HM 101 Medical Law and Ethics

Lecture Hours: 3
Credits: 3

Explores the relationships between the law, ethics and bioethics and the health care professional. Introduces students to privacy, security, confidentiality, legal policies and procedures, and ethical issues. An interactive class using case studies, independent and group projects, and personal reflection to identify common legal and ethical problems.

Student Learning Outcomes:

Compare and discuss the practical definitions of law, ethics and bioethics.
Apply current laws, accreditation, licensure and certification standards to health information initiatives from the national, state, local, and facility levels.
Differentiate the roles of various providers and disciplines throughout the continuum of healthcare and respond to their information needs.
Adhere to the legal and regulatory requirements related to the health information infrastructure.
Explain the steps involved in civil, misdemeanor and felony cases.
Apply principles of problem-solving to ethical/bioethical decision-making.
Apply and promote ethical standards of practice.
Discuss major contemporary ethical/bioethical issues using group process and individual reflection.
Present the results of a bioethics project to the class using verbal and visual presentation techniques.

Content Outline

Introduction to the Concepts of Privacy, Security, Confidentiality, Legal Policies, and Procedures, and Ethical Issues
The Legal System in the United States
Contracts and Business Arrangements Common in the Health Field
Roles and Responsibilities of Various Health Professionals
Regulations that Impact Privacy and Security
Ethical Decision-Making
Contemporary Ethical Issues in Health Care
Ethical Issues in a Cross-Cultural Perspective