Introduction to Medical Law
The course aims to introduce the scope, underlying principles and application of medical law to South African legal practitioners who had no or little exposure to medical law.
Those professionals who need to be updated will also find the course beneficial. The foundational legal principles will be discussed and explained with reference to the South African Constitution, common law, applicable case law, legislation, ethical considerations and policy documents. In addition the practical application of medical law in legal and medical practice will be explored.
The following content is covered during the course:
- The place of medical law in the legal system and the concepts of medical law and health law
- The Constitution and health care services
- An introduction to the South African health system
- The statutory framework for the regulation of the medical and allied health professions
- An exploration of medical ethics
- The legal basis of the doctor/hospital and patient relationship, also with reference to the other allied health professions
- Grounds of justification for medical interventions with reference to consent/informed consent, emergency interventions, statutory authority and court authorization, extensions and deviations
- Medical negligence and vicarious liability
- The patient's privacy and medical confidentiality (also in context of HIV/AIDS)
- A selection from the following: artificial human procreation (inclusive of surrogacy and stem cells); wrongful conception/birth/life; medico-legal aspects relating to children; hospital acquired infections; transsexualism and the law; euthanasia, end-of-life decisions and living wills; international instruments for the protection of health care rights
- An exploration of selected medical and health statutes
- Practical training with reference to informed consent forms; particulars of claim in medical negligence litigation; disciplinary hearings before the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA)/Nursing Council; inquest proceedings and living wills
After completion of the course, delegates will be able to (on an introductory level):
- have a good understanding of the scope and application of medical law;
- explain the interface of medical law with medical practice;
- explain the basic legal principles relevant to medical law and its application in medico-legal practice;
- provide advice in context of medico-legal matters; and
- analyse and assess medico-legal documentation such as informed consent forms, waiver contracts and living wills.
Who should attend?
Doctors, nurses, dentists, paramedics, psychologists and other members of the allied health professions; health professionals involved in medico-legal matters
Time: 08:00 - 17:00
Venue: University of Pretoria Main Campus, Pretoria
Cost: R6,900
More info:
University of Pretoria Main Campus