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  2. Law and Ethics in Health [NCS3203]

School: Nursing and Midwifery

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Law and Ethics in Health

  • Unit Code

    NCS3203

  • Year

    2019

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    4

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Melanie BAKER

Description

The aim of the unit is to provide students with an understanding of ethics and law related to practice within a healthcare setting. This unit examines issues which may generate ethical and legal challenges for health care professionals and provide the tools to discuss and debate these challenging issues. The content will include an examination of current Australian law pertaining to healthcare as well as ethical theories, principles and doctrines that aid in decision making processes.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass NPP2201.

Only students studying courses C33, Y61, Y76, Y19 or Y79 can enrol in this unit.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded NMI2201, NNI2202, NNI2203, NNI2204.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Differentiate between the differences and similarities of common and statute law as they relate to the provision of health care.
  2. Consider conditions in health care which impede ethically sensitive practice.
  3. Analyse ethical issues and apply ethical theories, principles and concepts to health care across the lifespan and cross-cultural perspectives.
  4. Analyse and communicate the influence of personal and professional ethics on planning, organising, problem solving, and decision making in the health care setting.
  5. Relate health professionals' responsibilities to such matters as negligence and consent.

Unit Content

  1. Professional practice and ethical action: balancing philosophical, legal, professional, societal, personal, material, financial and institutional considerations.
  2. Ethical theories, models, principles and codes as frameworks to assist in the assessment and resolution of professional ethical dilemmas across the lifespan and cross-cultural perspectives.
  3. Introduction to the concept of law.
  4. Values and ethical decision making process.
  5. Implications of tort law including negligence, vicarious liability, consent and assault/battery for health professionals.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 1 hour lecture
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot Offered13 x 2 hour tutorial

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Learning materials are delivered in blended mode using Interactive Learning Activities (ILA's) and online communication tools. Students participate in group discussion, case studies and learning activities to consolidate learning.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline quiz15%
Reflective PracticeEssay25%
Case StudyCase study analysis60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline quiz15%
Reflective PracticeEssay25%
Case StudyCase study analysis60%

Core Reading(s)

  • Johnstone, M. J. (2016). Bioethics : a nursing perspective (6th ed., pp. xix, 434). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/908193351?databaseList=638
  • Atkins, Kim., Lacey, S. de., Ripperger, Rebecca., & Britton, Bonnie. (2017). Ethics and law for Australian nurses (3rd ed.). Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/971612471
  • Patricia J. Staunton, M. C. (2017). Law for nurses and midwives (pp. xiii, 377). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/947838588

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

NCS3203|4|1

School: Nursing and Midwifery

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Law and Ethics in Health

  • Unit Code

    NCS3203

  • Year

    2019

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    4

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

    N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

  • Unit Coordinator

    Ms Melanie BAKER

Description

The aim of the unit is to provide students with an understanding of ethics and law related to practice within a healthcare setting. This unit examines issues which may generate ethical and legal challenges for health care professionals and provide the tools to discuss and debate these challenging issues. The content will include an examination of current Australian law pertaining to healthcare as well as ethical theories, principles and doctrines that aid in decision making processes.

Prerequisite Rule

Students must pass NPP2201.

Only students studying courses C33, Y61, Y76, Y19 or Y79 can enrol in this unit.

Equivalent Rule

Unit was previously coded NMI2201, NNI2202, NNI2203, NNI2204.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Differentiate between the differences and similarities of common and statute law as they relate to the provision of health care.
  2. Consider conditions in health care which impede ethically sensitive practice.
  3. Analyse ethical issues and apply ethical theories, principles and concepts to health care across the lifespan and cross-cultural perspectives.
  4. Analyse and communicate the influence of personal and professional ethics on planning, organising, problem solving, and decision making in the health care setting.
  5. Relate health professionals' responsibilities to such matters as negligence and consent.

Unit Content

  1. Professional practice and ethical action: balancing philosophical, legal, professional, societal, personal, material, financial and institutional considerations.
  2. Ethical theories, models, principles and codes as frameworks to assist in the assessment and resolution of professional ethical dilemmas across the lifespan and cross-cultural perspectives.
  3. Introduction to the concept of law.
  4. Values and ethical decision making process.
  5. Implications of tort law including negligence, vicarious liability, consent and assault/battery for health professionals.

Learning Experience

ON-CAMPUS

Students will attend on campus classes as well as engage in learning activities through ECU Blackboard.

JoondalupMount LawleySouth West (Bunbury)
Semester 113 x 2 hour lectureNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 113 x 2 hour tutorialNot OfferedNot Offered
Semester 213 x 2 hour lectureNot Offered13 x 1 hour lecture
Semester 213 x 2 hour tutorialNot Offered13 x 2 hour tutorial

For more information see the Semester Timetable

ONLINE

Students will engage in learning experiences through ECU Blackboard as well as additional ECU learning technologies.

Additional Learning Experience Information

Learning materials are delivered in blended mode using Interactive Learning Activities (ILA's) and online communication tools. Students participate in group discussion, case studies and learning activities to consolidate learning.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline quiz15%
Reflective PracticeEssay25%
Case StudyCase study analysis60%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
TestOnline quiz15%
Reflective PracticeEssay25%
Case StudyCase study analysis60%

Core Reading(s)

  • Johnstone, M. J. (2016). Bioethics : a nursing perspective (6th ed., pp. xix, 434). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/908193351?databaseList=638
  • Johnstone, M. J. (2016). Bioethics : a nursing perspective (6th ed., pp. xix, 434). Chatswood, NSW: Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/908193351?databaseList=638
  • Atkins, Kim., Lacey, S. de., Ripperger, Rebecca., & Britton, Bonnie. (2017). Ethics and law for Australian nurses (3rd ed.). Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/971612471
  • Atkins, Kim., Lacey, S. de., Ripperger, Rebecca., & Britton, Bonnie. (2017). Ethics and law for Australian nurses (3rd ed.). Port Melbourne, Vic: Cambridge University Press. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/971612471
  • Patricia J. Staunton, M. C. (2017). Law for nurses and midwives (pp. xiii, 377). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/947838588
  • Patricia J. Staunton, M. C. (2017). Law for nurses and midwives (pp. xiii, 377). Chatswood, N.S.W. : Elsevier. Retrieved from https://ecu.on.worldcat.org/oclc/947838588

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

NCS3203|4|2