LLM Medical Law and Ethics
The LLM Medical Law and Ethics is a postgraduate law course focused on the legal and ethical issues surrounding healthcare and treatment decisions. It may suit law graduates and professionals seeking to deepen their understanding of medical liability, patient rights, bioethics, mental health law and end-of-life decision-making.
About this course
This LLM examines the legal and ethical questions that arise in healthcare, treatment decisions and medical practice. You will consider the relationship between medical law, common law and human rights law, with particular attention to patient autonomy, consent and refusal of treatment.
The course also addresses complex areas of bioethics and regulation, including decision-making for competent and incompetent patients, assisted conception, fertility control, abortion, end-of-life decisions, euthanasia, assisted suicide and mental health law. Research methods training supports the development of legal research skills, leading to a dissertation in medical law and ethics.
Study is available full-time, part-time or online, with a stated duration of one to two years.
What you will study
Core study includes:
• Medical Law and Ethics • Research Methods Training • Dissertation in Medical Law and Ethics
Topics include patient consent and refusal of medical treatment; human rights law and common law; decision-making for competent and incompetent patients; assisted conception and fertility control; abortion; the right to die; euthanasia; assisted suicide; and mental health law.
Modules
Terms 1 & 2 (full-time) or 1-4 (part-time)
- Medical Law and Ethics (core)
- Research Methods Training (core)
Term 3 (full-time) or 5 & 6 (part-time)
- Dissertation in Medical Law and Ethics (core)
Assessment
Assessment includes a three-hour unseen written examination, a coursework assignment and a thesis.
Entry requirements
A minimum second-class honours degree is required.
Careers
This course may support progression into medico-legal work, including medical liability, clinical negligence, personal injury, mental health law and Court of Protection matters. It may also be relevant to expert witness work, clinical governance, bioethics governance, healthcare management, health and care professions, and policy or regulatory roles.
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