Identifying Data 2021/22
Subject (*) Law and Biomedicine Code 612G01040
Study programme
Grao en Dereito
Descriptors Cycle Period Year Type Credits
First and Second Cycle 2nd four-month period
 Fourth Optional 4.5
Language
Spanish
English
Teaching method Face-to-face
Prerequisites
Department Dereito Privado
Coordinador
Seoane Rodriguez, Jose Antonio
 E-mail
jose.antonio.seoane@udc.es
Lecturers
Pereira Saez, Maria Carolina
Seoane Rodriguez, Jose Antonio
 E-mail
c.pereira.saez@udc.es
jose.antonio.seoane@udc.es
Web http://http://filosofiaderechocoruna.es/
General description Dereito e biomedicina examina as respostas xurídicas ás cuestións relativas á vida e a saúde, dous valores individuais e sociais moi aprezados
Mediante o estudo das fontes normativas e bibliográficas, a análise de casos, sesións maxistrais e seminarios, os estudantes coñecerán polo miúdo como protexe o Dereito a vida e a saúde e como responde ás novidades biomédicas e biotecnolóxicas, prestando especial atención á perspectiva dos dereitos humanos e ás resolucións dos Tribunais Constitucionais e mais ao Tribunal Europeo de Dereitos Humanos e o Tribunal de Xustiza da Unión Europea.
Contingency plan 1. Modificacións nos contidos:
Sen modificacións.

2. Metodoloxías
*Metodoloxías docentes que se manteñen
Mantéñense as metodoloxías docentes previstas, que serán desenvolvidas a través de Teams.

*Metodoloxías docentes que se modifican

3. Mecanismos de atención personalizada ao alumnado.
Teams: tutorías a solicitud dos estudantes no horario previsto.
Moodle: Empléase para pór a disposición dos estudantes materiais para axudar a preparar os temas expostos nas sesións maxistrais coa frecuencia necesaria a tal efecto. Emprégase tamén para a comunicación xeral cos estudantes a través do foro de novas.

4. Modificacións na avaliación:
Non se prevén cambios, agás no método de realización da proba (de presencial a a distancia).


*Observacións de avaliación:
A proba de resposta múltiple (examen tipo test) está prevista inicialmente como presencial. De non poder ser realizada presencialmente, será realizada a distancia, a través de Moodle.

5. Modificacións da bibliografía ou webgrafía:
Sen cambios.

Study programme competencies
Code Study programme competences
A2 Knowledge of the role of law as a regulatory system of social relations
A3 Grasping the systematic nature of the legal system
A4 Appreciating the interdisciplinary nature of legal problems
A5 Knowing the constitutional principles and values.
A8 Basic knowledge of legal argumentation.
A9 Ability to handle legal sources (legal, jurisprudential and doctrinal).
A10 Ability to interpret and critically assess the legal system.
A15 Ability to negotiate and mediate.
B2 Ability to know how to apply their knowledge to their work or vocation in a professional way and possess the skills that are usually demonstrated through the elaboration and defense of arguments and the resolution of problems within their area of study.
B3 Ability to gather and interpret relevant data (usually within their area of study) to make judgments that include a reflection on social, scientific or ethical relevant issues.
B5 Acquisition and assessment of those learning skills necessary to undertake further studies with a high degree of autonomy
B7 Effective problem solving.
B8 Critical, logical, and creative thinking.
B10 Teamwork and collaboration.
B11 Ethical and social responsibility.
C1 Adequate oral and written expression in the official languages.
C4 Exercising an open, educated, critical, committed, democratic and supportive citizenship for the sake of the common good.
C6 Critically assess the knowledge, technology and information available to solve the problems they face.
C7 Assume as a professional and citizen the importance of lifelong learning.
C8 Valuing the importance of research, innovation and technological development for the socioeconomic and cultural progress of society.

Learning aims
Learning outcomes Study programme competences
Achieve the abilities to identify and assess the legal dimensions of life and health issues A3
A4
A5
A8
A9
 B8
B11
B3
B5
 C1
C4
C6
C7
C8
Understand the meaning of the basic legal concepts, principles and norms regarding human life and health A2
A3
A4
A5
A8
A9
A10
A15
 B7
B8
B11
B2
B3
B5
 C1
C4
C6
C7
C8
Achieve the argumentative abilites to take parte in biomedical decision-making and to advise healthcare professionals A4
A5
A8
A9
A10
A15
 B7
B8
B10
B11
B2
B3
B5
 C1
C4
C6
C8

Contents
Topic Sub-topic
Section I. Health care and justice 1. Health care systems
2. The concept of health
3. The right to health and the right to health care
4. Health justice
Section II. Biomedical decision-making and patient autonomy 1. Clinical relationship and biomedical decision-making
2. Patient autonomies. Concept and limits
3. Decisional autonomy. Requirements. Settings. Informed consent. Advance directives. Substitute decision-making
4. Informational autonomy. Privacy and health data
5. Executive autonomy. Disability, dependence and autonomy
Section III. Beginning of life 1. The status of the human embryo
2. Abortion and termination of pregnancy
3. Medically assisted reproduction
4. Surrogate motherhood
5. Wrongful life, wrongful birth and wrongful conception
Section IV. End of life 1. End of life. Concepts and settings
2. Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide
3. The legal meaning of death. Is there a right to die?
4. Organ and tissues transplantation
Section V. Biomedical research 1. Research with human subjects, biological samples and personal data
2. Animal experimentation
3. Research with biological agents and genetically modified organisms (GMO)

Planning
Methodologies / tests Competencies Ordinary class hours Student’s personal work hours Total hours
Case study A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 A15 B8 B10 B11 B2 B3 B5 C1 C4 C6 6 12 18
Multiple-choice questions A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 B7 B8 B3 C1 1.5 6 7.5
Guest lecture / keynote speech A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 B8 C6 C8 12 24 36
Workshop A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 A15 B7 B8 B10 B11 B2 B3 B5 C1 C4 C6 C7 C8 4 12 16
Document analysis A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 B7 B8 B10 B3 B5 C1 C6 C8 10 20 30
 
Personalized attention 5 0 5
 
(*)The information in the planning table is for guidance only and does not take into account the heterogeneity of the students.

Methodologies
Methodologies Description
Case study The knowledge of life and health issues requires the analysis both of national and international statutes and case law. Students learn into depth classical and contemporary cases, specially the rulings of the Constitutional and Supreme Courts as well as the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice
Case study trains the students to identify the legal issues at stake, deliberate about them and find a solution using legal arguments
Case study includes other methodologies: analysis of bibliographical and normative sources, as well as research papers.
Multiple-choice questions Assessment of the knowledge and understanding of bibliographical and legal sources.
Guest lecture / keynote speech Lectures ease the understanding of the special features, language, and concepts of health law, following a human rights-based approach. Furthermore, lectures are intended to clarify the meaning of the bibliographical and normative sources and the main topics
Workshop Specific topics are studied thoroughly combining different methodologies (legal sources analysis, case study). It is expected the student takes part more actively and individually, implementing his/her knowledge and argumentative skills.
Some of the workshops are given by guest and visiting professors.
Document analysis The main legal answers to life and health issues come from international and national statutes and case law. Identifying, understanding and assessing these legal sources is an important feature to grasp the meaning of relations between biomedicine and law.

Personalized attention
Methodologies
Document analysis
Workshop
Description
Advise on selection and assessment of bibliographical and normative sources.
Advise on selection of workshop issues and on deliberation on document analysis and clinical and legal cases.

Students with part-time dedication and exemption from class attendance. Supervision through tutorials.

Assessment
Methodologies Competencies Description Qualification
Document analysis A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 B7 B8 B10 B3 B5 C1 C6 C8 Assessment of the ability to select, understand and communicate the meaning and main features of the bibliographical and, spaecilly, normative sources, both in a written and oral form.
 40
Multiple-choice questions A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 B7 B8 B3 C1 Assessment of the knowledge and understanding of bibliographical and legal sources.
The test consists of several short questions to be responded orally. 		40
Workshop A3 A4 A5 A8 A9 A10 A15 B7 B8 B10 B11 B2 B3 B5 C1 C4 C6 C7 C8 Assessment of the ability to select, understand, analyse and communicate the different issues dealt with using the bibliographical and normative (legislation and case-law) sources.
Assessment of the argumentative abilites, mainly the oral ones, as well as participation in deliberations. 		20
 
Assessment comments

1. Assessment of the second opportunity

The student will keep the grade obtained in the workshops and document analysis if it is equal or higher than a passing grade in that part (3 or more). In case of a failing grade in that part (less than 3), he/she will be able to use the modality for students with acknowledged part-time dedication and exemption from class attendance.

2. Plagiarism or academic fraud

Student fraudulent behavior in the assessment activities, and particularly plagiarism (in the workshops and document analysis), will result in a grade of "0 (Failing grade)" in the corresponding opportunity.

3. Assessment criteria for students with acknowledged part-time dedication and exemption from class attendance. 

The multiple-choice questions (40%) will have the same conditions as for the rest of the students.

The assessment of the workshops and the document analysis will consist of the delivery of written comments on the normative or bibliographic sources and a brief oral comment before the professor before the date of the exam (multiple-choice questions).

Sources of information
Basic Andrés Ollero (2006). Bioderecho: entre la vida y la muerte. Cizur Menor (Navarra): Thomson-Aranzadi
Roberto Andorno (2012). Bioética y dignidad de la persona. Madrid: Alianza
Javier Sánchez-Caro, Fernando Abellán (2003). Derechos y deberes de los pacientes (Ley 41/2002, de 14 de noviembre). Granada: Comares
Carlos María Romeo Casabona (dir.) (2011). Enciclopedia de Bioderecho y Bioética. Granada: Comares; Deusto: Cátedra Interuniversitaria Fundación BBVA-Diputación Foral de Bizkaia de D
Jonathan Herring (2010). Medical law and ethics. Oxford: OUP
Andelka M Phillips et al. (ed.) (2019). Philosophical Foundations of Medical Law. Oxford: OUP
Roberto Andorno (2013). Principles of international biolaw. Bruxelles: Bruylant

Complementary


Recommendations
Subjects that it is recommended to have taken before

Subjects that are recommended to be taken simultaneously
Legal Reasoning Theory and Practice/612G01041

Subjects that continue the syllabus

Other comments


(*)The teaching guide is the document in which the URV publishes the information about all its courses. It is a public document and cannot be modified. Only in exceptional cases can it be revised by the competent agent or duly revised so that it is in line with current legislation.