Legal context of medical care explored in unique January Term course
January 10, 2019
Each year Western Law’s January Term brings an impressive group of visiting professors and practitioners to teach an array of unique three-week intensive courses.
One of those courses, Comparative medical law and ethics, is being taught by Lisa Cherkassky (pictured left) and looks at the diverse ways in which medical care is regulated throughout Canada, the USA and the UK.
The course covers topics such as; the availability of assisted conception, the screening of embryos for genetic diseases, the legal boundaries of abortion and the definition of death.
“Medical law and ethics is a fascinating and rapidly developing field of research,” says Cherkassky, a Senior Lecturer in Law from the University of Derby.
“Controversial ethical debates about how the law regulates medical care will lead to a new understanding of how and why doctors and hospitals ration resources, adopt new technologies or override patient autonomy,” she explains.
Cherkassky says the course will address the rights of patients, and explore social attitudes towards medicine in the Western world through various philosophical perspectives.
“I hope it will be useful to any student who is interested in the practice of law or the ethical underpinning of law, particularly in a medical context," she says.
Other courses offered during this year’s January Term include: Children’s Law, Comparative Mining & Energy Law, Tax Treaties & Transfer Pricing, International Business Law, Advanced Intellectual Property, Police Accountability and the Law, Advanced Torts, Gendered Violence and the Law, as well as a range of moots, internships, and capstone courses.
The 2019 January Term visitors are: Lisa Cherkassy (University of Derby); Kimberly Doucett (Cohen Highley LLP), The James G. McLeod Professor in Family Law; David Grinlinton (University of Auckland), Stephen Dattels Visiting Fellow in Mining and Finance Law; Ryan Hornby (McCarthy Tétrault); Jason Hynes (Bereskin & Parr LLP); Hilary Jenkins (Foster Family Law); Michael Kobetsky (Melbourne Law School) Wendi Locke,(McCarthy Tétrault); Michelle Meiselles (University of Derby), Richard McLaren Visiting Professor in Business Law; David Schnurr (Miller Thomson) and Ian Scott.
“We’re delighted to welcome such a diverse group of scholars and experts,” says Associate Dean Christopher Sherrin. “January Term is an important component of our educational program and a great opportunity for our students.”
