The Law and Medicine Seminar for the spring 2010 semester is a two credit hour advanced writing course.

First preference for the Seminar will be given to students who previously have not completed the writing requirement.

The Seminar will focus on Medical Liability.

The public regulation of health care, the financing and structure of the health care system, and bioethics issues are not the focus of this seminar. For these subjects, check the broader Health Law class, taught by Prof. Whittaker.

The seminar will focus on Medical Liability issues, but will not be limited to Medical Malpractice, although the procedural history of a medical malpractice action in Tennessee will be covered.

Paper topics may include medical liability in tort (medical malpractice, battery, informed consent, fraud) of medical doctors, nurses, and hospitals, both public and private. On the civil side, topics may include   antitrust issues; contract, confidentiality, and privacy issues; wrongful life, wrongful pregnancy, and abortions; medical liability for participation in end of life decisions; conversion cases, e.g. mishandling of stem cells and embryos, and the selling bodies and body parts. Other topics may include civil or criminal liability for overprescribing drugs, sex with patients with and without consent, and Medicare and Medicaid fraud.  Papers may be written about the products liability actions against pharmacists, prescribing doctors, and manufacturers of drugs, medical devices, and other medical products. The liability of medical insurers and HMOs when they deny authorization of medical treatment may also be considered.