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James Cook University Subject Handbook - 2023

For subject information from 2025 and onwards, please visit the new JCU Course and Subject Handbook website.

OT4003 - Health Law and Ethics for OT Professional Practice

Credit points:03
Year:2023
Student Contribution Band:Band 2
Prerequisites:Students must have completed all third year subjects
Administered by:College of Healthcare Sciences

Subject Description

    This subject will critically examine legislative and ethical aspects of health service delivery with a particular focus on occupational therapy and rural and remote practice. A variety of ethical issues will be analysed through the application of professional reasoning, ethical principles and theories and legal obligations. The interface between rights and responsibilities of service users, service providers and society as a whole will be explored in relation to their application to occupational therapy practice. Attention will be paid to the ethical requirements embedded within culturally-safe health care practice in rural and remote settings. Students participating in this subject will develop the advanced knowledge and skills in critical thinking, ethical reasoning and reflective practice needed to negotiate complex practice situations in health care.

Learning Outcomes

  • demonstrate effective, cohesive and persuasive written and oral communication
  • demonstrate reflective insight into legal and ethical decision making for professional service delivery in a multicultural society whether urban or rural and remote
  • deconstruct ethical issues through the application of ethical principles, theories and professional guidelines to inform professional reasoning and health service delivery
  • critically evaluate and apply relevant government legislation affecting all areas of health professional practice
  • integrate conceptual thinking, reflective practice and critical reflexivity in order to constructively evaluate contemporary and emerging health care practice

Subject Assessment

  • Participation > Class participation - Individual
  • Written > Dilemma 1 - (40%) - Individual
  • Oral > Guided discussion - (20%) - Group
  • Oral > Viva - (40%) - Individual

Note that minor variations might occur due to the continuous subject quality improvement process, and in case of minor variation(s) in assessment details, the Subject Outline represents the latest official information.

Special Assessment Requirements

Passing requirements: complete and submit all assessment items; achieve a cumulative score of at least 50% after the application of any penalties such as late penalties; achieve at least 50% for the viva exam and the ethical review of a case study, combined; participate in at least 80% of scheduled tutorials.

Inadmissible Subject Combinations:  PS4003

Availabilities

Townsville Bebegu Yumba, Study Period 2, Intensive, (Face to Face dates exist for this availability)

Census date:Thursday, 24 Aug 2023
Study Period Dates:Monday, 24 Jul 2023 to Friday, 17 Nov 2023
Face to face teaching: (on campus)
Coordinator(s):
DR Daniel Lowrie
Lecturer(s):
DR Daniel Lowrie
Workload expectations:The student workload for this 3 credit point subject is approximately 130 hours.
  • 14 Hours - Lectures
  • 31 Hours - Tutorials
  • 3 Hours - Online activity