New healthcare law course

A new course in healthcare law and ethics is to be launched in the law department. It aims to give doctors, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists and other health professionals the legal and ethical parameters to make decisions about healthcare dilemmas.

High profile cases in the media have highlighted some of these dilemmas. These include the case of the conjoined twins, the creation of 'designer babies', and several cases involving the discontinuing of life support treatment from terminally ill patients. This has led to an increase in ethical debate and renewed interest in the legal regulation of health care.

The Law Department has developed a new programme that gives health professionals a grounding in the legal and ethical implications of their work. Unlike most similar masters degree programmes in Scotland, the Dundee course is aimed at healthcare professionals only and is not open to lawyers.

Programme Director, Professor Pamela Ferguson, explains, "We did a detailed survey of several hundred healthcare professionals including nurses, doctors, dentists and medical researchers. The results show that there is a huge amount of interest in learning more about the legal and ethical aspects of their work. Healthcare professionals will be able to study one module at a time, leading to a certificate in healthcare law and ethics. They can also continue their studies to diploma or masters level.

"The programme will be delivered by distance learning. The students will have access to the University’s virtual learning environment so they can log on to do their assignments at a time that suits them. This is especially important for health care professionals who work shifts and would find it very difficult to find time to come to the University."

Dundee has the unique advantage of offering courses in both Scots and English law to students. Healthcare law is quite similar north and south of the border but the experience of staff educating students for both systems will be invaluable as this course is open to healthcare professionals throughout the UK.