The course examines the regulation of health care in Australia, involves analysis and development of moral and bioethical argument about the development of health law in Australia, and addresses the principal human rights issues which arise in the practice of health care law. The course begins with an overview of the Australian health system and its constitutional and legislative framework. Emphasis is placed on the concepts of medical ethics, patients' rights and efficiency and safety in health care including healthcare whistleblowing. Particular topics which are covered include: confidentiality, consent, negligence, accountability, health records, expert evidence, research and experimentation, organ donation, emergency treatment, intensive care, abortion, safety and cost effectiveness regulation of pharmaceuticals and new medical technologies, nanomedicine and biotechnology regulation, stem cells and medical research, new reproductive technologies, and death and dying. Consideration is also given to the law relating to mental health and public health, as well as the impact of international trade agreements on access to essential medicines and Australia's health care system.
Learning Outcomes
Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:
A participant who has successfully completed this course should be able to:- Describe, discuss and analyse the normative interaction of Australian health law with Australian and international principles of bioethics and international human rights related to contemporary healthcare and health policy;
- Define, explain, and apply the law of doctor-patient relations, nurse-patient relations, medical professional regulation and public health law;
- Explain and analyse policy areas such as regulation of new health technologies, illness prevention, impacts of trade agreements on health care and health care economics;
- Identify, describe and analyse relevant ‘gaps’ in the literature on law and policy matters of health, law, bioethics and human rights and prepare and present work that could be submitted for peer review and possible publication in referred journals - this being a compulsory assessment item;
- Take on the role of social conscience activist in relation to healthcare issues in the local and international communities, by identifying and summarising issues related to public policy and health and presenting them publicly. There is an opportunity to practice developing this skill in the compulsory op-ed assessment item.
- apply their advocacy skills in cross examining “expert” witnesses drawn from ANU Medical School students in the Uqbar Medico-Legal Supreme Court; and, in the process, enhance their ability to identify relevant legal issues as per case law and statute, identify important matters of public policy, and further hone and apply their legal writing skills.
Other Information
Autumn 2017 dates:Online Reading available from 27 March
Intensive Class Dates:
4-7 April
11-13 April
Students are expected to attend ALL classes
Students will need to contact enquiries.law@anu.edu.au to seek a permission code
Indicative Assessment
Academic article (60%, 3000 words)Op-ed (20%, 1000 words)
Pre-reading multiple choice quiz (20%)
Or if there are sufficient numbers:
A moot (written submissions 3000 words, 60%, and oral presentation 20%) and
Pre-reading multiple choice quiz (20%)
The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.
Workload
Three contact hours per week. Students are generally expected to devote at least 10 hours overall per week to this course.Requisite and Incompatibility
Preliminary Reading
Readings will be available online through the course WATTLE site from 27 March 2017.
Fees
Tuition fees are for the academic year indicated at the top of the page.
If you are a domestic graduate coursework or international student you will be required to pay tuition fees. Tuition fees are indexed annually. Further information for domestic and international students about tuition and other fees can be found at Fees.
- Student Contribution Band:
- 3
- Unit value:
- 6 units
If you are an undergraduate student and have been offered a Commonwealth supported place, your fees are set by the Australian Government for each course. At ANU 1 EFTSL is 48 units (normally 8 x 6-unit courses). You can find your student contribution amount for each course at Fees. Where there is a unit range displayed for this course, not all unit options below may be available.
| Units | EFTSL |
|---|---|
| 6.00 | 0.12500 |
Course fees
- Domestic fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $3216 |
- International fee paying students
| Year | Fee |
|---|---|
| 2017 | $4590 |
Offerings, Dates and Class Summary Links
ANU utilises MyTimetable to enable students to view the timetable for their enrolled courses, browse, then self-allocate to small teaching activities / tutorials so they can better plan their time. Find out more on the Timetable webpage.
Class summaries, if available, can be accessed by clicking on the View link for the relevant class number.
Autumn Session
| Class number | Class start date | Last day to enrol | Census date | Class end date | Mode Of Delivery | Class Summary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5502 | 27 Mar 2017 | 27 Mar 2017 | 14 Apr 2017 | 26 May 2017 | In Person | N/A |
