. Try: http://www-medlib.med.utah.edu/WebPath/webpath.html http://www.mic.ki.se/MEDIMAGES.html#G02.403.776.600 |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Tutorial | |||||||||
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| LECTURER/S | Bridget Ellul Pierre Mallia |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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