MA 112 - Medical Law and Ethics

Case studies and video presentations are used to enhance course discussions and illustrate the relationship between ethics and morality as they relate to social responsibility, demonstrating appropriate responses to controversial bioethical issues and their effect on the contemporary healthcare environment, as well as the roles various healthcare professionals in an argumentative research paper at the end of the semester.

Course Outcomes
Upon completion of this course, the student will be able to:

1. demonstrate knowledge of human value development, the decision-making process, and the foundation of the U.S. legal system;
2. define medical and legal terms related to the practice of medical assisting and other allied health professions;
3. compare criminal law and civil law as they apply to the practicing medical assistant or other allied health professionals;
4. identify personal and professional ethics and the potential effects of personal morals on professional performance;
5. locate the legal Scope of Practice for Medical Assistants practicing in a New York State by examining the Utilization of Medical Assistants statement published by the NYS Office of Professions and differentiate between the Scope of Practice and Standard of Care for Medical Assistants;
6. understand the provider’s role in terms of Standard of Care;
7. identify licensure and certification as they apply to healthcare providers;
8. understand the compliance reporting process regarding public health statutes, including communicable diseases, wounds of violence, abuse, neglect, and exploitation;
9. complete an incident report related to an error in patient care;
10. identify the appropriate U.S. Department of Health and Human Services office accountable for reporting illegal activities following the protocols established for healthcare settings;
11. identify the standards outlined in the Patient Care Partnership;
12. identify the purpose of medical malpractice insurance;
13. identify Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA);
14. identify Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act;
15. identify Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008 (GINA);
16. identify legal and illegal interview questions;
17. identify the components of the Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA) regarding the privacy of Protected Health Information (PHI) and release of information;
18. understand the basic concepts of the theories founded by Maslow, Erikson, and Kübler-Ross;
19. understand Advance Directives in terms of the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1991;
20. describe the historical and contemporary societal factors that shape the development of individual and group identity involving race, class, and gender;
21. analyze the role that complex networks of social structures and systems play in the creation and perpetuation of the dynamics of power, privilege, oppression, and opportunity;
22. apply the principles of rights, access, equity, inclusion, and autonomous participation in past, current, and future social justice actions;
23. identify the role of a patient navigator;
24. use critical thinking skills to analyze and rationally evaluate moral claims to construct reasonable ethical positions regarding contemporary bioethical issues and defend them in writing using evidence-based arguments and critical reflection;
25. explain the relationship between ethics and morality as they relate to social responsibility and the applied ethics theories of utilitarianism, deontological (duty-based) ethics, and virtue-based ethics; and
26. demonstrate professional response(s) to controversial bioethical issues and their impact on the contemporary healthcare environment, and the roles of various healthcare professionals and patients.