What are the main focuses on law in medical ethics?
The main areas of focus for medical law include confidentiality, negligence and other torts related to medical treatment (especially medical malpractice), and criminal law and ethics.
How does a medical lawyer work?
Juris Doctor (J.D.) Medical lawyers work on cases that deal with medical practitioner negligence, violations of patient confidentiality, or criminal activity involving patient abuse and misuse of prescription drugs.
What is medical law in South Africa?
The medical law in South Africa also protects your rights as a patient when you are admitted to hospital. Mistakes are not uncommon in hospitals. Examples include, but are not limited to: Surgical instruments left in the patient after surgery.
Who makes healthcare decisions in South Africa?
Patients, instead of doctors, are now the ultimate decision-makers with regards to their own bodies and health. Self-determination trumps the concept of the doctor, as an expert, knowing what’s best for the particular patient and making medical decisions on behalf of the patient [30].
What does medical law consist of?
Overview. Medical law and ethics considers the rights of patients and responsibilities of doctors with reference to complex moral debate: being legal does not necessarily make a decision or action ethical.
What do you need to be a medical lawyer in South Africa?
What do you need to study to become a medical lawyer in South Africa? The standard requirement before one can practice as a lawyer is completing an LLB degree which takes 4 years. Alternatively, some students choose to first study a BCom or BA which takes 3 years and then study another 2 years to complete their LLB.
How long does it take to become a medical lawyer in South Africa?
As stipulated in the country’s Attorneys Act of 1979, you must complete a four-year bachelor’s program to earn the required LLB degree. The degree must be earned at an accredited law school in South Africa.
What do you need to become a medical lawyer in South Africa?
Can a doctor treat his own family South Africa?
physicians generally should not treat themselves or members of their immediate families. Except for minor illnesses and emergencies, it is not advisable for you to treat members of your own family or issue prescriptions, sick certificates or reports for them.
Can a doctor refuse to treat a patient in South Africa?
Doctors may not refuse emergency treatment to patients. Doctors have a responsibility to assist in realising the right of access to health care, which may include issuing prescriptions ensuring access to the best available treatment.