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• Torts II
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• Health Care Law
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TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

Medical Malpractice (roughly ½ of the classes)
Duty to Treat Without Regard to Ability to Pay, Race or Disability
Withholding of Life-Sustaining Treatment and Assisted Suicide
Reproductive Technology & Genetics (selected topics)
(if time permits) Insurance Coverage Disputes

TEXTBOOK:

1. Hall, et al, HEALTH CARE LAW AND ETHICS (6th ed. 2003).
2. Be sure to check the author's website for updates to each chapter as we begin it: http://www.health-law.org/ .

GRADES: Grades will be based on a series of four 50-minute examinations that will be given every third Friday (except the week before spring break; see below) at the regular class time plus a 1-hour final examination. Grades will be calculated by combining your top 3 scores on the 50 minute in-class exams and your score on the final. Each will be worth 25% of your final grade. I also reserve discretion to add up to 2 points to an individual’s score to reflect her or his substantial contribution to class discussion. The exam schedule is as follows:

Fri. Feb. 6
Fri. Feb. 27 (cumulative)
Wed. March 17 (covering Feb 9 to March 19)
Fri. April 16 (covering Feb. 27 to April 16)
Fri. May 14, 8:30 Final exam (cumulative; 1 hour)

SNOW POLICY: This class is canceled whenever the Columbia public schools are closed on account of inclement weather (but not if they are closed simply because of the cold temperature).

DISABILITIES: If you have a disability and need accommodations, please notify Associate Dean Rod Uphoff; the Access Office, A048 Brady Commons, 882-4696; or me.

ATTENDANCE: A total of 12 absences are permitted without penalty (both excused and unexcused). The next three absences will reduce your grade by three points for each absence. Any student who misses 16 classes will be dropped from the course.

READING ASSIGNMENTS: The first half of the course will proceed as follows:

#    Date         Pages

1.     Jan. 16     7-18, 29-38, 54-60
2.     Jan. 21     163-76, 180-85 (check website)
3.     Jan. 23     185-204
4.     Jan. 26     204-229
5.     Jan. 28     same
6.     Jan. 30     255-80 (check website)
7.     Feb. 2      280-96
8.     Feb. 4      296-311
9.     Feb. 6      Exam
10.   Feb. 9      311-28 and handout
11.   Feb. 11    328-43 and handout problems
12.   Feb. 13    343-59
13.   Feb. 16    372-93
14.   Feb. 18    393-401, 410 n.3-418
15.   Feb. 20    418-42
16.   Feb. 23    442-46, 452 notes 1-4
17.   Feb. 25    446-59
18.   Feb. 27    Exam
19.   Mar 1       460-67
20.   Mar 3       same
21.   Mar 5       467-87 (malpractice reform)
22.   Mar 8       handout on Missouri legislation

Mon. April 12 Reproductive Issues: 708-23

Wed. April 14 746-62

Fri. April 16 Last Quiz (Remember to be ready for Mary O’Connor)

Mon. April 19 Reproductive Cloning (handout)

Wed. April 21 Stem Cells and Therapeutic Cloning (handout)

Fri. April 23 Hold

Mon. April 26 Insurance Coverage: 903-09, 944-55

Wed. April 28 955-75

Thur. April 30 975-93 [Last class]

Mon. May 10, 3:30 Lecture on Stem Cells by Dr. Paul Berg, Jesse Wrench Auditorium, Memorial Union.

Fri. May 14, 8:30 Final exam (cumulative; 1 hour).

Remaining Exams:

Wednesday, March 17
Friday, April 16
Fri. May 14, 8:30 Final exam (cumulative; 1 hour)

Is malpractice driving doctors out of obstetrics? Is it too easy to prove medical negligence? To allege it?

Should Florida's Gov. Bush leave Terri Shiavo's treatment decision to her husband?

Should the use of embryonic stem cells be banned or encouraged? Cloning?

TEXTBOOK: Hall, et al, HEALTH CARE LAW AND ETHICS (6th ed. 2003)

INITIAL ASSIGNMENT: Jan. 16: pages 7-18, 29-38, 54-60

 

Office Address: 314 Hulston Hall - Office Phone: (573) 882-8274 - E-Mail: PetersP@missouri.edu