Units

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Sample subject outline - Semester 2 2013

Note: Subject outlines often change before the semester begins. Below is a sample outline.

Rationale

Paramedics are increasingly finding themselves confronted by situations that have ethical and legal implications. This unit will promote ethical awareness appropriate for the professional development of paramedics whose profession is governed by a code of ethics and a code of conduct. There is also an increased public awareness of the legal rights of patients in respect of pre-hospital care. At the same time, Law Reform Commissions have spent time and resources considering the relationship between health care, ethics, and law. It is therefore necessary for paramedics to understand the process of ethical decision making, while at the same time, understanding the possible legal implications of their actions. You will acquire knowledge of ethics and the laws appropriate to Paramedics in the context of pre-hospital care. You will then be required to apply this knowledge using problem based learning.

Aims

The aim of this unit is to provide you the opportunity to explore appropriate ethical decision-making processes and the possible legal implications of these decisions as applied to your everyday paramedic practice.

Objectives

At the completion of this unit you should be able to:
1. Develop a general awareness of the nature of ethics and ethical decision making, with special reference to health care.
2. Understand the ethical dimension of the role of public officials, especially as ambulance officers, in the context of ethical discussion about health care.
3. Understand the legal principles, which impact upon the delivery of health care in the pre-hospital setting.
4. Analyse a pre-hospital care situation and apply ethico-legal principles to professional practice.
5. Appreciate the role of ethics and the law in the delivery of pre-hospital care.

Content

This unit covers the areas of ethics and the law as they apply to the work of a practising paramedic. The unit is further organised into modules which will include but not limited to:

Introduction to ethics
Ethical theory and decision making
Bio Ethics and Health Care Ethics
Public Sector Ethics
Introduction to Law
Consent Issues and end of life decision making
Negligence
Management of Patient Information
Child protection and legal aspects related to abuse of vulnerable members of society
Criminal law; Court Procedure and Coronial Process
Professional Practice and Complaints Mechanism

Approaches to Teaching and Learning

The learning sequence that will be adopted for this unit will be a problem-based learning method. Problem-based learning is a method of instruction that is characterised by the use of real life problems as a context for students to develop problem solving skills and acquire knowledge about the multi-disciplinary issues that are relevant to their specific field of practice.
In problem-based learning, the problem is presented to you at the commencement of the unit before you have had the opportunity to learn about the principles and concepts relevant to the problem. By presenting the problem first, you can then identify what you already know about the issues or topics raised by the problem, and what you will need to learn in order to manage the problem that is before you.

Assessment

There are two assessments to be completed throughout the semester.Students will be provided with oral and written feedback throughout the Unit.
Your participation in the tutorial activities each week will enable you to understand and apply the content of the unit. This in turn will assist in your examination preparation. It is expected that you look on the Blackboard site each week for that week's requirements and that you come to the lecture fully prepared. The level of your learning in this unit will be greatly enhanced by your engagement with the materials.

Assessment name: Written Exam
Description: You will be required to complete a written examination which will include case studies. There will be both multiple choice and short answer questions applied to these case studies.
Relates to objectives: 3-5
Weight: 60%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Central Exam Block

Assessment name: Essay
Description: Marked piece of work for submission (Ethics)

You will be asked to write an essay applying ethical or social theories to a case study.
Relates to objectives: 1,2,4,5
Weight: 40%
Internal or external: Internal
Group or individual: Individual
Due date: Week 7

Academic Honesty

QUT is committed to maintaining high academic standards to protect the value of its qualifications. To assist you in assuring the academic integrity of your assessment you are encouraged to make use of the support materials and services available to help you consider and check your assessment items. Important information about the university's approach to academic integrity of assessment is on your unit Blackboard site.

A breach of academic integrity is regarded as Student Misconduct and can lead to the imposition of penalties.

Resource materials

Ethics
Preston N (2007) Understanding Ethics (3rd edition) The Federation Press

Law
Forrester K and Griffiths D (2010) Essentials of Law for Health Professionals (3rd edition) Sydney: Elsevier.

Recommended Supplemental Text Books

Ethics
Beauchamp T and Childress J (2009) Principles of Biomedical Ethics (6th edition) New York: Oxford University Press.

Law
White B, McDonald F and Willmott L (2010) Health Law in Australia Sydney: Thomson Reuters.

Risk assessment statement

You will be required to undertake simulated exercises as part of your practice and Appraisal/Evaluation. This will involve exposure to medical sharps, defibrillators and may involve lifting. Before commencing this unit you should review and practise the industry occupational health and safety guidelines that protect qualified staff and students in day-to-day practice.

Disclaimer - Offer of some units is subject to viability, and information in these Unit Outlines is subject to change prior to commencement of semester.

Last modified: 16-Oct-2012