From Durham U-UK: Learning the law: practical proposals for UK medical education

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23161613

J Med Ethics. 2012 Dec 21. [Epub ahead of print]

Learning the law: practical proposals for UK medical education.

Margetts JK.

Source

Centre for Medical Education Research, Durham University, Durham, UK.

Abstract

Ongoing serious breaches in medical professionalism can only be avoided if UK doctors rethink their approach to law. UK medical education has a role in creating a climate of change by re-examining how law is taught to medical students. Adopting a more insightful approach in the UK to the impact of The Human Rights Act and learning to manipulate legal concepts, such as conflict of interest, need to be taught to medical students now if UK doctors are to manage complex decision-making in the NHS of the future. The literature is reviewed from a unique personal perspective of a doctor and lawyer, and practical proposals for developing medical education in law in the UK are suggested.