End-of-life healthcare decisions create challenging ethical dilemmas for practitioners, patients and families. Issues around duty of care, autonomy and consent, treatment purpose or medication costs can arise when managing symptoms and reducing pain. Our MA will give you a deeper, more systematic understanding of these issues, their moral and legal considerations. You’ll engage with current academic literature and latest research, learning from real and hypothetical case studies and news stories, discussing them among your peers. Designed for graduates and working professionals, it can be studied over one, two or five years in short, intensive teaching blocks.
Please note: this course is no longer accepting applications from international students for September 2023 entry
Why study Medical Ethics and Palliative Care at Keele University?
A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programmes are among the longest-running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987.
Flexible block teaching delivery (typically three days) to allow you to study and work full-time with essay-based assessment (no exams)
Enjoy rich ethical debates with a diverse student cohort, which over the years has included professionals from medical, legal, religious, voluntary, social, education, and media backgrounds
Taught by trained philosophers, educators and lawyers
Course summary
The combination of advances in medical technology, extensive regulation, increased expectations, and changing moral attitudes has given rise to a host of complex ethical and legal issues for those involved in the delivery of end-of-life healthcare.
This exciting programme provides an opportunity to explore and understand the moral dilemmas confronting those involved in all aspects of end-of-life care, and the ethical, legal and policy issues that arise in medicine, palliative care and related fields.
You’ll gain a solid grounding in a wide range of ethical frameworks which cover actions, consequences and character, from consequentialism and deontology to virtue or ethics of care. This will give you the tools to compare and contrast different approaches, and experience of applying ethical concepts, so you will be better able to articulate them in a professional setting.
Course content is regularly updated to reflect current developments and you’ll have plenty of opportunities to discuss, debate and apply your findings to real-life and fictionalised case studies. For example, students recently considered the Assisted Dying Bill, currently being considered by the House of Lords, and a case in which a Dutch doctor was prosecuted for administering euthanasia on the basis of an advance directive that the patient had written while in the early stages of dementia.
Of particular interest to those working in hospice or other palliative care settings, this MA has previously attracted a broad range of professionals, recent graduates and intercalating medical students. Students come from a wide range of backgrounds and report 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.
Nowhere is healthcare ethics more relevant than the difficult decisions taken during palliative care. For example, who should make medical decisions for patients who are too ill to decide for themselves? What should the response be to patients who refuse treatments likely to be beneficial or demand treatments not likely to be?
The reality of these situations is rarely straight forward, especially when decision-making not only affects patients and their loved ones, but also a large, interdisciplinary support team, which can include physicians, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and dietitians. Care itself can also be provided in a variety of contexts, including in hospice, hospitals, and home settings. Since multiple values such as respect for autonomy, non-maleficence, beneficence, and justice lie at the heart of care giving decisions, it’s no surprise that conflict can arise.
Keele is a pioneer of medical ethics and law education: our MA Medical Ethics and Palliative Care remains the only programme of its kind in the UK which specialises in palliative care and end-of-life medical ethics.
The course aims to improve your ability to examine health care contexts, identify and consider the moral issues that healthcare professionals may face, then weigh up and, if need be, effectively present and communicate alternative scenarios.
Our flexible delivery allows you to study while in full-time work. Starting in September, it can be studied one year full-time, over two years part-time or up to five years if you choose to study on a modular basis. Teaching is delivered in short, intense blocks of typically three days’ duration. The part-time programme requires only 13 days attendance in Year 1 and two days in Year 2, a Research Methods study day in October and a day to present and discuss your work in progress in Semester 2.
The first two modules, which are studied alongside students on the MA in Medical Ethics and Law, introduce key concepts and principles in medical ethics and law, which will provide a framework for addressing practical issues throughout the course. You’ll also develop your understanding of the language, norms and conventions used when writing or preparing academic arguments in these disciplines.
On the MA, you will complete 180 credits, which comprises four 30-credit taught modules and a 60-credit dissertation, which is studied over the course of a year on a topic of your choice.
The information below outlines a one-year full-time study schedule. When taken part-time, the four modules are taught in the first year, with the dissertation completed in the second year. Alternatively, you can choose to study one or more taught modules per year for a period of up to four years, followed by the dissertation in your final year. If you opt for a modular approach, modules 1 and 2 must normally be completed before modules 3 and 4.
ETH-40044 Moral Theory and Medical Ethics (30 credits, Semester 1) This module provides an overview of the key ethical theories, frameworks and principles that underpin decisions and action by doctors, health providers, patients and policy-makers. You’ll learn to use these tools to analyse practical moral problems in medical and healthcare ethics. Topics covered typically include: consequentialism; deontology; virtue ethics; the ethics of care; principlism; autonomy and paternalism; the ethical foundations of consent; confidentiality and truth-telling.
ETH-40045 Principles of Medical Law (30 credits, Semester 1) Developing your knowledge of the key principles, cases and statutes in medical law, you’ll learn to critique aspects of medical law and apply your knowledge of the law to practices in medicine and healthcare. Topics covered typically include: introduction to law; use of cases and statutes; law and consent; capacity; professional negligence; mental health law; confidentiality and the law; the relationship between law and morality; adolescent competence; parental responsibility and child decision-making; and human rights.
ETH-40040 Life, Death and the Human Body (30 credits, Semester 2) Ranging from abortion and regulation of reproduction to selective reproduction, euthanasia and living organ donation, this module focuses on the often controversial issues surrounding the moral and legal status of humans and human bodies, and their implications for interventions at the beginning and end-of-life, as well as modifications to the human body. Indicative topics include disability, advance decisions, and terminal sedation, suicide and mental health.
ETH-40036 Policy, Resources and Research Ethics in Palliative Care(30 credits, Semester 2) Controversies surrounding palliative care are often issues of policy, resource allocation or research. While the content of this module varies from year to year to reflect current issues of particular concern in the field, you will explore contemporary debates concerning health care resource allocation, health policy and public health, related to palliative care, such as funding based on quality adjusted life years (QALYs). In recent years, seminars have covered issues relating to the care of children, the role of religious belief in ethical debate, and differing conceptions of palliative care including public health approaches.
ETH-40041 Medical Ethics and Law Dissertation (60 credits, studied throughout the course) The production of a 15,000 to 20,000-word dissertation provides an exciting opportunity to work under the supervision of an expert in your chosen field of interest, demonstrating a level of knowledge and understanding far beyond what you have learned in class. You’ll be supported to develop the research skills needed to conduct an extended piece of work on a topic of your choice, analysing existing relevant research. While your dissertation must relate to an ethical issue within the broad field of palliative care, you can choose your own topic to reflect your personal or professional interest. 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. Examples of recent dissertation topics which reflect the breadth of the subject include: ‘Do Not Resuscitate’ orders; withdrawal of life-prolonging treatment; terminal sedation; euthanasia and assisting in bringing about death; concepts of a good death; and ethical issues in considering faith and spirituality.
MA Medical Ethics and Palliative Care (MEPC) at Keele University
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Entry requirements
Academic entry requirements
The MA in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care is open to graduates with a first or second class honours degree (or foreign equivalent) in a relevant subject, or appropriate professional qualifications and/or experience.
English language entry requirement for international students
Students who have graduated from a country where English is the first language and the degree was taught and assessed in English are not normally required to take an IELTS or other English language test.
During your degree programme you can study additional english language courses. This means you can continue to improve your English language skills and gain a higher level of English.
INTERCALATING MEDICAL STUDENTS
We welcome applications from undergraduate medical students who have the option to take an intercalated year. To take the MA in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care as an intercalated year, you must normally have completed the fourth year of a medical degree. To ensure the course is completed within one year, you must study the MA in Medical Ethics and Palliative Care as a full time student.
Apart from additional costs for text books, inter-library loans and potential overdue library fines, we do not anticipate any additional costs for this postgraduate course.
Living costs
Keele University is located on a beautiful campus and has all the facilities of a small town. Student accommodation, shops, restaurants and cafes are all within walking distance of the teaching buildings. This is a very cost effective way to live and to reduce your living costs.
Please note, if your course offers a January start date, the January 2023 start date falls in the 2022/23 academic year. Please see the 2022/23 academic year fees for the relevant fees for starting this course in January 2023.
Planning your funding
It's important to plan carefully for your funding before you start your course. Please be aware that not all postgraduate courses and not all students are eligible for the UK government postgraduate loans and, in some cases, you would be expected to source alternative funding yourself. If you need support researching your funding options, please contact our Financial Support Team.
Scholarships
We are committed to rewarding excellence and potential. Please visit our Bursaries and Scholarships webpage for more information.
This course provides a fascinating opportunity to explore the ethical dilemmas facing palliative care professionals on a daily basis, drawing on the latest research and real-life issues making the headlines.
In addition to the specialist knowledge you’ll gain, you’ll develop a range of essential transferable skills in analysis, critical thinking, problem-solving and communications. This can broaden your career options in a wide variety of roles in medical, legal and ethical fields, ranging from clinical or medical practice to policy-making, teaching or research.
For those working in palliative care or related fields, it can build your confidence in handling workplace decisions that have ethical implications, enhancing your knowledge, skills and practice in developing and delivering end-of-life care strategies. It will be especially beneficial if you are, for example, seeking to obtain a position on an ethics committee or direct your career towards strategy development, risk management, research or work in medical defence.
Many of our working students study this course out of interest and with a desire to gain specialist knowledge and skills to help them progress within their existing careers. For example, previous students have included junior doctors seeking to become consultants, or bioscience graduates keen to demonstrate their commitment and engagement in pursuit of a medical career.
The specialist research skills you learn also provide a strong foundation for pursuing further study at doctoral level for those interested in doing so. At Keele, we can offer supervision for PhDs in both medical ethics and law.
Run by the School of Law at Keele University, this course is taught by a team of experienced academics, active researchers and expert practitioners that includes ethicists, legal academics and clinical specialists.
Ethics is not a spectator sport and you’ll be encouraged to engage in lots of discussion and debate from the outset. Interactive and practical teaching methods include lectures, seminars, group work and case studies.
From time to time, experts from outside Keele are invited to speak on the course providing alternative academic and professional perspectives. Past speakers have included, for example, the CEO of St Giles Hospice. Speaker topics have covered everything from difficulties with the concept of best interests in relation to decisions about treatment of critically ill children, to the rise and fall of patient deference towards doctors in the context of demands for patient autonomy.
Students frequently tell us that what they value most from this course is being exposed to a range of contrasting viewpoints, meeting and exchanging ideas with peers who work in different fields and specialities and in other parts of the country, sometimes the world. This is helped by the fact the first two modules of the course are studied together with students on the MA in Medical Ethics and Law.
Teaching takes place in three-day blocks and we often organise an informal meal during the module so you can get to know your staff and fellow students. You are welcome to come to Keele more frequently to meet with your supervisors, attend talks by visiting speakers, and use other university facilities, though you can keep in touch via email, phone or videoconferencing just as easily if you live further away.
As part of the course, you will receive lots of academic training and support, for example, in how to write essays and construct arguments in ethical issues. On the Moral Theory and Medical Ethics module, you’ll be introduced to the norms and conventions of academic argument and writing in applied ethics, while the Principles of Medical Law module covers writing law essays, preparing legal arguments and referencing. You will be allocated an academic mentor, who can provide academic support. You also have the option of 1:1 appointments with learning development advisors.
Teaching schedule
The 2023 teaching schedule for the four taught modules is outlined below. Outside of the taught elements, you will be able to consult with supervisors and will have access to the University’s learning and teaching facilities and support services.
Induction day: Tuesday 3 October 2023
Core modules
Module 1 ETH-40044 Moral Theory & Medical Ethics: Wednesday 4 October to Friday 6 October 2023
Dissertation training day ETH-40041: Monday 9 October 2023
Module 2 ETH-40045 Principles of Medical Law: Wednesday 29 November to Friday 1 December 2023
Module 3 ETH-40040 Life, Death and the Human Body: Wednesday 24 January 2024 to Friday 26 January 2024
Dissertation Presentation Day: Tuesday 12 March 2024
Module 4 ETH-40036 Policy, Resources & Research Ethics In Palliative Care: Wednesday 20 March 2024 to Friday 22 March 2024
How you’ll be assessed
There are no exams on this course. Instead, at the end of each module, you will be required to write a 5,000-word essay, as well as your final dissertation. For each module you will have a choice of questions reflecting the topics covered in the teaching. You will receive feedback on your essay during the next teaching block, enabling continuous improvement over the duration of the course.
Keele University is one of a handful of universities in the UK to have a dedicated students' union for postgraduate students. A fully registered charity, Keele Postgraduate Association serves as a focal point for the social life and welfare needs of all postgraduate students during their time at Keele.
Hugely popular, the KPA Clubhouse (near Horwood Hall) provides a dedicated postgraduate social space and bar on campus, where you can grab a bite to eat and drink, sit quietly and read a book, or switch off from academic life at one of the many regular events organised throughout the year. The KPA also helps to host a variety of conferences, as well as other academic and career sessions, to give you and your fellow postgraduates the opportunities to come together to discuss your research, and develop your skills and networks.
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Our expertise
Teaching staff
For 35 years, Keele School of Law has been at the forefront of medical ethics and law education, having first delivered the MA in Medical Ethics and Law back in 1987, followed shortly by the MA Medical Ethics and Palliative Care. You’ll be taught by staff with a broad range of expertise in the three distinct disciplines of philosophy, law, and healthcare. We also host the annual Royal Institute of Philosophy Lecture Series on Health Care Ethics and Law, which has previously included talks on the abortion act, claims of conscience and the ethical dilemmas facing hospice leadership teams in the era of financial constraint and ageing population.
Teaching team includes:
Dr Jordan Parsons (Programme Director), Lecturer in Law - Jordan has a range of interests across bioethics and medical law, including: organ donation and transplantation; mental capacity and best interests; sexual and reproductive health; telemedicine; genetic privacy; and prisoner health.
Dr Jonathan Hughes, Senior Lecturer in Ethics – a philosopher with research interests in the ethics relating to conscientious objection in healthcare, autism, resource allocation, risk and the precautionary principle, end of life issues.
Professor Anthony Wrigley, Professor of Ethics – a philosopher whose research focuses on ethical and policy issues, including new genetic and reproductive technologies, consent for those who have lost capacity, and end-of-life care.
With a critical and inter-disciplinary approach to law and social justice, the School of Law is an internationally recognised centre for legal research with a longstanding tradition of excellence in moral philosophy, applied ethics, doctrinal, and socio-legal scholarship.
Supported by a specialist Law Librarian, the Law library in the main University library has an extensive range of electronic resources and online legal databases, and stocks a range of law journals, professional resources, case reports, statutes, text books and research monographs. You’ll have access to copies of core texts within the School.
Based in the main Chancellor’s Building, right at the heart of campus, we offer a range of additional student learning resources and facilities. This includes our Moot Room, a model courtroom used for extra-curricular mooting activities, and a refurbished room dedicated for postgraduate taught students on the second floor. Equipped with networked pcs, an adjustable workstation and a meeting table, it’s great place to continue your discussions or chat between classes.
