Professional Diploma in Medical Law

Here is a sample of how the 10 weeks Medical Law Course is delivered:

Week 1 Introduction to the course and principles of clinical negligence

• The field of medical law
• Medical law, medical ethics and bio-ethics
• History of medical law and legal medicine

Week 2 Regulation of healthcare professionals

• The scope of statutory professional regulation
• Structures and functions of medical bodies
• Disciplinary procedures and medical bodies

Week 3 Medical records and access to records

• Clinical record-keeping
• Access to an ownership of notes
• Introduction to data protection law
• Retention of records
• Duty of confidentiality

Week 4 Consent to medical treatment

• Meaning of consent
• Consequences of acting without consent
• Elements of consent
• Practicalities of consent
• Capacity and decision-making
• Minors
• Treatment refusal

Week 5 Expert evidence and court proceedings

• Issuing proceedings
• Standard of proof
• Discovery and civil litigation procedure as it pertains to medical negligence litigation
• Damages
• Introduction to expert evidence
• Who is an expert?
• Professional negligence claims and the need for expert reporting

Week 6 Mental health law

• Voluntary admission of mental health patients
• Involuntary admission of adults
• Treatment of the psychiatric patient
• Human rights law and mental health
• Involuntary psychiatric treatment and detention
• Mental Health Act 2001

Week 7 Assisted Human Reproduction

• Introduction to Assisted Human Reproduction
• Aspects of the regulatory environment
• Regulating human embryos
• Donor-assisted human reproduction
• Surrogacy and the law

Week 8 End of life

• The withdrawal of treatment
• DNR (do not attempt resuscitation) Orders
• Planning for end of life
• Powers of Attorney
• Euthanasia and assisted suicide

Week 9 Clinical research on humans and animals

• Clinical research
• Ethical aspects of clinical research on human subjects
• Regulation of clinical research
• Clinical research on animal subjects
• Data protection law and clinical research

Week 10 Guest lecture

Mode of delivery: Asynchronous

30 hours over a period of ten weeks

This course is delivered in class. However, if you don’t live in Dublin, or the commute to our college is not possible, we also offer this course live online.

This Diploma in Medical Law is an advanced program tailored for a wide range of professionals including:

• Legal practitioners
• Healthcare providers
• Medical staff
• Data protection officers
• Individuals with an interest in the regulation and governance of Medicine and Healthcare in Ireland

By completing this diploma, participants will gain not only theoretical knowledge but also practical insights into how Medical Law is applied in real-world scenarios, making them well-prepared to navigate the evolving legal challenges in the healthcare sector.

HIQA is Ireland’s independent authority overseeing healthcare quality and safety. It offers a wealth of resources and publications for further reading on industry standards and regulations, which can be valuable for deepening your understanding of the legal frameworks discussed in this course.

A City College Dublin’s Professional Diploma Course is a focused, practical programme designed and delivered by an industry practitioner, that consolidates, upskills or reskills learners in a professional area. They are stand-alone qualifications that indicate that you have been trained in a particular area or specific subject matter.

City College Dublin Diplomas are suitable for career minded learners wishing to advance their professional skills and prospects. They are widely accepted by employers and many students are sponsored to study here by their organisation.

In addition to our scheduled Professional Diploma courses, City Colleges Dublin can provide bespoke training over 3 – 4 days, please contact Kevin.Coyne@citygroup.ie for further details.