James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2003

OT4003:03

Health Law and Ethics, Reflective Practice

Townsville HECS Band 2

13 hours lectures, 13 hours tutorials, 26 hours workshops. Semester 2.

This subject will identify legislative and ethical requirements for health professionals service delivery in the community and institutional setting. Rural, remote, urban and metropolitan situations will be explored using a variety of techniques to enable reflective practice and clinical reasoning to be demonstrated. The rights of the individual, service provider and responsibilities of society at large will be explored in relation to cultural and ethnic belief systems in a multicultural society such as Australia. Students will participate in the development of core skills for professional competence i.e. effective communication, conceptual thought processes, reflective practice, critical thinking and professional practice.

Learning Objectives:

  1. demonstrate knowledge of relevant government legislation effecting all areas of health professional practice;
  2. identify ethical issues and apply ethical theories and professional guidelines to clinical reasoning for health professional service delivery;
  3. apply clinical reasoning to conceptual thinking and reflective practice;
  4. demonstrate effective communication skills;
  5. demonstrate personal growth in legal and ethical decision making for professional service delivery in a multicultural society whether urban or rural and remote.

Assessment by small group presentation (40%); written presentation (50%); attendance (10%). Competencies for each assessment must be achieved. A pass mark must be achieved in each component to obtain an overall pass.