Public health and forensic medicine
Dr D Goddard and Associate Professor D Ranson
6-week introductory series
Objectives (a) Public health At the completion of this subject, students will have an understanding of the scope, structure and key influences on major health services currently provided to the Australian community; community-based education programs for reduction of spread of sexually-transmitted diseases and blood-borne infections; issues associated with major health problems of overseas travellers and immigrant populations; the purpose, use and limitations of Australian National Diagnosis Related Groups (ANDRGs) as applied to Melbourne hospitals; issues relating to various forms of health insurance; occupational health risks; aboriginal health issues; influence of culture and religion on health and health management; risks associated with microbial contamination of air, food and water; the appropriate response to a disease outbreak in the community; the practise of evidence-based medicine and appropriate analysis of published scientific work in medical literature; ethical issues related to health care. (b) Forensic medicine At the completion of this subject, students will have an understanding of the interaction between law and medicine; the role of forensic medical practitioners in the community; practical basis for the application of principles of medical ethics taught in the curriculum; principles of forensic medical practice in relation to the mentally ill and victims of physical or sexual assault; regulatory machinery surrounding medical practice including prescribing of drugs, use of human tissues, registration of death, coronial services and operation of the courts of law; issues involved in giving evidence in a court of law and introductory experience in relation to this.
Synopsis During the six-week integrated and shared rotation, teaching will include: (a) Public health Half-day sessions utilising lectures, seminars, class discussion, debates and tutorials highlighting public health issues outlined above; site visits providing an introduction to international health issues, community behaviour modification in relation to blood-borne and viral diseases, Aboriginal health issues and other community-based public health areas. (b) Forensic medicine Lectures, seminars and forums covering medico-legal issues and including representation from the Medical Practitioners Board, Medical Defence Association and the Health Services Commissioner; involvement in a moot court; clinicopathological presentations; forensic psychiatry; consent and confidentiality and victimology.
Assessment Contribution to MED6003 MCQ * Continuous assessment: reports/presentations and class participation (satisfactory faculty requirement)
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