Studying online (if an online offering is shown below)
There are now 2 possible online modes for units:
Units with modes Online timetabled and Online flexible are available for any student to self-enrol and study online.
Click on an offering mode for more details.
Unit Overview
- Description
This unit examines the interaction of the legal system with issues relating to health care, medical research and medical technology. It is concerned with how society regulates sensitive and complex issues associated with health care and medical science. Students consider issues like the refusal of life-saving medical treatment; access to abortion; regulation of cosmetic treatments; availability of voluntary assisted dying; and withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment. The unit explores the impact of social, economic, ethical and political influences on the law, and in particular how the law incorporates and responds to these influences. It examines the legal understanding of human bodies, rights and duties associated with health care treatment, and decision-making associated with birth, life and death.
- Credit
- 6 points
- Offering
(see Timetable) Availability Location Mode Semester 2 UWA (Perth) On-campus -
The timetable for this teaching period is not currently available. Please see the Important Dates page for the timetable release date and other key date information.
- Details for undergraduate courses
- Level 2 option in the Law and Society; Humanities in Health and Medicine; Criminology; Criminology and Criminal Justice major sequences
- Level 2 elective
- Outcomes
Students are able to (1) demonstrate an understanding of specific concepts associated with health care and the law; (2) apply selected and critical theories to real and hypothetical situations arising in medial science and health care; (3) demonstrate an appreciation of the interaction of legal regulatory frameworks with social, ethical, economic, political and cultural influences on issues in health care; (4) demonstrate an understanding of the different forms of legal regulation and the process of legal change in connection with issues in health care and medical science; and (5) apply skills of critical analysis, written communication and interactive discussion in connection with the topics covered in the unit.
- Assessment
Indicative assessments in this unit are as follows: (1) participation; (2) mid-semester assessment; and (3) an examination. Further information is available in the unit outline.
Student may be offered supplementary assessment in this unit if they meet the eligibility criteria.
- Unit Coordinator(s)
- Aidan Ricciardo
- Unit rules
- Prerequisites
- Successful completion ofany one LAWS1104 Introduction to Law
or LAWX1104 Introduction to Law
or LAWS1110 Crime and Society
or LAWS1111 Law in Context
or LAWS1112 Law for Everyday Lives
or GEND1901 Beyond 'Gender Wars'
or ANHB1101 Human Biology I: Becoming Human
or ANHB1102 Human Biology II: Being Human
or IMED1001 Form and Function
or IMED1002 The Facts of Life
or IMED1108 Issues in Women's Health Across the Lifespan
or PUBH1101 Health and Illness in Human Populations
or PUBH1102 Foundations of Global Health
or HUMR1001 Human Rights in Global Perspective
or NEUR1001 Neuroscience in Society
or PHAR1101 Drugs that Changed the World
or PHYL1001 Physiology - How your body works
or PHIL1001 Ethics for the Digital Age: An Introduction to Moral Philosophy
- Contact hours
- 3 hours per week
- Note
- Students may also take this unit if they have acquired the equivalent skills in other Level 1 units.
- The availability of units in Semester 1, 2, etc. was correct at the time of publication but may be subject to change.
- All students are responsible for identifying when they need assistance to improve their academic learning, research, English language and numeracy skills; seeking out the services and resources available to help them; and applying what they learn. Students are encouraged to register for free online support through GETSmart; to help themselves to the extensive range of resources on UWA's STUDYSmarter website; and to participate in WRITESmart and (ma+hs)Smart drop-ins and workshops.
- Visit the Essential Textbooks website to see if any textbooks are required for this Unit. The website is updated regularly so content may change. Students are recommended to purchase Essential Textbooks, but a limited number of copies of all Essential Textbooks are held in the Library in print, and as an ebook where possible. Recommended readings for the unit can be accessed in Unit Readings directly through the Learning Management System (LMS).
- Contact hours provide an indication of the type and extent of in-class activities this unit may contain. The total amount of student work (including contact hours, assessment time, and self-study) will approximate 150 hours per 6 credit points.
Face to face
Predominantly face-to-face. On campus attendance required to complete this unit. May have accompanying resources online.
Online flexible
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit is asynchronous delivery, with NO requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online timetabled
100% Online Unit. NO campus face-to-face attendance is required to complete this unit. All study requirements are online only. Unit includes some synchronous components, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times.
Online Restricted
Not available for self-enrolment. Students access this mode by contacting their student office through AskUWA. 100% Online Unit.
NO campus face-to-face attendance. All study and assessment requirements are online only. Unit includes some timetabled activities, with a requirement for students to participate online at specific times. In exceptional cases (noted in the Handbook) students may be required to participate in face-to-face laboratory classes when a return to UWA’s Crawley campus becomes possible in order to be awarded a final grade.
External
No attendance or regular contact is required, and all study requirements are completed either via correspondence and/or online submission.
Off-campus
Regular attendance is not required, but student attends the institution face to face on an agreed schedule for purposes of supervision and/or instruction.
Multi-mode
Multiple modes of delivery. Unit includes a mix of online and on-campus study requirements. On campus attendance for some activities is required to complete this unit.