LAW45715: Frontiers in Biolaw

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• To provide a critical introduction to the relationship between law and bioscience/healthcare.
• To provide a critical introduction to major contemporary issues in healthcare and the life sciences.
• To develop critical awareness of regulatory options in relation to contemporary issues in biolaw.
• To develop research skills and contextual awareness of how law might be most effectively used in bioscience and healthcare.

• This module explores the ability of the law to adequately respond to the ethical, social and policy challenges presented by contemporary biomedicine, bioscience and healthcare.
• Topics will change annually but will address a range of contemporary issues in bioscience and healthcare. Examples of the topics that could be covered include human cloning and mitochondrial replacement therapy, conscientious objection to medical activities, dignity and biolaw, medical devices, gene editing and health, surrogacy, genetic testing of the early human, access to medicines and patent law, free movement and access to medical services, and stem cell research.
• The topics will engage with domestic, international, comparative and European legal materials, as appropriate.

Subject-specific Knowledge:

• On completion of the module students should be able to demonstrate in-depth knowledge and understanding of issues of particular contemporary significance in the regulation of bioscience/healthcare.

Subject-specific Skills:

• Demonstrate a critical understanding of the relationship between bioscience/healthcare and regulation.
• Demonstrate an awareness and understanding of the significance of law in its wider social context.
• Critically analyse the law and literature relevant to recent developments and potential developments in the regulation or socio-scientific bioscience/healthcare.

Key Skills:

• Students should gain the ability to research, analyse and understand legal materials and the literature relevant to particular issues in biolaw.
• Undertake independent research.

• Each topic will begin with a lecture aimed at imparting information and guiding students through the material they will have to research and analyse. Through discussion-led lectures and seminars the students will be invited to draw on their existing legal knowledge and engage with domestic, international, comparative and European legal materials, as appropriate.
• The relevant learning outcomes will be achieved through:
• Monitoring the students understanding of the material and providing additional guidance where necessary;
• Enabling students to develop a critical view of the material covered through the formative essay and discussion-led lectures/seminars.

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