This programme provides training for healthcare providers and those involved in healthcare and allied aspects of healthcare such as:

• doctors
• nurses
• clinical risk /patient safety advisors/managers
• hospital managers/directors
• administrators and others working in the fields of patient quality
• health care lawyers
• healthcare legal claims managers

Course description

The course will provide training for clinical and managerial healthcare professionals and lawyers involved in the medico-legal aspects of healthcare and in the areas of clinical risk management - leading to the award of a Professional Certificate in Medico-legal Aspects of Healthcare. This is an appropriate qualification for professionals practising in the medico-legal fields of healthcare, clinical risk management and patient safety in addition to, or as part of, their work.

The skills learned will provide the basis for participation in claims for healthcare and legal professionals and clinical risk management, risk management and patient safety committees and for further training as a risk / patient safety advisor/manager. The knowledge acquired will be applied to the improvement of patient safety and care, to the prevention and management of legal claims and to healthcare delivery in general. The qualification may also be suitable to those in the fields of claims management and those specialising in healthcare law.

Course content

The Certificate covers the following medico-legal aspects of healthcare:

• An introduction to clinical risk management and risk management in practice;
• Issues of patient safety and quality;
• Introduction to the legal system; medical negligence;
• Health & Safety Issues in Healthcare;
• Patient consent;
• Confidentiality and privacy;
• Beginning and end of life issues;
• Medical research;
• Medico-ethical aspects of law and medical ethics;
• Medical Litigation Issues: Plaintiff and Defendant perspectives;
• The Coroner’s Court;
• Fitness to Practice and Professional Regulation;
• Practical aspects of expert witness and evidence in litigation and at Hearings.

Students must pass the module to be eligible for entry onto the Graduate Diploma in Healthcare (Risk Management and Quality), if they wish to transfer / continue to the Diploma.

Otherwise, an exit option exists for students who successfully complete this module but do not wish to continue to the Graduate Diploma Programme, in which case students are eligible for the award of the Professional Certificate in Medico-legal Aspects of Healthcare.

Course aims 

The aims and goals of the programme are to equip students with the vital general and specialist knowledge of the main and core medico-legal aspects healthcare and to enable students to be able to present their ideas, with coherence within a specialist healthcare environment, especially in relation to the professional aspects medical law and medico-legal aspects of healthcare. The course utilises a mix of teaching from experts and practitioners in the areas of law, governance and medicine, by way of continuous lecture contact, assessment evaluations, case-study presentations and a written exam.

Learning Outcomes

Students will have knowledge and a detailed understanding of the main aspects of medico-legal theory and practice and an understanding of the basic aspects of clinical risk management. Students will learn: the ability to cogently listen, interpret, discuss and debate, vocally and in writing and research issue/s in relation to medico-legal issues within a healthcare setting; to communicate effectively in writing, oral and visual presentation to be able to present ideas at all levels of a medical enterprise from lower staff to corporate management; Will specifically deal with areas of: clinical negligence, patient consent, medical records, confidentiality and privacy, medico-legal issues at the beginning and end of life, death reporting to the Coroner, courtroom skills, medico-legal issues of professional regulation and fitness to practice, medico-ethical aspects of medical practice; Ability to ensure effective communication skills in the medical workplace in general, as between the doctor and patient and in other settings such as the courtroom when involved with or as an expert medical witness. Use information technology and electronic sources of information in work, practice and presentation. Learn to think in terms of `integrated governance' and practical solutions to problems in healthcare and law, which problems may lead to harm to patients, by working with supervisor/s who are in the professional fields of law, medicine and governance.

The Certificate offers the opportunity to allow for participants entering to consider (I) entering into the Diploma programme and further (II) consider the Master’s Programme if suitable.

Teaching, learning Assessment Approach

The Teaching approach is to utilise substantive, case-study and an interactive style to learning with as practical as possible input from lecturers who are specifically required to draw from their professional expertise in the fields of litigation, claims handling and other areas of medical law and ethics.

Learning is acquired through open discussion of professional topics, case study analysis and also on-line interaction and discussion boards.

Examinations

The Professional Certificate consists of 1 Module of 15 ECTS.

The teaching is combined with 3 assessments: (I) an on-line / essay-type project (II) a Group Presentation and (III) an end of module written exam designed to ensure the acquiring of knowledge of the core medico-legal issues discussed in the programme.

Students must pass the module to be eligible for entry onto the Graduate Diploma in Healthcare (Risk Management and Quality), if they wish to transfer / continue to the Diploma programme. Students who successfully complete the Diploma, are eligible for entry onto the MSc in Healthcare (Risk Management and Quality) programme (which is by competitive entry only).

Otherwise, a default exit option exists for students who enter the Professional Certificate and successfully complete this module but do not wish to continue to the Graduate Diploma Programme, in which case students are eligible for the award of the Professional Certificate in Medico-legal Aspects of Healthcare.

This Module is Assessed in 3 Stages during the term (September to December):

• By an online essay / exercise in term;
• By a Group Oral Presentation;
• By Written exam in December.

Location

The course is held in the UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science, University College Dublin, Health Sciences Centre, Belfield, Dublin 4.

Eligibility criteria

• Doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists and radiographers must have a minimum of three years’ post qualification experience.
• Other healthcare personnel and professionals must have a basic qualification in one of the health sciences or hold such other qualifications as approved by the School of Medicine and Medical Science and have a minimum of three years’ clinical or healthcare managerial experience or other relevant experience.
• Anyone outside this criteria will be considered on an individual basis by examining qualifications, work experience and suitability.

• International applicants should contact the academic programme director for a full list of entry requirements.
• A list of FAQs for international applicants is available here.

Important dates & information

• The next intake for Graduate Diploma Healthcare (Risk Management & Quality) is September.

Apply Online

• Click on the www.ucd.ie/apply link and follow the steps outlined.
• The “Application Type” is Graduate Taught Courses, and “Admission Term” is Sept 2015 - 2016.
• Fill in your personal details, and when asked about the “Programme Choice”, select Professional Certificate in Medico-legal Aspects of Healthcare (Prof Cert) X673. The corresponding fee will be applied.
• Next, enter details of any third level institutions you have attended and professional qualifications you have attained in the “Academic Background” section.
• Having paid the application fee and received an e-mail receipt, you must continue to complete the application process by pressing “submit”. An e-mail confirming successful application will be sent to you within 24 hours. A detailed, step-by step guide to the online application process is available here.
• You can track the status of your documentation online. Log in to your account & click on your submitted application. This will bring up an application summary. The application requirements are listed at the end of the summary.

If you have any problems or queries with the online application process, email: applications@ucd.ie or telephone: + 353 1 716 1142 or 1476.

Programme Administrator:

Ms. Brid McCormack
UCD School of Medicine & Medical Science
Forensic & Legal Medicine
UCD Health Sciences Centre
Belfield
Dublin 4
T: + 353 1 716 6647
E: legal.medicine@ucd.ie

Academic Course Co-ordinator:

Mr. Asim Sheikh B.L 
Forensic and Legal Medicine
UCD School of Medicine and Medical Science
Health Sciences Centre
Belfield
Dublin 4

E: asim.sheik@ucd.ie

• For more information on course fees please visit the Fees & Grants Office website.
• Fees are correct at the time of writing and subject to change.