Browse through our Journals...

A Unique MSc in Medicolegal Practice Programme at the University of Chester

Introduction

This is a unique and innovative programme that aims to inform and equip the individual with the necessary knowledge and skills to practise as an expert witness.

Health professionals from medicine, dentistry, nursing, occupational therapy are often asked for expert opinion by the Court and this programme has been specially designed by medicolegal experts in our Faculty of Health and Social Care and our Law School to enable senior health professionals to develop their knowledge and skills as a medicolegal expert.

Programme Structure

Postgraduate Certificate (60 Credits)
NM7130	Introduction to Medicolegal Practice (Core)
LA7010	Philosophy, Ethics and Medicolegal Practice (Core)
NM7131	Medicolegal Skills (Core)
Postgraduate Diploma (120 Credits)
NM7134	Advanced Medicolegal Skills (Core)
Options	(must complete two modules from below)
LA7011	Comparative Study of Medicolegal Issues across International Jurisdictions
NM7132	Medicolegal Practice and Criminal Proceedings
NM7133	Family Law and Opinion for the Courts
NM7084	Independent Study
MSc in Medicolegal Practice (180 Credits)
NM7135	Medicolegal Practice: Dissertation and Research Methodology

Duration of Study

PG Cert Part time: 1 year

PG Dip Part-time: 2 years

MSc Part-time: 3 - 6 years

Costs

Cost for academic year 2013/14 - £735 per 20 credit module. This is far more cost effective than existing non-University courses.

Campus

The programme will normally be delivered on the University of Chester campuses.

Teaching, learning and assessment

The programme will embrace an exciting range of approaches to teaching and learning including residential blocks where lectures, case studies, interactive seminars and court-writing and court room skill workshops consolidated by online resources such as podcasts, videos and interactive case studies accessed in the student’s own time. Critical reflection will be encouraged and assessment will be by essays, presentations and exams.

Entry requirements

A suitable undergraduate degree (this can be in a range of subjects depending upon the individual’s professional background and may include a standard medical, LLB, nursing or social work degree) normally at a minimum of a 2:1, or MB, ChB.
Professional qualifications and/or experience in medicolegal practice.
Evidence of personal and professional development.

Students will be accepted onto the programme only following an interview, either in person or via telephone or electronic means.

Programme Aims

Develop comprehension and analysis of the structure of the courts in England and Wales, and how the legal system interacts with healthcare.
Identify and critically analyse awareness of medicolegal practice across international jurisdictions.
Develop and demonstrate comprehension of the skills and knowledge required for working with different groups in society in a medicolegal context.
Demonstrate knowledge, comprehension and analysis of key statutes such as the Equality Act 2010, the Mental Health Act 2007 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005.
Identify, analyse and evaluate key precedents in clinical negligence (such as Bolam and Bolitho).
Demonstrate a critical understanding, application and evaluation of civil law and personal injury claims.
Demonstrate comprehension and application of specific skills that enable students to practise giving court factual and expert witness testimony verbally and in written form.
Identify, analyse and evaluate professional attitudes, values and principles through the exploration of the ethics and philosophy of medicolegal practice.
Identify and critically analyse the tacit processes of clinical reasoning and professional judgement in medicine. Demonstrate knowledge and critically evaluate the role of multi-professional collaboration in the context of medicolegal practice.
Provide an interactive and innovative curriculum that fosters enterprise and supports a quality postgraduate educational experience relevant to the students' practice roles and context.
Critically evaluate the interface between theory, research and professional practice through fostering critical analysis and reflection.
Contribute to the development of the growing body of applied knowledge and evidence-based practice in the medicolegal field.

For further information on the programme please contact:

Professor Ben Green, FRCPsych, FHEA, MB, ChB,

Programme Leader

Professor of Postgraduate Medical Education and Psychiatry,
Faculty of Health and Social Care,
University of Chester,
Riverside Campus,
Castle Drive,
Chester,
CH1 1SL.

Email: b.green@chester.ac.uk

For admission enquiries please contact:

Health and Social Care Admissions

Telephone: 01244 511000

Email: hscadmissions@chester.ac.uk

Web address:

http://www.chester.ac.uk/health-and-social-care/programmes

First Published June 2013

priory Useful links

Priory Bookshop

Make Enquiry

Readership