IDIS 373, Health Ethics, Law, and Policy, is an introduction to ethical, legal and regulatory requirements for people working in the health professions. Many of the decisions healthcare workers make have an ethical or legal dimension.  In some of these situations, knowing or doing the right thing can be unclear or difficult. In this course, students will learn how to recognize aspects of health care that raise ethical and legal questions and will develop approaches to creatively and effectively answering these questions.  Over twelve weeks, we cover ethical and legal issues encountered in most types of health care organizations, including acute care hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient facilities, dental clinics, nursing homes, home care organizations, and health care systems. The values, principles and laws we review are also applicable to diverse client and patient populations.

This course is designed to prepare students who are planning to apply to health professional programs and emphasizes learning-by-doing. In addition to introducing students to a wide range of ethical and legal issues in healthcare using a case-based approach, it also builds on the foundational skills in IDIS 173 (previously BMED 173).  Students will develop advanced abilities to charitably understand contentious issues from multiple angles, assemble evidence in order to develop a position, and to communicate complex ideas. Students will also become acquainted with some of the biases, mistakes and mental shortcuts people commonly take in their reasoning and how to avoid them.

*Previously BMED 373 Health Ethics, Law, and Policy