Law and ethics in paediatrics
Course details
- Duration: 5 weeks
- Live online sessions:
- 10 Jan 2025: 7.30 - 9.00am
- 17 Jan 2025: 8.00 - 9.00am
- 24 Jan 2025: 9.00 - 10.00am
- 31 Jan 2025: 8.00 - 9.00am
- 7 Feb 2025: 8.00 - 10.00am - Fees:
- £495 - Venue: Online
- Contact us
This short course will help you to develop a systematic understanding of medical law and ethics as applied to paediatric practice, with a critical awareness of current problems and new insights in the field.
Topics covered will include:
- Medical law and ethics relating to paediatric practice, with an emphasis on legal principles and current professional guidance
- Best interests
- Consent and confidentiality
- Medical negligence
- End of life care
- The role of HM Coroner and the death review process
- Child protection and safeguarding
- Conflict resolution
The course is part of a range of short courses spread throughout the academic year which are available both to students who are enrolled on the MSc Applied Paediatrics course and as stand-alone CPD accredited programmes for all healthcare professionals.
More information
Learning outcomes
By the end of the course you will be able to:
- Critically evaluate ethical dilemmas encountered in paediatric practice
- Critically assess these dilemmas using an approach based in both Law and ethics
- Propose possible solutions to such problems through debate and discussion
Course structure & delivery
This fully online course is run over 5 consecutive weeks and participants will have access to asynchronous and synchronous sessions. Participants are expected to conduct ~ 7 hours per week of guided and self-directed asynchronous learning, which also incorporates group work online. There are also planned synchronous sessions during the course to discuss ideas, present group and individual work and to facilitate further learning.
The Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) hosts guidance and support with resources and tasks that you can study at your own pace within the suggested parameters. The VLE supports your academic journey and helps you to connect with other students for networking, community building and active co-construction of your learning.
Evidence of sufficient participation will be required to obtain a course certificate.
Live online sessions
The course consists of several synchronous sessions on a video-conferencing platform held on the following dates (UK time)*:
- Friday, 10 January 2025: 7.30 - 9.00am
- Friday, 17 January 2025: 8.00 - 9.00am
- Friday, 24 January 2025: 9.00 - 10.00am
- Friday, 31 Jan 2025: 8.00 - 9.00am
- Friday, 7 February 2025: 8.00 - 10.00am
*Dates and times may be subject to change.
Who should attend?
Open to doctors, nurses, students of medicine or law.
Benefits of attending
The course will enhance your understanding of the ethical and legal principles of treating children. It includes the concepts of autonomy/capacity/best interests and negligence, as well as covering the topics of confidentiality and consent, child protection and The Children Act 1989, research ethics in children, end of life decision making and limitations to treatment and conflict resolution – a practical approach. It also looks at aspects of child death including the role of the Child Death Overview Panel (CDOP), death certification and post mortem examinations, the Coroner's role and Inquests.
Optional assessment
Participants have the option of completing an assessment component and on completion will be provided with an official Imperial College London transcript of results. Details of the assessment and deadline for submission will be given during the course. Please note that there is an additional assessment fee payable in full prior to the submission date. Please contact us for further information.