Active Outline

General Information

Course ID (CB01A and CB01B)
HTEC D073.
Course Title (CB02)
Medical Law and Ethics
Course Credit Status
Credit - Degree Applicable
Effective Term
Fall 2024
Course Description
This course discusses topics such as medical ethics, medical practice acts, the legal relationship of patient and physician, legal responsibilities of the health technology team member, professional liability, physician's civic duties, and arbitration.
Faculty Requirements
Discipline 1
[Health Care Ancillaries (Medical assisting, hospice worker, home care aide, certified nurse aide, health aide, ward clerk, central service technology, childbirth educator, primary care associate, massage therapy)]
FSA
[FHDA FSA - HEALTH CARE SERVICES]
Course Family
Not Applicable

Course Justification

This course is CSU transferable and part of a CTE program. It was developed based on the California Certifying Board for Medical Assistant's Accreditation Standards required for Health Technology training programs. This course belongs on the Medical Assisting A.S. degree. This course informs students about medical practice management, the legal responsibilities of the health care worker, and professional liability.

Foothill Equivalency

Does the course have a Foothill equivalent?
No
Foothill Course ID

Course Philosophy

Formerly Statement

Course Development Options

Basic Skill Status (CB08)
Course is not a basic skills course.
Grade Options
  • Letter Grade
  • Pass/No Pass
Repeat Limit
0

Transferability & Gen. Ed. Options

Transferability
Transferable to CSU only

Units and Hours

Summary

Minimum Credit Units
3.0
Maximum Credit Units
3.0

Weekly Student Hours

TypeIn ClassOut of Class
Lecture Hours3.06.0
Laboratory Hours0.00.0

Course Student Hours

Course Duration (Weeks)
12.0
Hours per unit divisor
36.0
Course In-Class (Contact) Hours
Lecture
36.0
Laboratory
0.0
Total
36.0
Course Out-of-Class Hours
Lecture
72.0
Laboratory
0.0
NA
0.0
Total
72.0

Prerequisite(s)

Corequisite(s)

Advisory(ies)

HTEC D060A

Limitation(s) on Enrollment

Entrance Skill(s)

General Course Statement(s)

Methods of Instruction

Lecture and visual aids

Discussion of assigned reading

Discussion and problem solving performed in class

Quiz review performed in class

Collaborative learning and small group discussions

Homework and extended projects

Assignments

  1. Reading:
    1. Required readings from the text as preparation for class discussion and application of concepts in written analysis
    2. Assignments from text and supplemental sources in preparation for class discussion
  2. Writing:
    1. Assignments from student mastery manual including key terminology assessment, evaluation of performance, clinical thinking, and crossword puzzles
    2. Complete worksheets that include observations, results and critical analysis

Methods of Evaluation

  1. Written Assignments-Critical analysis and discussion of case studies present in lecture or assigned readings
  2. Quizzes-Objective/subjective quizzes that test comprehension of course material on a routine basis and help identify areas that may need extra attention
  3. Objective tests-Written examination designed to demonstrate students understanding of the course material presented in lecture
  4. Comprehensive Examinations - Written tests requiring the student to demonstrate their ability to summarize, integrate and critically analyze concepts throughout the course

Essential Student Materials/Essential College Facilities

Essential Student Materials: 
  • None
Essential College Facilities:
  • None

Examples of Primary Texts and References

AuthorTitlePublisherDate/EditionISBN
Judson, Karen, Carlene Harrison, Sharon Hicks"Law and Ethics for the Health Professions"McGraw-Hill2021, 9th Ed.

Examples of Supporting Texts and References

None.

Learning Outcomes and Objectives

Course Objectives

  • Explain why we need to study Law and Ethics
  • Compare aspects of Law and Ethics
  • Define the qualities of successful health care practitioners
  • Analyze the development theories and choices
  • Outline the seven principles of Health Care Ethics
  • State the difference between licensure, certification, registration and accreditation
  • Explain how physicians get licensed and the Medical Practice Acts
  • Define the medical practice management systems and types of managed care
  • Identify the basis of and primary sources of law
  • Compare types of contracts and physician's and patient's rights and responsibilities
  • State the difference between standard of care and duty of care
  • Explain the tort of negligence
  • Discuss the elements of a lawsuit and alternative dispute resolution
  • Compare the different defenses to liability suits
  • Describe the importance of confidentiality and informed consent in medical records
  • Discuss the physician's public duties and responsibilities
  • Outline workplace legalities
  • Compare and contrast the beginning of life and death and dying as it relates to law and ethics
  • Analyze the health care trends and forecasts as it impacts our lives

CSLOs

  • Illustrate medical ethics. Medical practice act, legal relationship of patient and physician, legal responsibilities of the health technology team member, professional liability, physicians civic duties and arbitration.

Outline

  1. Explain why we need to study Law and Ethics
    1. Court cases illustrate risk of litigation
    2. Misdemeanor
    3. Felony
  2. Compare aspects of Law and Ethics
    1. Law
    2. Ethics
    3. Codes of Ethics and Ethics guidelines
    4. Bioethics
    5. The role of Ethics Committees
    6. Etiquette
  3. Define the qualities of successful health care practitioners
    1. Courtesy
    2. Compassion
    3. Common sense
    4. People Skills
    5. Critical Thinking skills
    6. Technical Skills
    7. Determining if a decision is ethical
  4. Analyze the development theories and choices
    1. Teleological or consequence-oriented theory
    2. Deontological or duty-oriented theory
    3. Virtue ethics
  5. Outline the seven principles of Health Care Ethics
    1. Autonomy or self-determination
    2. Beneficence
    3. Nonmaleficence
    4. Confidentiality
    5. Justice
    6. Role fidelity
    7. Veracity
  6. State the difference between licensure, certification, registration and accreditation
    1. Reciprocity
    2. Non-Licensed Personnel, " Scope of Practice"
  7. Explain how physicians get licensed and the Medical Practice Acts
    1. Physician's education
    2. Physician's responsibilities
  8. Define the medical practice management systems and types of managed care
    1. Sole proprietorship
    2. Partnership
    3. Professional Corporation
    4. Group Practice
  9. Identify the basis of and primary sources of law
    1. Federal government
    2. State government
    3. Criminal law
    4. Civil law
  10. Compare types of contracts and physician's and patient's rights and responsibilities
    1. Physicians
    2. Patients
  11. State the difference between standard of care and duty of care
    1. Physicians
    2. Guidelines for physicians and other health care practitioners
  12. Explain the tort of negligence
    1. Malfeasance
    2. Misfeasance
    3. Nonfeasance
    4. Res ipsa loquitur
  13. Discuss the elements of a lawsuit and alternative dispute resolution
    1. Phases of a lawsuit
    2. Witness testimony
    3. Courtroom conduct
    4. Arbitration
    5. Mediation
  14. Compare the different defenses to liability suits
    1. Denial
    2. Affirmative defense
    3. Technical defense
  15. Describe the importance of confidentiality and informed consent in medical records
    1. Chart enteries
    2. Photographs, videotaping, and patient imaging
    3. Corrections
    4. Release of information
    5. Retention and storage
    6. Consent
  16. Discuss the physician's public duties and responsibilities
    1. Vital statistics
    2. Public health statues
    3. Records for births and deaths
    4. Reportable diseases and injuries
    5. Controlled substances
  17. Outline workplace legalities
    1. Hiring and firing
    2. Discrimination
    3. Federal Labor and employment laws
    4. CLIA
    5. Worker's compensation and unemployment insurance
  18. Compare and contrast the beginning of life and death and dying as it relates to law and ethics
    1. Human Genome project
    2. Genetic diseases
    3. Genetic discrimination
    4. Cloning
    5. Human stem cell research
    6. Gene therapy
    7. Infertility
    8. Surrogacy
    9. Adoption
    10. Autopsies
    11. Hospice care
    12. Living will
    13. Health care proxy
    14. DNR order
  19. Analyze the health care trends and forecasts as it impacts our lives
    1. cost
    2. Access
    3. Quality
Back to Top