Professional Ethics at Keele
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MA and Postgraduate Diploma in Medical Ethics and Law
Introduction
This course provides an opportunity to study the ethical and legal issues that arise in healthcare and related fields. The course content explores the moral problems that those working in these fields face in the course of their work, provides the background for recognising issues that may raise legal liability in these contexts, and reflects the legal and social context in which healthcare practice is situated.
Teaching is delivered in short intense blocks, enabling those in full-time employment to do the course part time and fit it around the demands of their work wherever they are based.
For full-time and local students, in addition to speakers directly connected to the course Keele hosts a wide range of seminars, workshops, lectures and visiting fellowships. Many of these activities are available free of charge to Keele students.
The course is taught by staff from the School of Law and Centre for Professional Ethics, all of whom have research interests in healthcare law and ethics, and who between them have written a broad range of books and articles in this area. From time to time, expert speakers from outside Keele may also be invited to speak on the course. In addition to outside speakers directly connected to the course Keele hosts a wide range of seminars, workshops, lectures and visiting fellowships. Many of these activities are available free of charge to Keele students.
We regard high levels of student participation in discussion as particularly important for teaching and learning in this area, and employ teaching techniques which encourage this wherever possible. Students come from a diverse range of backgrounds, and geographic locations. Past and current students have reported that meeting and exchanging ideas with others who work in different fields and in different parts of the country is one of the major benefits of the course.
The Medical Ethics and Law teaching team have many years experience of teaching postgraduate applied ethics courses. We are aware of the special problems and challenges which may face mature students and those combining study with full-time work, and therefore we do our utmost to offer a supportive and stimulating environment for learning. Each student is assigned a personal supervisor from the teaching team, whom they can contact for help or advice at any time during the course.
Intercalation
Students studying medicine can opt to take a year out of their undergraduate medical studies in order to study a subject area in greater depth, before returning to complete the medical course. Intercalating students would take the MA in Medical Ethics and Law as full-time students to ensure that the course is completed within one year.
| Course Content | Assessment | Entry Requirements | Frequently asked Questions |
Course Content
Module 1: Introduction to Moral and Legal Concepts
This module provides an introduction to the concepts and theories used on the course. It explores the distinction between consequentialist and deontological theories of ethics, the relationship between law and morality and the nature of moral and legal rights, as well as providing an introduction to some basic legal concepts, the structure of the English legal system, and the Human Rights Act.
Module 2: Autonomy and Paternalism
Topics covered in this module include the ethical and legal issues raised in consent to treatment, confidentiality, and patient choice. Among the questions to be considered are: Is paternalism ever acceptable? Is lying to patients always wrong? To what extent should patients have control over their own medical treatment? To what extent should doctors use their discretion to keep information from the patient?
Module 3: Life and Death
This module examines a variety of difficult ethical issues relating to the creation and destruction of human life. For example, does the law currently strike the right balance between protecting the foetus and respecting women's autonomy? Should we deny terminally ill patients the right to choose to end their own lives by lethal injection? Topics covered include: the moral and legal status of the embryo; issues raised by reproductive technologies; the definition of death; moral and legal problems regarding physician assisted suicide, euthanasia and the withdrawal of medical treatment.
Module 4: Public Health
Areas normally covered in this module include: justice and resource allocation or `rationing' of medical treatment; research ethics; discrimination and health care;; and issues raised by new technologies. Module 4 normally includes at least one session which looks at a topical issue in public health policy.
Dissertation
The dissertation gives students a chance to undertake a more intensive piece of work (between 15000 and 20000 words) on a topic of interest to them. While working on the dissertation students will have a supervisor to provide support and advice during the writing process. Dissertation topics are chosen by the student themselves and must relate to an issue within the broad area of healthcare law or ethics.
Assessment
Each of the taught modules is assessed by a single piece of coursework. This comprises an essay of 4000 words for each module. All modules must be passed in order to proceed to the dissertation.
Entry Requirements
The course is open to all those with either a degree in a relevant subject, or appropriate professional qualifications and / or experience. Applications are welcome from people with a professional or other serious interest in health care ethics and law, including (but not limited to) doctors, nurses, midwives, health care managers, physiotherapists, radiographers, chaplains, voluntary workers, and members of hospital ethics committees.
If you are unsure about your suitability for the course (or the course's suitability for you) please email us or phone (01782 734 084), for informal advice and further information. Click here for more information about making an application.
We have produced a short leaflet which looks at one particular moral dilemma as an example of the kinds of issues that we cover on the course, and of the value of the formal study of ethics and ethical arguments for healthcare professionals.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
When should I apply? Is there a closing date for applications?
Please see our Course Dates and Applications Deadlines page for the latest information on closing dates. The closing date for applications will also be stated in the information pack. Occasionally we can accept late applications but this will mean a delay in obtaining access to the library and computer systems etc. We do advise that you apply as early as possible as our courses are on occasion over-subscribed.
Click here for more information about making an application.
Is the course suitable for me?
If you have a strong interest in the ethical questions that are raised in the area, and have either a degree in a relevant subject or a professional qualification and / or strong personal experience in this area, then you are probably suitable for the course.
For those who may be returning to education after a period away the idea of doing so (particularly at postgraduate level) may seem very daunting. However, our course is designed to meet the needs of practitioners, and assumes no prior knowledge of law or moral philosophy. In the first teaching block, there are introductory sessions on how to construct and analyse ethical arguments, and also on the style, content, and structure required for a good ethics essay.
Each student will also be assigned a personal supervisor, who will offer advice and support on any aspect of the course, both during and between teaching blocks, as well as feedback and suggestions for improvement after each assignment.
If you have any questions about the course, about your suitability, or whether it meets your particular needs, please contact us for an informal chat. You may also want to have a look at our sample case study which illustrates our approach.
Can I take the course as an intercalating student?
You can. Students studying medicine can opt to take a year out of their undergraduate medical studies in order to study a subject area in greater depth, before returning to complete the medical course; this is called an intercalated degree. Intercalating students would take the MA in Medical Ethics and Law as full time students to ensure that the course is completed within one year. If you have any questions about studying within the Centre for Professional Ethics as an intercalating student please contact us.
One of the dates of the teaching blocks look more convenient than the other. Can I apply to join a particular group?
Please include a covering letter with your application, and we will do our best to accommodate you - particularly if there is a group with teaching dates that clash with unalterable commitments. We cannot offer a cast-iron guarantee that we will be able to do so, especially if you are applying close to the start of the courses, but we will do our very best for you. It is not normally possible to change groups once the course has started, except under exceptional circumstances.
What are the fees? Is there any funding available?
Please contact us for information about fees. Like all UK universities, Keele has different rates for "home" (UK and EU students) and "overseas" students. Fee status is determined by residency rather than nationality. More information on what your fee status is likely to be can be found here http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/EducationAndLearning/index.htm
For current Keele undergraduate students who apply to do the course full-time bursaries are available to help with the cost of fees. Unfortunately, we are not currently able to offer any other forms of financial assistance. For those in full-time employment we would recommend that students enquire whether any training funds are available from their employers, as some of our current students have been successful in obtaining whole or part funding for the course.
Some funding may be available for GPs through Personal Learning Plans.
Do you accept students from outside the UK?
We do. Fees from students from all EU Member States are the same as for home students. The same admissions criteria apply to overseas applicants, but we would also normally expect English language test scores of at least IELTS 6.5 (or equivalent) from students from non-English-speaking countries. Excellent English language skills are particularly important for this kind of course, as small differences in language can make a large difference in meaning in ethics and applied philosophy.
How many hours per week will it take?
It is difficult to give a definitive answer, as this will obviously vary from student to student and from week to week. In addition to the four teaching blocks, we expect that the time commitment for those taking the course part time will be around eight or nine hours per week for the majority of people, with a proportionately higher workload for those doing it full time. Many students spend a lot of time working on an assignment, but might then put in much less time in the weeks following submission. Although the course is designed to fit around work and family responsibilities, it is still a substantial commitment.
Is accommodation provided during the taught blocks? Do the course fees include accommodation?
Students are responsible for booking their own accommodation, and this is not included in the course fees. However, a list of accommodation in the local area will be provided before the course starts. Students may be able to obtain accommodation at a discounted rate from the University Management Centre during teaching blocks. The Management Centre is a conference venue (not a student hall of residence) and is located about fifteen minutes walk from the main university campus.
I live a long way away from Keele. How will I be able to get access to books and journals?
As well as Keele library, our students also have online access to a wide range of books, journal articles and other materials through the ATHENS password system. Keele is a member of the UK SCONUL scheme, which means that our students can borrow books from most other university libraries in the UK. Keele students also have access to the Blackwell Reference Online, The Philosophers' Index, Lawtel, Westlaw, LexisNexis, Butterworths, and netLibrary. A Library and IT training session is included in the first module of the course. More information on electronic resources can be found on our Information for Current Students page.
Course tutors regularly check the availability of books on the reading list for each assignment, and try to recommend readings that are not only in the Keele library, but which are also either available online or as part of a reasonably-priced edited collection. Assignment questions and reading lists for the whole first year are contained in the course handbook in order to allow students to plan ahead.
What have past MA students written about in their dissertations?
Some students start the course with a clear idea about what they want to write about - often an ethical issue from within their own practice - but others find and develop particular interests as the course progresses and they learn more about ethical theory, so don't worry if you have no clear idea what to write about at the moment. Here is a far-from-exhaustive sample list of topics that students have written on in the past:
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If there is a particular area you wish to write about, and would like to discuss this prior to applying for the diploma year, please contact us.
What support is available for disabled students or students with particular learning needs?
See the University disability services and equality and diversity pages.
Are Continuing Professional Development (CPD) points available for this course?
CPD points may be available. Please see our CPD page for details.
Taking things further
Applications and enquiries for Autumn 2012 are very welcome.
Applications should be made online.
If you have any questions please contact us.
Those students who had been interested in taking the (suspended) MA in Ethics of Policing and Criminal Justice should contact the Course Director for further information. There will be no intake to this programme in 2011/12.
