Seminar in Law & Medicine

This course addresses controversial issues arising from the interface and relationship between law and medicine, focusing in particular upon the nature of illness, legal dimensions of the doctor-patient treatment relationship, informed consent, experimental health care, access to health care, compelled surgery and testing, reproductive rights and assisted reproductive technologies, death and dying, organ transplantation, and current topics such as vaccinations and stem cell research and other biomedical advances. Class discussions will be devoted to these issues& 039; legal, ethical and social implications and how the law can be of constructive use in clarifying debates and solving challenges. Grading will be based on participation, class assignments, and a seminar paper.