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LAW-40004 - Module Specification
School of Law
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

For academic year: 2023/24 Last Updated: 13 February 2024

LAW-40004 - Children and medicine
Coordinator:
Lecture Time: See Timetable...
Level: Level 7
Credits: 30
Study Hours: 300
School Office: 01782 733218

Programme/Approved Electives for 2023/24

None

Available as a Free Standing Elective

No

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2023/24

Children occupy a challenging position within medical law. Until the age of 18, a child or young person is regarded as having a lessor degree of control over their medical treatment. Key decisions have slowly given older children and young persons greater autonomy of decision making, but the law remains guided by paternalism and the welfare principle of the Children Act. In this module, we explore a range of areas of medical law and how these are applied to children. We explore the extent of key concepts such as consent and confidentiality, and consider aspects of medical care from pregnancy to 18-years-old.

Aims
To investigate in depth, the legal implications of ethical problems relating to medical aspects of reproduction and birth and childhood. Specific issues may include, for example: The child as a subject of rights; reproductive freedom and reproductive technology; children and mental health law; ethics of care; medical treatment of the foetus; decision-making by young people with intellectual disabilities; children and end-of-life issues; consent or refusal of medical treatment and confidentiality.

Talis Aspire Reading List
Any reading lists will be provided by the start of the course.
http://lists.lib.keele.ac.uk/modules/law-40004/lists

Intended Learning Outcomes

Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of key principles of medical law as applied to the diagnosis and treatment of children: 1
Evaluate and critique key tensions and challenges arising from the law's application to children's medical treatment: 1
Introduce, evaluate and critique academic literature at the forefront of the academic discipline: 1
Conduct independent research to locate information in a library and using online resources: 1
Introduce, evaluate and critique key legal judgments applying to the diagnosis and treatment of children: 1

Study hours

Seminars - 18 hours
Independent study - 282 hours

School Rules

Students must have completed LAW-40001 and LAW-40003.

Description of Module Assessment

1: Essay weighted 100%
A 5,000 word assignment
A 5,000 word assignment critically analysing an area of medical law as applied to children and young persons.

Please note that for the 2022/23 Academic Year programmes may be adapted to operate in accordance with a flexible, digital approach. This means that there may be some changes made to how modules are delivered and assessed. The latest information will be provided to you by your School in module handbooks. We endeavour to give you as much notice as possible of any changes and details about the circumstance in which changes are made to programmes can be found in the Student Agreement, available at: https://www.keele.ac.uk/student-terms-and-conditions/

Last Updated: 13 February 2024