RTP4101 - Professional issues in radiation therapy 1 - 2019

This unit is a foundation unit of the Master of Advanced Radiation Therapy practice. The unit is designed to build on the undergraduate knowledge of medico-legal, ethical issues, communication and cultural competence as related to the practice of radiation therapy. Students will gain in-depth knowledge of health care regulation. Medico-legal principles relating to assault and negligence, and how these are applied to radiation therapy, will be studied and students will reflect on the impact of these in their own practice. In addition students will also examine current ethical theories and evaluate their applicability to the practice of radiation therapy. Whilst studying these topics, practitioners will be encouraged to critically reflect, analyse and synthesise relevant information from the literature, reflecting on their experiences from clinical practice to further develop and build their critical analysis skills.

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

1. Appraise medico-legal principles and reflect on their application to clinical practice, describing how the system of health care is regulated in Australia;
2. Explain in detail the laws relating to assault and negligence and relate these to radiation therapy practice;
3. Analyse current ethical theories and how they relate to the practice of radiation therapy;
4. Evaluate the role of principles-based ethics in radiation therapy;
5. Appraise communication theories and describe how these apply to professional practice;
6. Evaluate the perspectives related to cultural competence and describe their relevance to professional practice.

• 2 x Online examinations (30 minutes each) (20%)
• Problem-based learning clinical action plan (2,000 words) (30%)
• Reflective comparative report (2,000 words) (30%)
• 3 x Reflective portfolio entries (500 words each) (20%)

Off-campus: 12 hours per week for 12 weeks.

See also Unit timetable information

Radiation therapy