Syllabus
Graduate Programs in Public Health
GPH 704 Public Health Law & Ethics – Fall B 2017
Credits - 3
Description
This is an introductory course in public health law and ethics. While a goal of government is to protect and support the health of the public, implementation of health policies may infringe on the right and liberties of individuals, including businesses. This conflict is sometimes characterized as “private interest versus public good.” This course explores the inherent tension between promoting the public health and protecting the legal and ethical rights and interests of individuals. The course will focus on the legal foundations of the American public health system and resulting ethical dilemmas that must be reconciled when the interests of the larger community may be at odds with those of individuals.
We will examine key elements of the U.S. legal system that govern and influence public health, including the US Constitution, federal and state laws, administrative law and judicial decisions. Students will use the case study method approach to scrutinize ethical and legal issues in public health practice, administration and research, as well as analyze functions and interactions between courts, legislators and regulators. Class activities and assignments will provide students with opportunities to read and discuss case law, statutes and regulations, and to apply various analytical models for probing relevant legal and ethical principles in public health.
Materials
Learning Objectives and Outcomes
Program Competencies:
- Discuss multiple dimensions of the policy-making process, including the roles of ethics and evidence
- Propose strategies to identify stakeholders and build coalitions and partnerships for influencing public health outcomes
- Advocate for political, social or economic policies and programs that will improve health in diverse populations
- Evaluate policies for their impact on public health and health equity
- Select communication strategies for different audiences and sectors
- Communicate audience-appropriate public health content, both in writing and through oral presentation
- Perform effectively on interprofessional teams
Course Outcomes:
At the end of this course, students will achieve the following course learning objectives:
- Discuss individual rights vs. public interest.
- Recommend support, opposition or modification current health policy.
- Recognize the distinctions between constitutional law, statutory law, case law, and regulations, as well as the role of both ethics and evidence in health law.
- Evaluate important health laws, particularly case law, and assess their impact on public health.
- Effectively communicate, correspond and advocate to other professionals on issues concerning public health law and ethics.
- Describe the impact of legal changes on various individuals and communities and explain how it will improve or worsen health outcomes.
- Interpret crucial messages from public health cases.
- Collaborate with other students on health policy analysis.
Assignments
|
Discussions (9 discussions at 4 points each)
*See Discussion Guidelines, available in each Weekly Module in Blackboard for information on posts. |
36 |
|
Major Assignments
**See Blackboard weekly modules for assignment specific instructions. |
64 |
|
TOTAL |
100 |
Grading Policy
Your grade in this course will be determined by the following criteria:
Grade Breakdown
| Assignment | Points |
|---|---|
| 9 Discussions at 4 points each (8 Weekly discussion and Introduction Discussion) | 36 points |
| Weekly Emails (7 assignments at 6 points each) | 42 points |
| Final Assignment | 22 points |
| Total | 100 points |
Grade Scale
| Grade | Points Grade | Point Average (GPA) |
| A | 94 – 100% | 4.00 |
| A- | 90 – 93% | 3.75 |
| B+ | 87 – 89% | 3.50 |
| B | 84 – 86% | 3.00 |
| B- | 80 – 83% | 2.75 |
| C+ | 77 – 79% | 2.50 |
| C | 74 – 76% | 2.00 |
| C- | 70 – 73% | 1.75 |
| D | 64 – 69% | 1.00 |
| F | 00 – 63% | 0.00 |
Schedule
Schedule
| Week One: | 10/25 – 11/1 |
| Week Two: | 11/1 – 11/8 |
| Week Three: | 11/8 – 11/15 |
| Week Four: | 11/15 – 11/22 |
| Week Five: | 11/22 – 11/29 |
| Week Six: | 11/29 – 12/6 |
| Week Seven: | 12/6 – 12/13 |
| Week Eight: | 12/13 – 12/17 |
Weekly Schedule
Weekly Schedule
*See Weekly Overview and Readings, available in Blackboard, for lectures and specific readings each week.
________________________________________________________________________
Week 1: Introduction To Public Health Law & Ethics
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop strategies for understanding complex ethical issues.
- Describe the balance of individual rights versus public interest.
- Identify parts of a judicial decision.
Lectures
- Course Introduction
- Week 1 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 1 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 1 Discussion: Introduce Yourself
- Week 1 Email: Vaccination
________________________________________________________________________
Week 2: Health Decisions for Adults & Minor
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze legal concepts in statutory and case law.
- Develop strategies for reading and interpreting statutory and case law.
- Analyze ethical scenarios.
Lectures
- Week 2 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 2 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 2 Email: Permissions for Care of a Minor
________________________________________________________________________
Week 3: Individual Health Rights
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify the variations of law that affect public health.
- Correspond with professionals regarding ethical situations.
- Analyze public health law in terms of individual rights and public interest.
Lectures
- Week 3 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 3 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 3 Email: Outdoor Smoking Scenario
________________________________________________________________________
Week 4: Advanced Health Planning
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Examine ethical issues and evidence in health law situations.
- Provide guidance without giving legal advice.
- Provide guidance to a variety of health professionals in dealing with difficult ethical/legal circumstances.
Lectures
- Week 4 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 4 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 4 Email: Healthcare Directives
________________________________________________________________________
Week 5: Accommodations
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify key public health laws and cases.
- Analyze the potential impacts of health law changes on society or a community.
- Analyze legal and ethical issues collaboratively.
Lectures
- Week 5 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 5 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 5 Email: Communication Complications
________________________________________________________________________
Week 6: Malpractice I
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Analyze the arguments in case law.
- Synthesize rules from a judicial decision.
- Identify how health laws could be improved.
- Analyze arguments that support or oppose health laws.
- Develop arguments that would support or oppose modifications or amendments to health laws.
Lectures
- Week 6 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 6 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 6 Email: Medical Malpractice
________________________________________________________________________
Week 7: Malpractice II
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Develop arguments that support or oppose specific laws.
- Identify specific legal changes resulting from case law.
- Analyze potential impacts of health law changes.
Lectures
- Week 7 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 7 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 7 Final Assignment
________________________________________________________________________
Week 8: Confidentiality
*See modules in Blackboard for weekly readings.
Learning Outcomes
- Provide guidance without giving legal advice.
- Analyze ethical scenarios.
- Develop strategies for reading and interpreting statutory and case law.
Lectures
- Week 8 Lecture
Assignments
- Week 8 Discussion Post and Response
- Week 8 Email: Questionable Wound
________________________________________________________________________
Student Resources
Online Student Support
Your Student Support Specialist is a resource for you. Please don't hesitate to contact them for assistance, including, but not limited to course planning, current problems or issues in a course, technology concerns, or personal emergencies.
Questions? Visit the Student Support Public Health page
UNE Libraries:
- Library Access for all students: Your library login ID and password are the same as the ones you use to log into Blackboard/Brightspace.
- Public Health Databases: https://library.une.edu/library-materials/find/research-by-subject/public-health/
- Library Tutorial: Find an article
- Library Questions: Ask a librarian or phone library staff at (207) 602-2361 or (207) 221-4330.
UNE Student Academic Success Center
UNE's Student Academic Success Center (SASC) offers a range of free online services to support your academic achievement. Writing support, ESOL support, study strategy and learning style consultations, as well as downloadable resources, are available to all matriculating students. The SASC also offers tutoring for GPH 712 Epidemiology, GPH 716 Biostatistics, GPH 717 Applied Epidemiology, GPH 718 Biostatistics II, and GPH 719 Research Methods. To make an appointment for any of these services, go to une.tutortrac.com. For more information and to view and download writing and studying resources, please visit:
Information Technology Services (ITS)
- ITS Contact: Toll Free Help Desk 24 hours/7 days per week at 1-877-518-4673
Accommodations
Any student who would like to request, or ask any questions regarding, academic adjustments or accommodations must contact the Student Access Center at (207) 221-4438 or pcstudentaccess@une.edu. Student Access Center staff will evaluate the student's documentation and determine eligibility of accommodation(s) through the Student Access Center registration procedure.
Policies
AMA Writing Style Statement
The American Medical Association Manual (AMA) of Style, 11th edition is the required writing format for this course. Additional support for academic writing and AMA format is provided throughout the coursework as well as at the UNE Portal for Online Students.
Online resources: AMA Style Guide
Turnitin Originality Check and Plagiarism Detection Tool
The College of Professional Studies uses Turnitin to help deter plagiarism and to foster the proper attribution of sources. Turnitin provides comparative reports for submitted assignments that reflect similarities in other written works. This can include, but is not limited to, previously submitted assignments, internet articles, research journals, and academic databases.
Make sure to cite your sources appropriately as well as use your own words in synthesizing information from published literature. Webinars and workshops, included early in your coursework, will help guide best practices in APA citation and academic writing.
You can learn more about Turnitin in the Turnitin Student quick start guide.
Technology Requirements
Please review the technical requirements for UNE Online Graduate Programs: Technical Requirements
Course Evaluation Policy
Course surveys are one of the most important tools that University of New England uses for evaluating the quality of your education, and for providing meaningful feedback to instructors on their teaching. In order to assure that the feedback is both comprehensive and precise, we need to receive it from each student for each course. Evaluation access is distributed via UNE email at the beginning of the last week of the course.
Late Policy
Students are responsible for submitting work by the date indicated in Brightspace.
Quizzes and Tests: Quizzes and tests must be completed by the due date. They will not be accepted after the due date.
Assignments: Unless otherwise specified, assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit https://www.une.edu/studentlife/plagiarism.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.
Attendance Policy
Online students are required to submit a graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET of the first week of the term. If a student does not submit a posting to the graded assignment/discussion prior to Sunday evening at 11:59 pm ET, the student will be automatically dropped from the course for non-participation. Review the full attendance policy.
Late Policy
Assignments: Late assignments will be accepted up to 3 days late; however, there is a 10% grade reduction (from the total points) for the late submission. After three days the assignment will not be accepted.
Discussion posts: If the initial post is submitted late, but still within the discussion board week, there will be a 10% grade reduction from the total discussion grade (e.g., a 3 point discussion will be reduced by 0.3 points). Any posts submitted after the end of the Discussion Board week will not be graded.
Please make every effort ahead of time to contact your instructor and your student support specialist if you are not able to meet an assignment deadline. Arrangements for extenuating circumstances may be considered by faculty.
Student Handbook Online - Policies and Procedures
The policies contained within this document apply to all students in the College of Graduate and Professional Studies. It is each student's responsibility to know the contents of this handbook.
UNE Course Withdrawal
Please contact your student support specialist if you are considering dropping or withdrawing from a course. The last day to drop for 100% tuition refund is the 2nd day of the course. Financial Aid charges may still apply. Students using Financial Aid should contact the Financial Aid Office prior to withdrawing from a course.
Academic Integrity
The University of New England values academic integrity in all aspects of the educational experience. Academic dishonesty in any form undermines this standard and devalues the original contributions of others. It is the responsibility of all members of the University community to actively uphold the integrity of the academy; failure to act, for any reason, is not acceptable. For information about plagiarism and academic misconduct, please visit UNE Plagiarism Policies.
Academic dishonesty includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Cheating, copying, or the offering or receiving of unauthorized assistance or information.
- Fabrication or falsification of data, results, or sources for papers or reports.
- Action which destroys or alters the work of another student.
- Multiple submissions of the same paper or report for assignments in more than one course without permission of each instructor.
- Plagiarism, the appropriation of records, research, materials, ideas, or the language of other persons or writers and the submission of them as one's own.
Charges of academic dishonesty will be reviewed by the Program Director. Penalties for students found responsible for violations may depend upon the seriousness and circumstances of the violation, the degree of premeditation involved, and/or the student’s previous record of violations. Appeal of a decision may be made to the Dean whose decision will be final. Student appeals will take place through the grievance process outlined in the student handbook.