This module is not currently running in 2024 to 2025.
This module will examine the scope and nature of a 'right to health' and how it has been put into effect. It will also study the manner in which law and other forms of regulation facilitate or impedes the achievement of health objectives in areas such as access to essential medicines, control of infectious diseases, cross-border medical research and treatment, reduction of tobacco usage, promotion of breastfeeding and so on. It will also explore the issues raised by 'health tourism', including for access to treatment which would be illegal or unavailable in the home country, e.g. for surrogacy, abortion and assisted reproductive technologies.
Contact Hours: 18
Private Study Hours: 182
Total Study Hours: 200
LLM in (Specialisation); PG Diploma in (Specialisation); PG Certificate in Law
Note that this version of Global Health Law, Governance and Ethics with module code LAWS9431 (LW9431) is taught intensively over 1 week. The version of this module taught over 12 weeks is listed under code LAWS9431 (LW9431).
Main assessment methods
Essay (5,000 words) – 100%
Reassessment methods
100% coursework
• M Freeman, Sarah Hawkes, and Belinda Bennett (eds) Law and Global Health: Current Legal Issues (2014)
• I Glenn Cohen, Patients with Passports: Medical Tourism, Law, and Ethics (OUP, 2015).
• L Gostin, Global Health Law (Harvard UP 2014).
• J Harrington and M Stuttaford (eds), Global Health and Human Rights: Legal and Philosophical Perspectives (London, Routledge 2010).
See the library reading list for this module (Canterbury)
The intended subject specific learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1. Demonstrate a systematic knowledge of the sources of law and governance in GLHGE and a critical awareness of the social, political and historical context within which they have developed.
2. Demonstrate a systematic understanding of a range of issues in GHLGE that are currently the subject of debate at national and international level.
3. Critically identify legal and ethical issues in global healthcare practices.
4. Critically engage with broader academic debates regarding global health law and ethics.
The intended generic learning outcomes.
On successfully completing the module, students will be able to:
1. Critically evaluate the application and practice of law within different contexts and from different perspectives.
2. Identify relevant issues from complex factual situations.
3. Undertake independent and original research.
4. Formulate reasoned, critical arguments – demonstrating originality in the application of knowledge.
5. Analyse complex problems from a range of different theoretical perspectives and disciplinary approaches.
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