Division of Medical Ethics and Law
Education
Undergraduate Education - Resources for students
SU Policy on Unfair Discrimination and Harassment: https://www.sun.ac.za/english/Documents/2017_Everlytic/Unfair_Discrimination_and_Harassment_ENG_2016.pdf
Statutes of relevance for Medical Students:
The Acts below may not be in your text book but you might come across them in the course of your professional life.
Note that you do not have to know these Acts for the exam. Just be aware that they exist and that you might use them when you are in practice. You will not be examined on these unless they are referred to in your text book or in the lectures.
Basic Conditions of Employment Act
This Act sets out the rules for workplace conditions e.g. maximum hours of work, rest breaks, employment of children, seasonal workers, annual leave etc.
Exceptions to this Act are allowed by sectoral determinations.
http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/legislation
Criminal Procedure Act
In terms of this Act you may be asked to withdraw blood or obtain a buccal swab on a person suspected of a crime. If the suspect refuses to co-operate, the police should produce a warrant in order for you to proceed.
https://www.gov.za/documents/acts
Domestic Violence Act
The purpose of this Act is to afford protection to victims of domestic violence. The victim should be informed of their right to see the clerk of the nearest court and to obtain a protection order.
http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1998-116.pdf
Labour Relations Act
This Act governs collective action in the workplace i.e. trade unions, strikes, lockouts and collective bargaining. It also sets out procedures for resolution of workplace disputes at the CCMA and Labour Court.
http://www.labour.gov.za/DOL/legislation
Maintenance Act
Patients may attend the nearest magistrates' court for a maintenance order for their children where the other parent is in default of payment. This Act also makes provision for subsidised paternity tests where paternity is in question and the complainant is indigent.
http://www.justice.gov.za/legislation/acts/1998-116.pdf
Sexual Offences Act
In terms of section 54 of this Act, anyone who suspects that a child has been abused is to report it to a social worker or the police. The Act excludes liability for reporting in good faith. The Children's Act (section 110) contains a similar section requiring reporting but is broader i.e. it refers to both abuse and neglect.
https://www.gov.za/documents/criminal-law-sexual-offences-and-related-matters-amendment-act-8-jul-2015-1357
https://www.gov.za/documents/childrens-act
Social Media
BMA guidelines for social media
Privacy professionalism and Facebook a dilemma for young doctors
Beyond Good and Evil Exploring Medical Trainee Use of Social Media
Dual Loyalty among Military Health Professionals Human Rights and Ethics in Times of Armed Conflict
Practicing Medicine in the Age of Facebook
Danger at the frontier,Social Media and Ethics
Are you social media savy
Whistle-blowing policy
Whistle-blowing Policy(WbP) - including Annexure A.pdf
Group Assignments articles:
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The Jehovah’s Witness & Blood Transfusions
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Human Reproduction- Termination of Pregnancy
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Paediatrics & Ethics
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Resource Allocation
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Health and Human Rights
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Ethics of genital mutilation
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End of Life Choices
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Human Reproduction- assisted reproduction
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Informed decision making
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Genetics and ethics
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Ethics pertaining to students
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Ethics pertaining to doctors
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Ethics & the pharmaceutical industry
- AI in Healthcare
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The Ethics of HIV/ AIDS
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Ethics & Human Biological Material: from cells to organs