units

HSC3001

Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences

18 September 2017 22 December 2024
Monash University

Undergraduate - Unit

This unit entry is for students who completed this unit in 2015 only. For students planning to study the unit, please refer to the unit indexes in the the current edition of the Handbook. If you have any queries contact the managing faculty for your course or area of study.

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6 points, SCA Band 2, 0.125 EFTSL

Refer to the specific census and withdrawal dates for the semester(s) in which this unit is offered.

LevelUndergraduate
FacultyFaculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences
Organisational UnitDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine
OfferedCaulfield Second semester 2015 (Day)
Coordinator(s)Dr Liz Bishop

Synopsis

This unit deals with two primary aspects of professional practice in the health and social care system, namely the legal and ethical principles that govern the operation of the system and the behaviour of individuals within it. The unit commences with an introduction to the legal framework, covering common law, statute law and the legal responsibilities of health and social care professionals. Students are then introduced to the ethical framework, through an examination of ethical theory, professional ethics, confidentiality, informed consent and relationships with patients. The complex interrelationship between legal and ethical aspects of healthcare practice is explored.

Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this unit, students should be able to:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of the legal framework pertinent to healthcare practice
  2. explain why the study of health law is an essential aspect of professional practice
  3. discuss issues related to justice in the healthcare system
  4. describe medical and professional ethics and different ethical perspectives as related to healthcare
  5. discuss the importance of confidentiality and informed consent.

Assessment

Written assignment: Response to 10 short answer questions (2,500 words) (50%) (Hurdle)
Written assignment: Major paper chosen from one of three provided topics (2,500 words) (50%) (Hurdle)

Hurdle: 80% attendance at tutorials.

Workload requirements

2 hour seminar per week plus approximately 10 hours of private study.

See also Unit timetable information

Chief examiner(s)

Dr Liz Bishop

This unit applies to the following area(s) of study

Health science