Legal & Regulatory Considerations

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 - 20%

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 referenced 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.

Legal topics are to comefrom assigned chapters in the text book. When posting the topic on the discussion board, reference the chapter used.

(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” Paper Outline

“Take Issue” Paper 30%

“Take Issue” topics must be related to legal issues affecting Education, Administration, or Clinical Practice (preferably in Radiologic Sciences and preferably linked to one of the textbook chapters).  Topics must be approved by the instructor (first come – first serve).  A list of topics already selected by class members will be posted on the course WebCT.  Part of the paper grade will be based on how well the paper follows the outline.  See chart at syllabus end for due dates (topic, outline, reference list, paper).   Students will present their topics to the class during the second class weekend. 

The paper should use the standard MSU Title Page and be written in APA format.  It should be approximately 5-10 pages in length, not counting the title, abstract, and any appendices.  The paper should:

• Be based on the student's "Take Issue" topic
• Be drawn from a variety of substantial (more than 3 pages in length each) scholarly journals or reputable popular press sources (at least three different sources)
  • Published within the last five years (2005-2010)
  • No more than 10% of the references should be to popular press sources (newspapers, Advance, RT Imaging, news releases, etc.)
• Be appropriately referenced and formatted using the CURRENT APA Style Manual
• Include appropriate APA in-text citations to original legal cases and statutes
• Submitted as a Word document email attachment (compliant with the guidelines listed earlier) by the due date in the chart at the end of the syllabus.

"Take Issue" Presentation 20%

Students must submit an outline and description of their presentation plan by the date indicated on the chart at the end of the syllabus.  The presentation plan will count as part of the presentation grade.

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 and follow the guidelines available on the WebCT Course Website under "Course Content and Related Materials."  Presentations will occur during the second class weekend.

Students should NOT read their papers 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.

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

Any assignments submitted electronically as a Word document email attachment should follow these guidelines:

     IBM compatible format (not MAC)

     Word 2003 or newer version (Microsoft WORKS is not acceptable)

     Times New Roman or other typical legible font (10 or 12 point for bulk of text)

     (more next page)

     1” margins on all sides

     Standard MSU Title Page

If a student can not meet these requirements for electronic submission, he or she should meet individually with the faculty member to make other suitable arrangements.

All assignments are due by the deadlines listed. A grade penalty will be assessed to all late assignments.

Activities and due dates:

Attendance:

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

Special Needs:

In accordance with Section 504 of the Federal Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, Midwestern State University endeavors to make reasonable adjustments in its policies, practices, services, and facilities to ensure equal opportunity for qualified persons with disabilities to participate in all educational programs and activities.

The Office of Disability Services (ODS) provides information and assistance, arranges accommodations, and serves as a liaison for students, instructors, and staff.  The ODS has assistive devices such as books on tape, recorders, and adaptive software which can be loaned to qualified individuals.  A student/employee who seeks accommodations on the basis of disability must register with the Office of Disability Services in the Counseling Center, Clark Student Center Room 108.  Documentation of disability from a competent professional is required.

Individuals with grievances related to discrimination or lack of accommodation on the basis of a disability are encouraged to resolve the problem directly with the area involved.  If the matter remains unresolved, advice and/or assistance will be provided by the Office of Disability Services for resolution.  The grievance procedure may be found in the Student Handbook and Activities Calendar

The Director of the Counseling Center serves as the ADA Coordinator and may be contacted at (940)397-4618, TDD (940)397-4515, or 3410 Taft Blvd., Clark Student Center Room 108. 

Evaluation:

      Expert Witness case study                                      20%

      Electronic Discussion Board Participation                15%

      “Take Issue” Paper                                                   30%

      “Take Issue” Presentation                                         20%

      Group Activities & Class Participation                      15%

Grade Scale

                                                  A = 100 - 90

                                                  B = 89 - 80

                                                  C = 79 - 70

                                                  D = 69 - 60

                                                  F = 59 and below

Honor System:

RADS 5023 adheres to the MSU Code of Conduct.  In particular, academic dishonesty, however small, creates a breach in academic integrity.  A student’s participation in this course comes with the expectation that his or her work will be completed in full observance of the MSU Code of Student Conduct.  A student should consult the Student Handbook for answers to any questions about the code.

Many components of RADS 5023 are designed to be highly interactive with students helping each other learn.  Students are encouraged to take full advantage of many resources available including Internet sites, handouts and module notebooks, other textbooks and journals, faculty, and peers. This interactive collegial learning environment is conducive for life-long learning.

Specific components of RADS 5023 are designed to represent the efforts of each student individually and are NOT to be shared.  These components include the case summaries and paper. Students SHOULD NOT share their efforts in ANY WAY (including but not limited to discussion, electronic files, print copies, notes, etc).  The only exception to this rule, is during the final class presentations.

When students submit their efforts (paper and case summaries) for grading, they are attesting that they have abided by this rule.

By enrolling in this course, the student expressly grants MSU a “limited right” in all intellectual property created by the student for the purpose of this course.  The “limited right” shall include but shall not be limited to the right to reproduce the student’s work product in order to verify originality and authenticity, and for educational purposes.