Course Overview:

This course presents an overview of the legal issues, concepts, laws, and regulations facing the health care industry and higher education.  Students will explore these in the context of the daily professional practice of radiology administrators and educators.

Course Objectives:

Upon completion of this course, a student will be able to:

• Discuss legal issues, concepts, laws and regulations such as malpractice, standards of care, scopes of practice, tort and contract liability, accreditation, academic freedom and tenure.
• Perform basic legal research to find relevant laws and court decisions.
• Identify important areas of legal concern in clinical practice and education.
• Demonstrate the ability to read, understand, and synthesize existing research, laws, and legal precedents and apply them to current problems.

Expert Witness Case Study - 40%

For this assignment students will review a case as an expert witness. A case will be introduced and each student will review legal documents, answer questions, and formulate a report. This assignment will be in two parts. This assignment will be released on the course homepage (WebCT).

Due dates are listed in the chart at the end of the syllabus

Electronic Discussion - 15%

Due: Throughout the Semester

Each student must introduce at least one new workplace related legal topic for discussion during the semester.  At minimum, each student should log in to the discussion forum at least once each week.  While each student does not have to make comments on each topic, but at minimum each student must make comments on at least half (50%) of the topics presented for discussion.  Open discussion is encouraged.

 (To make this discussion format work smoothly, students should become familiar with techniques to follow existing electronic discussion threads and to open new discussion threads using the WebCT Discussion Tool.)

 "Take Issue" Presentation 30%

Each student will develop and lead a presentation on his / her “Take Issue” topic.  Each presentation will be at least fifteen (15) minutes and not more than twenty (20) minutes in length.  Presentations will occur during the second class weekend.

“Take Issue” topics must be related to legal issues affecting Education, Administration, or Clinical Practice (preferably in the student’s current Radiologic Sciences workplace and preferably linked to one of the textbook chapters).  Topics must be approved by the instructor (first come – first serve).  See the chart at the end of the syllabus for due dates. 

 The presentation will include the following areas:

• "Take Issue" Topic and Background: in this section introduce the topic and provide textbook reference (if applicable) as well as all background information necessary to understand the situation at hand.
• Legal and Regulatory Implications: in this section provide the legal/regulatory information regarding the topic such as laws related to the topic, punishment or fines for noncompliance, regulatory agencies involved (punishment or fines for noncompliance).
• Personnel Impact: in this section describe the effects of compliance or noncompliance on professionals, patients, students, public, etc that may be impacted by this issue.
• Financial Impact: in this section discuss the monitory costs of compliance or noncompliance as well as annual costs to the healthcare, system, legal system, or educational system as applicable.
• Solutions: in this section discuss the possible solutions to the issue and how each may be implemented. Include costs/benefit analysis of solutions and any legal or regulatory changes that may be needed.

Students should NOT read their assignment to the class.  Presentations should be informative AND interactive.  Students may use PowerPoint, but they are not required to use PowerPoint.  Students must incorporate a group activity to reinforce their topic.  Examples include:  role-playing, before class assignments, audiovisual technology, handouts, games, competitions, and discussion.  Students may provide classmates with preparatory reading materials before the class period if necessary. Students MUST upload their presentations to the discussion board as an attachment prior to their presentation in class.

Group Activities & Class Participation   15%

Each student is expected to prepare and to participate in class discussions and activities on each topic. The quality, relevancy, and consistency of each student's participation will be evaluated by the instructor according to the following factors:

• Verbal and nonverbal participation
• Awareness of group dynamics and supportive behavior towards others encouraging discussion and clarifying issues
• Evidence of familiarity with the issues involved in each topic scheduled for discussion
• Contribution of relevant observations from personal, professional, and/or academic experiences

Evaluation:

      Expert Witness case study                                      40%

      Electronic Discussion Board Participation           15%

      “Take Issue” Presentation                                        30%

      Group Activities & Class Participation                    15%

Grade Scale

                                                  A = 100 - 90

                                                  B = 89 - 80

                                                  C = 79 - 70

                                                  D = 69 - 60

                                                  F = 59 and below

Without exception, students MUST attend and participate in both graduate seminar weekends to receive credit for this course

Deadlines for submission of assignments are provided in this syllabus. Failure to comply with established deadlines may result in a grade reduction.

Note: You may not submit a paper for a grade in this class that already has been (or will be) submitted for a grade in another course, unless you obtain the explicit written permission of me and the other instructor involved in advance.

Plagiarism is the use of someone else's thoughts, words, ideas, or lines of argument in your own work without appropriate documentation (a parenthetical citation at the end and a listing in "Works Cited")-whether you use that material in a quote, paraphrase, or summary. It is a theft of intellectual property and will not be tolerated, whether intentional or not.

Student Honor Creed

As an MSU Student, I pledge not to lie, cheat, steal, or help anyone else do so."

As students at MSU, we recognize that any great society must be composed of empowered, responsible citizens. We also recognize universities play an important role in helping mold these responsible citizens. We believe students themselves play an important part in developing responsible citizenship by maintaining a community where integrity and honorable character are the norm, not the exception.

Thus, We, the Students of Midwestern State University, resolve to uphold the honor of the University by affirming our commitment to complete academic honesty. We resolve not only to be honest but also to hold our peers accountable for complete honesty in all university matters.

We consider it dishonest to ask for, give, or receive help in examinations or quizzes, to use any unauthorized material in examinations, or to present, as one's own, work or ideas which are not entirely one's own. We recognize that any instructor has the right to expect that all student work is honest, original work. We accept and acknowledge that responsibility for lying, cheating, stealing, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty fundamentally rests within each individual student.

We expect of ourselves academic integrity, personal professionalism, and ethical character. We appreciate steps taken by University officials to protect the honor of the University against any who would disgrace the MSU student body by violating the spirit of this creed.

Written and adopted by the 2002-2003 MSU Student Senate.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) is a federal anti-discrimination statute that provides comprehensive civil rights protection for persons with disabilities. Among other things, this legislation requires that all students with disabilities be guaranteed a learning environment that provides for reasonable accommodation of their disabilities. If you believe you have a disability requiring an accommodation, please contact the Disability Support Services in Room 168 of the Clark Student Center, (940) 397-4140.

The professor considers this classroom to be a place where you will be treated with respect as a human being - regardless of gender, race, ethnicity, national origin, religious affiliation, sexual orientation, political beliefs, age, or ability. Additionally, diversity of thought is appreciated and encouraged, provided you can agree to disagree. It is the professor's expectation that ALL students consider the classroom a safe environment.

All instructors in the Department have voicemail in their offices and MSUTexas e-mail addresses. Make sure you add your instructor's phone number and e-mail address to both email and cell phone lists of contacts.

All students seeking a Bachelor's degree from Midwestern State University must satisfy a writing proficiency requirement once they've 1) passed the 6 hours of Communication Core and 2) earned 60 hours. Students may meet this requirement in one of three ways: by passing the Writing Proficiency Exam, passing two Writing Intensive Courses (only one can be in the core), or passing English 2113. If you have any questions about the exam, visit the Writing Proficiency Office website at https://msutexas.edu/academics/wpr, or call 397-4131.

Senate Bill 11 passed by the 84th Texas Legislature allows licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus, effective August 1, 2016. Areas excluded from concealed carry are appropriately marked, in accordance with state law. For more information regarding campus carry, please refer to the University’s webpage at https://msutexas.edu/campus-carry/rules-policies.

If you have questions or concerns, please contact MSU Chief of Police at police@msutexas.edu.