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Keele University: Medical Ethics and Law
| Institution | Keele University View institution profile |
|---|---|
| Department | School of Law |
| Web | www.keele.ac.uk |
| enquiries@keele.ac.uk | |
| Study type | Taught |
MA
Summary
This programme provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth study of healthcare ethics and law, and to develop the ability to think systematically and critically about the moral and legal issues that healthcare professionals and those involved in healthcare management and policy may encounter in the course of their work. Ideal for working professionals or recent graduates, the programme comprises four taught modules plus a dissertation on a topic chosen by the student. Teaching takes place in short, intensive blocks to facilitate combining study with full-time work, and the course may be studied flexibly over one,
two or five years.
**Why choose this course?**
- A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programme is one of the longest-running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987
- Block teaching delivery (typically three days per module) allows you to combine part-time study with full-time work – ideal for healthcare professionals.
- Enjoy rich ethical debates, share experiences, and learn about different practices and perspectives with a diverse student cohort.
- Taught by staff with expertise in both law and philosophy, and with experience in delivering courses for professionals.
- This programme is available to intercalating medical students.
Drawing on real-life and hypothetical cases, research, news and shared experiences, our MA introduces you to relevant concepts, theories and frameworks – highlighting their pros and cons and providing you with a range of analytical tools with which to assess different ethical and legal claims. You’ll also learn to communicate ethical and legal arguments more clearly to others.
Working on a range of scenarios and with a focus on practical application, you’ll construct, categorise and criticise different ethical arguments, spotting common fallacies and identifying weaknesses in an argument. For example, students recently considered the moral and legal arguments raised in a 2021 High Court case on the Abortion Act 1967, and whether a provision permitting abortion up until birth in the case of foetal disabilities such as Down Syndrome was discriminatory and in contravention of Human Rights.
The course typically attracts a broad range of professionals in healthcare, law and related areas, recent graduates and intercalating medical students, which enriches discussion, debate and shared experiences. In fact, students frequently tell us that what they value most is being exposed to a huge range of contrasting viewpoints, meeting and exchanging ideas with peers who work in different fields and sectors, in other parts of the country, and sometimes the world.
**About Keele**
Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.
We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.
Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Typical offer: 2:2 degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject |
| Location | Keele Campus Keele University Keele ST5 5BG |
Summary
This programme provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth study of healthcare ethics and law, and to develop the ability to think systematically and critically about the moral and legal issues that healthcare professionals and those involved in healthcare management and policy may encounter in the course of their work. Ideal for working professionals or recent graduates, the programme comprises four taught modules plus a dissertation on a topic chosen by the student. Teaching takes place in short, intensive blocks to facilitate combining study with full-time work, and the course may be studied flexibly over one,
two or five years.
**Why choose this course?**
- A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programme is one of the longest-running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987
- Block teaching delivery (typically three days per module) allows you to combine part-time study with full-time work – ideal for healthcare professionals.
- Enjoy rich ethical debates, share experiences, and learn about different practices and perspectives with a diverse student cohort.
- Taught by staff with expertise in both law and philosophy, and with experience in delivering courses for professionals.
- This programme is available to intercalating medical students.
Drawing on real-life and hypothetical cases, research, news and shared experiences, our MA introduces you to relevant concepts, theories and frameworks – highlighting their pros and cons and providing you with a range of analytical tools with which to assess different ethical and legal claims. You’ll also learn to communicate ethical and legal arguments more clearly to others.
Working on a range of scenarios and with a focus on practical application, you’ll construct, categorise and criticise different ethical arguments, spotting common fallacies and identifying weaknesses in an argument. For example, students recently considered the moral and legal arguments raised in a 2021 High Court case on the Abortion Act 1967, and whether a provision permitting abortion up until birth in the case of foetal disabilities such as Down Syndrome was discriminatory and in contravention of Human Rights.
The course typically attracts a broad range of professionals in healthcare, law and related areas, recent graduates and intercalating medical students, which enriches discussion, debate and shared experiences. In fact, students frequently tell us that what they value most is being exposed to a huge range of contrasting viewpoints, meeting and exchanging ideas with peers who work in different fields and sectors, in other parts of the country, and sometimes the world.
**About Keele**
Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.
We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.
Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Typical offer: 2:2 degree in a health, psychology, sociology, humanities or social sciences subject |
| Location | Keele Campus Keele University Keele ST5 5BG |
Summary
From prioritising scarce resources and life/death care decisions, to regulation and conduct in clinical trials and vaccinations, healthcare management poses multiple ethical and legal challenges. Our MA explores the diverse moral problems facing those involved, including clinicians, policymakers, law makers and lawyers. You’ll gain a deeper and more systematic understanding of these issues, together with the knowledge and tools to identify potential legal liability and help solve problems. Popular among various medical, healthcare and legal professionals, as well as recent graduates, this course can be studied flexibly over one, two or five years in short, intensive teaching blocks.
**Why choose this course?**
- A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programme is one of the longest-running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987
- Block teaching delivery (typically three days every two months or so) allows you to study and work full-time and this course benefits from essay-based assessment (no exams)
- Enjoy rich ethical debates with diverse student cohort which typically includes professionals with medical, legal, religious, voluntary, social, research, education, even media backgrounds
- Taught by trained philosophers, educators and lawyers
New developments in treatments and technology, coupled with shifting social attitudes, mean that the legal and ethical issues around healthcare and medicine are constantly changing, posing serious moral dilemmas for those involved.
Practical in focus and regularly updated to reflect new issues that arise, most recently from COVID-19, our MA aims to help you navigate the complex moral and legal considerations of healthcare planning, delivery, patient contact and associated activities, such as medical research.
Is it acceptable, for example, to disclose a patient’s medical history to protect others from infectious diseases like HIV? At what point do health professionals stop trying to prolong life? Or, to save a life, should doctors overrule refusal of treatment based cultural or religious reasons?
Undertaking a medical ethics course cannot provide all the answers – not least because there are far too many questions to consider, but also because there often is no easy answer. However, it can prepare you to work out the answers yourself responsibly, professionally and with integrity.
By drawing on real-life through case studies, research, news and shared experiences, our MA introduces you to relevant concepts, theories and frameworks – highlighting their pros and cons – as well as providing you with a range of analytical tools with which to assess different ethical and legal claims. You’ll also learn to communicate ethical and legal arguments more clearly to others.
**About Keele**
Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.
We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.
Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Applicants should have at least a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject such as medicine, nursing, law, philosophy or medical sciences. We will also consider applicants with equivalent work experience and/or professional/international qualifications in healthcare. Please enquire if you don't have the relevant qualifications but have a professional or other serious interest in health care ethics and law, including (but not limited to) doctors, nurses, midwives, health care managers, intercalating medical students, physiotherapists, radiographers, chaplains, and voluntary workers. Applicants will need to provide 1 academic reference. If you have been out of study for a number of years, an employment reference will be suitable instead. The English Language entry requirement for International students is 6.5. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests. 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. If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes to help you reach the required level of English. 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. |
| Location | Keele Campus Keele University Keele ST5 5BG |
Summary
From prioritising scarce resources and life/death care decisions, to regulation and conduct in clinical trials and vaccinations, healthcare management poses multiple ethical and legal challenges. Our MA explores the diverse moral problems facing those involved, including clinicians, policymakers, law makers and lawyers. You’ll gain a deeper and more systematic understanding of these issues, together with the knowledge and tools to identify potential legal liability and help solve problems. Popular among various medical, healthcare and legal professionals, as well as recent graduates, this course can be studied flexibly over one, two or five years in short, intensive teaching blocks.
**Why choose this course?**
- A pioneer in medical ethics and law education, Keele’s programme is one of the longest-running in the UK, delivered continuously since 1987
- Block teaching delivery (typically three days every two months or so) allows you to study and work full-time and this course benefits from essay-based assessment (no exams)
- Enjoy rich ethical debates with diverse student cohort which typically includes professionals with medical, legal, religious, voluntary, social, research, education, even media backgrounds
- Taught by trained philosophers, educators and lawyers
New developments in treatments and technology, coupled with shifting social attitudes, mean that the legal and ethical issues around healthcare and medicine are constantly changing, posing serious moral dilemmas for those involved.
Practical in focus and regularly updated to reflect new issues that arise, most recently from COVID-19, our MA aims to help you navigate the complex moral and legal considerations of healthcare planning, delivery, patient contact and associated activities, such as medical research.
Is it acceptable, for example, to disclose a patient’s medical history to protect others from infectious diseases like HIV? At what point do health professionals stop trying to prolong life? Or, to save a life, should doctors overrule refusal of treatment based cultural or religious reasons?
Undertaking a medical ethics course cannot provide all the answers – not least because there are far too many questions to consider, but also because there often is no easy answer. However, it can prepare you to work out the answers yourself responsibly, professionally and with integrity.
By drawing on real-life through case studies, research, news and shared experiences, our MA introduces you to relevant concepts, theories and frameworks – highlighting their pros and cons – as well as providing you with a range of analytical tools with which to assess different ethical and legal claims. You’ll also learn to communicate ethical and legal arguments more clearly to others.
**About Keele**
Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.
We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.
Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.
| Level | RQF Level 7 |
|---|---|
| Entry requirements | Applicants should have at least a 2:2 honours degree in a relevant subject such as medicine, nursing, law, philosophy or medical sciences. We will also consider applicants with equivalent work experience and/or professional/international qualifications in healthcare. Please enquire if you don't have the relevant qualifications but have a professional or other serious interest in health care ethics and law, including (but not limited to) doctors, nurses, midwives, health care managers, intercalating medical students, physiotherapists, radiographers, chaplains, and voluntary workers. Applicants will need to provide 1 academic reference. If you have been out of study for a number of years, an employment reference will be suitable instead. The English Language entry requirement for International students is 6.5. The University also accepts a range of internationally recognised English tests. 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. If you do not meet the English language requirements, the University offers a range of English language preparation programmes to help you reach the required level of English. 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. |
| Location | Keele Campus Keele University Keele ST5 5BG |
About Keele
Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.
We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national, and global level.
Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including …
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