Law and Ethics in the Health Sector

The course 'Law and Ethics in the Health Sector' aims primarily to provide students with an in-depth understanding of the main ethical and legal issues relating to the protection of health, with particular attention to the situation in Italy, in order to encourage the development of an independent capacity for analysis and critical evaluation of ethically sensitive regulatory frameworks pertaining to the health sector.
To this end, students will be provided with:

i) theoretical and legal concepts useful for understanding the legal norms in force, with particular attention to Italian and European legislation and case law relating to the right to health, self-determination and life;
ii) knowledge of existing legal frameworks governing the doctor-patient relationship, with particular regard to issues concerning the beginning and end of life;
iii) knowledge of the main moral theories and their bioethical implications;
iv) methods and tools for legal and ethical argumentation.

Knowledge and understanding of Italian and European legal norms and case law relating to the right to health.
Ability to apply knowledge and understanding of ethical and legal issues relating to health when analysing new technologies, new legislation and Italian and European case law.
Development of independent critical judgement on relevant ethical and legal issues, acquired through practical exercises analysing Italian, European and foreign court rulings, discussions and group work, as well as written researches on the bio-legal aspects of medical and biotechnological innovations.
Development of communication skills enabling students to apply the concepts and argumentative structures discussed in the course to new topics, developed primarily through classroom discussions and working groups.
Ability to pursue independent study throughout one's life, thanks to knowledge of and the ability to utilise the main arguments in the ethical and legal debate concerning the right to health.