Entry requirementsEntry requirements: MA applicants must hold a minimum Upper Second Class honours degree, or the overseas equivalent, in a relevant subject (e.g. medicine, law, philosophy, nursing, religious studies). Candidates without a first degree may register initially for the Postgraduate Diploma and will be considered for transfer to the MA mid-session, subject to meeting the requirements of the MA programme. Applicants for the Postgraduate Diploma without a first degree must be able to demonstrate at least three years career progression in one of the several so-called `caring professions', or the legal or para-legal professions. Candidates may be asked to provide examples of their written work.
Academic titleHealth Care Ethics and Law (Distance Learning) MA
Course descriptionThe MA/PG Diploma in Health Care Ethics & Law is provided by The Centre for Social Ethics and Policy of The School of Law.
Students on the MA complete six course units and an independent research dissertation. This programme aims to provide the highest quality training in health care ethics and health care law. Students on this programme are typically health care and legal professionals, and those in related fields.
You will gain an expert knowledge and understanding of ethical and medico-legal theories, and the skills needed to apply them to real world scenarios in a diverse range of contexts. You will cover a wide variety of ethical and legal subjects including autonomy, consent, refusal of treatment, confidentiality, the moral status of the fetus, resource allocation, genetic testing, HIV testing, medical malpractice, clinical negligence, organ and tissue transplantation, fertility treatment, genetic manipulation, research ethics, stem cell research and euthanasia. You will gain an expert knowledge and understanding of ethical and medico-legal theories, and the skills needed to apply them to real world scenarios in a diverse range of contexts.
No attendance at the University is required for this programme. We do however encourage all students to attend a residential weekend in July each year, as a way of meeting both staff and fellow students involved in the programme. Students are also free to arrange to come in to meet with staff members at any point during the programme, and are able to use the John Rylands University Library at any time.
Module details
The MA/PG Diploma in Health Care Ethics & Law is comprised of 6 course units, comprising core and optional units (in addition to a Masters' dissertation). The delivery of these course units is via interactive learning texts which guide you through the areas of study and point you in the direction of further reading. Students are required to complete 2 course units every 16 weeks. Each course unit is made up of 10 sections, which represent the equivalent of (approximately) an hour-and-a-half lecture with reading (usually around 2-3 papers or chapters).
The core course units (totalling 90 credits) are: Philosophical Bioethics (30 credits); Health Care Ethics in Practice (15 credits); Medico-Legal Problems (30 credits); and Medico-Legal Problems in Practice (15 credits).
The 3 optional course units - from which 2 should be chosen - are: Ethics and Genetics; Research Ethics; and Philosophical Foundations of Health Care Ethics. All of these optional units are of 15 credits value.