Course Catalogue

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The response of the law to developments in human genetics is an interesting area of Healthcare law. This course considers key issues and controversies raised by the use of genetic information and technologies, and the response of the law to them. 

Weekly seminars, on campus. 10 x 2 hour seminars in total.

This course is only available to LLB students.

None

None

- 2000 word essay (40%)

- 1.5 hour exam (60%) - students will be required to answer 2 questions out of a choice of 4.

Reassessments are normally available for all courses, except those which contribute to the Honours classification. Where, exceptionally, reassessment on Honours courses is required to satisfy professional/accreditation requirements, only the overall course grade achieved at the first attempt will contribute to the Honours classification. For non-Honours courses, students are offered reassessment in all or any of the components of assessment if the satisfactory (threshold) grade for the overall course is not achieved at the first attempt. This is normally grade D3 for undergraduate students and grade C3 for postgraduate students. Exceptionally it may not be possible to offer reassessment of some coursework items, in which case the mark achieved at the first attempt will be counted towards the final course grade. Any such exceptions for this course are described below. 

The principal aim of this course is to explore some of the legal, ethical and policy issues raised by developments in human genetics. Further aims are to develop students' analytical and critical skills by detailed examination of the law as it relates to key areas of controversy that arise in relation to the use of genetic information and technologies; to develop students' ability constructively to criticise current law and practice and to suggest and evaluate possible reforms; and to foster critical understanding and evaluation of certain areas of controversy in relation to genetics and the law. 

By the end of this course students will be able to:

- identify and demonstrate understanding of the current law in the UK and other jurisdictions, where relevant,

  as it relates to the subject matter of this course

- evaluate and constructively criticise the current law in this area

- propose, evaluate and constructively criticise possible reforms of the law

-understand and critically evaluate areas of controversy within the subject matter

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.