Contemporary Legal and Professional Issues
Description
Students recognise the increasing complexity of health and social care, and the diverse nature of service users, settings and professional roles and know that it is essential that their professional practice is underpinned by an informed awareness of legal, ethical, and moral issues. This module will explore the impact of the recently enacted Assisted Decision-Making (Capacity) (Amended Act 2022 for their respective professional practice areas. It will critically assess the general principles and the current legal framework of the Irish law on capacity. It will also examine the legalities associated with end-of-life care, thus enabling the student to develop the skills necessary to construct, reasoned ethical and legal arguments to justify appropriate courses of action.
Learning Outcomes
Critically analyse how the Irish legal system works, examining the main sources of law and how they are utilised to produce a coherent overview of the medico-ethical system within the state.
Evaluate Advanced Healthcare Directives, Enduring Powers of Attorney, the use of DNAR Orders and the law on Assisted Suicide.
Develop and evaluate the distinction between ending life and allowing life to end.
Assess a structured approach for identifying, analysing and resolving ethical issues in clinical practise.
Appraise, review, and critically examine health and social care and nursing ethics.