BHSc(Hons) Bioethics and Health Law

Overview

This programme is an introduction to Bioethics and Health Law at the postgraduate level. Students are trained to identify, interpret and resolve fundamental and topical ethical and legal issues in the health context.

The Honours programme in Bioethics and Health Law consists of two parts. Part 1 comprises the coursework component, which entails the successful completion of 4 taught courses. Part 2 comprises the research essay component, which consists of research methods and a written research essay of 8 000 words in length.

Part 1 constitutes 50% of the qualification and Part 2 the remaining 50%.

Successful completion of the coursework and research essay will lead to the degree (qualification) of Bachelor of Health Sciences Honours (BHSc Hons) in the field of Bioethics and Health Law.

2023 UNIT DATES (dates are subject to change)

Introduction to Bioethics: (Mon 06 - Fri 10 February)
Practical and Applied Health Ethics: (Mon 13 – Fri 17 March )
Introduction to Health Law: (Mon 17 – Fri 21 April)
Ethics in Research: (Mon 22- Fri 26 May)
Research Methods: (Mon 26 – Tue 27 June)

Career Opportunities

Completion of the Honours in Bioethics and Health programme will strengthen application to:

Masters in Bioethics and Health Law programmes
LLM programmes
Graduate Entry Medical Programme (GEMP)
Bioethics researcher
Academic/ University lecturer
Ethics and compliance officer
Bioethics consultant
Research ethics advisor
Research ethics officer
Administrator for Research Ethics Committee
Clinical ethicist

Curriculum

DESCRIPTION OF COURSEWORK

The coursework component is designed as an introductory module in Bioethics and Health Law and aims to enable the achievement of outcomes related to the acquisition of the necessary knowledge, attitudes, and academic skills development of students as bioethicists generally.

The coursework component consists of five courses:

Introduction to Bioethics
Introduction to Health Law
Practical and Applied Health Ethics
Ethics in Research
Research Methods

Class attendance is compulsory.

After the teaching blocks have been completed, students are expected to produce written work in the form of short answer question (SAQ) exams and/or essays of 3 500 words for each course.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE COURSES

Introduction to Bioethics

The Introduction to Bioethics block is designed to enable students to analyse and evaluate issues in bioethics within the context of a solid ethical framework. Major theoretical, non-theoretical, and other ways of viewing the world will be taught. The course intends to provide a foundational understanding of the relationship between concepts, logic & argumentation, and fallacies of reasoning that may then be applied across all other units as well as in daily life.

Introduction to Health Law

The Introduction to Health Law block covers sources of South African Law, the Constitution, statutory and common law in the context of health. Criminal, civil and family law and their interaction with health will be explored. The National Health Act will be discussed as well as the amendments to the Medicines Control Act. International law in relation to health is included in this unit. Specific issues such as medical malpractice, tort laws, legal aspects of relevant health law, and topics such as informed consent, confidentiality, and privacy will be addressed. This unit aims to provide a solid legal grounding for decision-making in the area of health law.

Practical and Applied Health Ethics

The Practical and Applied Health Ethics block addresses a number of important issues in bioethics and health law critically and in-depth. Four to five important issues will be focused on each year relating to ethical and medico-legal issues in clinical contexts, reproductive health, policy and public health, resource allocation, genetics, health, and human rights, environmental bioethics, and others. Students will learn how to apply the ethical theories, ethical and legal principles, and their critical and analytical skills learnt in the foundations' units to specific ethical and medico-legal questions.

Ethics in Research

The Ethics in Research block explains in depth a number of topical ethical issues in research ethics, including what constitutes unethical research, standards of care in a study, authorship guidelines, and plagiarism. The role and modus operandi of Research Ethics Committees are outlined. Finally, clearly articulated standards of good clinical practice in research relevant to local realities and contexts are provided. These include obtaining valid informed consent considering specific subgroups, standards of care for trial participants, access to study medications following completion of a clinical trial, issues pertaining to incentives affecting researchers and participants, releasing and publishing research results, and the implementation of research findings.

Research Methods

This course will provide students with rigorous training in independently designing, implementing, and evaluating research of a normative nature. Students will be trained in every part of the research cycle (question formulation; literature review; use of secondary sources; primary and secondary argumentation; ethical and legal analysis), including the writing of a research essay. In terms of values and attitudes, the course aims to instill in students a commitment to ethical research. The course will prepare them to produce a research proposal suitable to their project, and ultimately a research essay.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE RESEARCH ESSAY

The Research Essay module is intended to assist students to implement the principles and methods of research in Bioethics and Health Law and to enable them to develop competence as independent researchers in Bioethics and Health Law, by training them in independently producing a research essay. It will cover research projects of an essentially normative and legal nature.

The course will prepare them to produce a 8000-word research essay, under the supervision of Centre staff.

Entry Requirements

For admission into this course, a minimum of at least 70% average in final year courses of your Bachelors degree or highest degree obtained. Graduates with health sciences, sciences, humanities, and/or law backgrounds are preferable.

Note: Meeting the minimum entry requirements for the programme does not guarantee students a place in this programme.

For both South African and foreign nationals PLEASE contact this office for application forms and fees)

2nd floor, Phillip V Tobias Building, 29 Princess of Wales Street Parktown, 2193 Johannesburg.
Tel: + 27 11 717 2076
Website: https://www.wits.ac.za/health/faculty-services/research-and-postgraduate-offices/postgraduate-studies/

University Application Process

Applications are handled centrally by the Student Enrolment Centre (SEnC). Once your application is complete in terms of requested documentation, your application will be referred to the relevant School for assessment. Click here to see an overview of the Wits applications process.
Please apply online. Upload your supporting documents at the time of application, or via the Self Service Portal.
Applicants can monitor the progress of their applications via the Self Service Portal.
Selections for programmes that have a limited intake but attract a large number of applications may only finalise the application at the end of the application cycle.

Please note that the Entry Requirements are a guide. Meeting these requirements does not guarantee a place. Final selection is made subject to the availability of places, academic results and other entry requirements where applicable.

International students, please check this section.

For more information, contact the Student Call Centre +27 (0)11 717 1888, or log a query at www.wits.ac.za/askwits.

University Fees and Funding

Click here to see the current average tuition fees. The Fees site also provides information about the payment of fees and closing dates for fees payments. Once you have applied you will be able to access the fees estimator on the student self-service portal.

For information about postgraduate funding opportunities, including the postgraduate merit award, click here. Please also check your School website for bursary opportunities. NRF bursaries: The National Research Foundation (NRF) offers a wide range of opportunities in terms of bursaries and fellowships to students pursuing postgraduate studies. External bursaries portal: The Bursaries South Africa website provides a comprehensive list of bursaries in South Africa.