Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE MCT2001

 
TITLE Medical Jurisprudence

 
UM LEVEL 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 5

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Media, Communications & Technology Law

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit will introduce students to the fundamental features and concepts of the law regulating health care. This shall be done by focusing on domestic law whilst also referring, when necessary, to the jurisprudence of the Council of Europe, the European Union and, where appropriate, foreign jurisdictions and international instruments. The study-unit shall include topics such as, inter alia, the regulation of the health care professions, human reproduction and the law, the doctor-patient relationship, medical liability and clinical negligence.

Study-unit Aims:

1. To introduce students to some of the main principles of medical jurisprudence;
2. To familiarise students with legislation regulating health care practice/s;
3. To familiarise students with the interface between law and health care;
4. To provide students with a grounding upon which to conduct further study and research on topics pertaining to the fields of health care law and medical jurisprudence.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a. Correctly identify the law relevant to the field of study and utilise said law within the context of a written assignment;
b. Begin critically analyzing and evaluating some of the key components of medical jurisprudence;
c. Begin associating and linking together the respective duties, responsibilities, obligations, rights and interests of health care authorities, health care professionals, and patients.

2. Skills
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

a. Begin engaging with the fundamental elements of medical jurisprudence, within the context of a written assignment;
b. Describe and begin utilizing, in a written assignment, some of the features of health care law;
c. Demonstrate critical thought-processes, using the knowledge and understanding gained throughout the study unit, to produce a coherent written assignment on a topic within the field of medical jurisprudence.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

- D Bianchi, Medical Law in Malta (Kluwer Law International - 2023).
- M N Cauchi, K Aquilina, B Ellul, "Health, Bioethics and the Law" (Malta: Malta University Press - 2006).
- Domestic law amongst which, inter alia, the following (including subsidiary legislation).
- Criminal Code, Chapter 9 of the Laws of Malta (Restricted to select areas of relevance to health care).
- Civil Code, Chapter 16 of the Laws of Malta (Restricted to select areas of relevance to health care).
- Medical and Kindred Professions Ordinance, Chapter 31 of the Laws of Malta.
- Medicines Act, Chapter 458 of the Laws of Malta.
- Health Care Professions Act, Chapter 464 of the Laws of Malta.
- Public Health Act, Chapter 465 of the Laws of Malta.
- Human Blood and Transplants Act, Chapter 483 of the Laws of Malta.
- Embryo Protection Act, Chapter 524 of the Laws of Malta.
- Health Act, Chapter 528 of the Laws of Malta.
- Human Organs, Tissues and Cell Donation Act, Chapter 558 of the Laws of Malta.

 
ADDITIONAL NOTES Students taking this study-unit need to have a background in law or otherwise be reading toward attaining an undergraduate degree in law.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM1 No 10%
Assignment SEM1 Yes 90%

 
LECTURER/S Daniel Bianchi

 

 
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 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

https://www.um.edu.mt/course/studyunit