Title: Medical Ethics and Law
Southern Maine Community College
South Portland, Maine 04106
Catalog Number: MDAS-120
Credit Hours: 3
Instructor: Laurie McFarren, BA
Total Contact Hours:
Semester: Fall 2015
45
Instructor E-mail: lmcfarren@smccme.edu
Office Hours: Appointments as requested by student
Course Delivery Mode: Blended
Course Syllabus
Course Description:
This course is very specific to the Medical Assistant community and is intended as an overview of the knowledge of the law and how it affects ethics and liability as related to the medical assistant. Covered topics will include ethical and legal responsibilities, licensure requirements, physician and patient rights, negligence, medical records confidentiality, and revocation of licensure. Prerequisite(s): Program matriculation: MDAA
Course Learning Goals:

Demonstrate ethical practice by performing within established medical guidelines

Interpret medical assistant duties according to regulations, policies, laws and legislated rights of patients

Process medical records information following legal and ethical guidelines
Course Objectives:
On completion of this course the student will:

Link foundations of ethics and law to daily medical assisting duties

Gain thorough understanding of professional liabilities and defenses

Apply patient rights, confidentiality and consent to medical assisting responsibilities
 Review and understand physician’s public duties and clinical social issues

Study components of death and dying to include attitudes, legal documents and caring for terminal patients

Understand documentation requirements for the medical record

Perform risk management procedures

Gain thorough understanding of compliance of local, state and federal legislation

Institute federal and state guidelines when releasing medical records or information

Follow established policies when initiating or terminating medical treatment
Teaching Procedures:

Reading / Discussion

Audiovisual Materials

Special Class Projects

Computer Assisted Instruction
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Course Outline:
WEEK
A
SSIGNMENTS
/
TESTS
1
9/2/2015
CLASS CONTENT
Chapter 1:
Introduction to Law and Ethics
2
9/9/2015
3
9/16/2015
4
9/23/2015
5
9/30/2015
Due:
Chapter 1&2 assignment
Due:
Chapter 3 assignment
Due:
Test #1
Take home
Chapters 1-3
Due: Chapter 4
Assignment
Chapter 2: Making Ethical Decisions
Chapter 3 : Working in Health Care
Ethics Committee Presentations
Chapter 4:
Case Project Review-Begin Case Selection
6
10/7/2015
7
10/14/2015
8
10/21/2015
9
10/28/2015
10
11/4/2015
11
11/11/2015
Due:
Chapter 5 assignment
Chapter 5: Professional Liability and Medical
Malpractice
Chapter 6: Defenses to Liability Suits Due:
Chapter 6 assignment
Due: Case Selection
Topic with position statement
Due: Chapter 7 assignment
Due: Chapter 8 assignment
Due: Chapter 9 assignment
Due: Case Study
Project outline- worksheet due
Test #2 Chapters 4, 5, 6
Chapter 7:
Consent
Chapter 8: Privacy Law and HIPPA
Chapter 9:
Medical Records and Informed
Physicians’ Public Duties and
Responsibilities
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R
EADING
A
SSIGNMENTS
Read
Chapters
1 & 2
Read chapter
3
Read
Chapter 4
Read
Chapter 5
Read chapter
6
Read
Chapter 7
Read
Chapter 8
Read chapter
9
Read chapter
10

12
11/18/2015
13
11/25/2015
14
12/2/2015
15
12/9/2015
Test # 3: Take Home:
Chapters 7-9
Due: Chapter 10/11 assignment
Due: Chapter 12 assignment
Due: Final Case
Study Project
Chapter 10: Workplace Legalities
Chapter 11: Beginning of Life & Childhood
Chapter 12: Death and Dying
Note: no chapter 13 assignment
Chapter 13 : Health Care Trends and Forecasts
Test # 4 16
12/16/2015
Read chapter
11
Read chapter
12
Read chapter
13
Outside work and hours: The expectation is you spend 2 hours per semester credit- this is a 3 credit course- so 6 hours per week or a total of 96 hours for the 16 week semester. This time should be spent on reading, homework, assessments, testing, research, projects and all other relevant assignments.
Student Evaluation and Grading:

Exams : 50%

Assignments : 20%

Research Paper – 25%

Class Participation* 5 %
*Class participation calculation is determined by percentage of time actually spent in the classroom. 6 points are deducted for each absence, even if excused. 3 points are deducted for each occurrence of leaving early or arriving late.
Grading System:
A 4.00 grade points per credit hour (100-94%)
A- 3.67 grade points per credit hour (93-90)
B+ 3.33 grade points per credit hour (89-87)
B 3.00 grade points per credit hour (86-83)
B- 2.67 grade points per credit hour (82-80)
C+ 2.33 grade points per credit hour (79-77)
D
F
C 2.00 grade points per credit hour (76-73)
C- 1.67 grade points per credit hour (72-70)
D+ 1.22 grade points per credit hour (69-67)
1.00 grade points per credit hour (66-60)
0.00 grade points per credit hour
Required Text :
Judson, Karen/Harrison, Carlene: Law and Ethics for the Health Professions , 7 th
Edition. 2016
McGraw-Hill.
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ISBN: 978–0–07–351383–6
Instructional Resources:
-Judson, Karen/Harrison, Carlene: Law and Ethics for the Health Professions , 7 th
Edition. 2016
McGraw-Hill.
ISBN: 978–0–07–351383–6
-McGraw-Hill.com
-Case studies and articles consistent with course objectives.
Instructor Liberties:
Instructor reserves the right to amend course content and due dates, with provision of reasonable notice to students, in order to accommodate competency development requirements as put forth by SMCC,
AAMA and CMAS.
Communication:
All students will be expected to set up an email address and are responsible for checking their email for announcements and other communication. Students will have access to computers in SMCC computer labs and library.
SMCC Medical Assisting Attendance Policy
Note: for everyone hour spent in class- you at minimum need to spend 2-3 hours outside of class
Classes on Campus
1.
If course only meets twice a week, students are allowed two (2) absences per course per semester and if course only meets one (1) time per week, student is allowed one (1) absence per course per semester . Students are expected to submit assignments upon return from excused absence.
For each subsequent absence, the student’s grade will drop a whole letter—i.e. for a student has a B or 83% average- their grade will automatically drop to a
73%.
2.
Exceptions to the above are illness documented by a note from a physician or death in the immediate family. These would constitute a written or faxed excused absence.
3.
Per school policy, if a student misses 3 consecutive classes s/he will be withdrawn from the course unless student has been in contact with instructor and made arrangements. Three consecutives absences results in a grade of AF (Administrative Failure).
4.
If a student must miss a scheduled class time the expectation is that the instructor will be notified before the beginning of the class. If this is not possible, then the expectation is that the instructor will be notified as soon as possible afterwards.
Student Lateness:
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Any student more than ten (10) minutes late for class will be allowed to participate only at the discretion of the instructor. An absence will be assigned for accumulation of two (2) late warnings and apply towards Attendance Policy.
Student Leaving Class Early:
An absence will be assigned for accumulation of two (2) instances where a student leaves class early and will be applied towards the Attendance Policy.
Exceptions to this policy will be evaluated at the discretion of the instructor teaching the course. The Medical Assistant Department Chair also has the option to evaluate instructor exceptions.
Snow Policy:
Staff and students should listen for specific SMCC announcements for class cancellations or postponement on local TV and radio stations. The following should serve as a guide for Medical
Assisting Dept. students. Classes scheduled at SMCC will be held unless officially canceled as per institutional policy. Class absences will be recorded as usual on storm days unless SMCC is officially closed.
Exams:
Students are expected to be take all exams before or on due date. Realizing that extenuating circumstances do occasionally arise, the following policy has been enacted:
1.
One (1) make-up for illness or death in family without penalty.
2.
Student must notify instructor by phone or email giving reason for missing exam.
3.
Next missed exam student starts with 10% lower grade.
4.
Extenuating circumstances would be serious illness with documentation or death in family.
Written Assignments:
Written assignments must be submitted on or before the due date. It is understood that in the event of school closing due to snow, etc. the assignment is due the next class day. If a student is late with written assignments more than once, s/he may be placed on academic or clinical warning. This may result in failure of the course. All written graded homework/ assignments are expected to be typed.
Students will submit all typed assignments in a Microsoft Office format (e.g. Word, Excel, and
Publisher). If a student submits an assignment in a format other than what is listed and it cannot be opened by the instructor, the assignment will be considered late until it is submitted in the appropriate format. Assignments can be submitted through e-mail.
Spelling is very important. Spelling errors will lower grades.
Each day an assignment is late, 50 points will be deducted from the final grade.
The instructor reserves the right to alter the syllabus, exams, assignments, homework to meet the learning outcomes/objectives set forth by the Medical Assisting Department and the National
Accrediting body within reason.
Course Sequence:
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Student MUST finish with a “C” 73% grade or better in all core courses prior to taking advanced core courses or participating in the PRACTICUM. Student is expected to meet all pre-requisites and take core courses in appropriate approved sequence.
Dismissal from the program may occur at any point in the semester, if a student violates safety standards, fails to adhere to professional conduct, or fails to meet the requirements of a clinical course or practicum warning, s/he will be dismissed from the Medical Assisting program.
Communication:
All students will be expected to set up an email address, keep it current, and are responsible for checking their email for announcements and other communication. Students will have access to computers in SMCC computer labs and library. If the student does not maintain a valid e-mail, the student is still responsible for all missed information communicated. Students are expected to regularly check the on-line course site utilized by the course for any pertinent information.
Make arrangements with another student to obtain the missed information (set up a study buddy).
ONCE you have done this and gone over the material please contact your instructor with any questions.
Academic Achievement Center:
The Academic Achievement Center is located next to the Library. They offer a wide range of services that include study techniques, test taking techniques, math, and writing tutoring.
SMCC Student Printing Policy:
Students can print 100 pages per semester for free. If you print over 100 pages, you will be charged 10 cents per page to your Beacon Bucks account. Left-over pages will roll over to the following semester but will zero out at the end of the academic year. A pilot project tracking public printing has shown that this amount of free printing meets the needs of the vast majority of students. The College’s payfor-print system monitors printing on all public printers (i.e., those in general access labs, library printers, the LAC, and technology labs). Each time you log in to the system, the print station displays the remaining print quota. Once the printing quota has been exceeded, users will be charged $0.10 per page on their Beacon Bucks accounts. Color printouts will be charged at 11-page units. This means each color printout will count as 11 pages toward the quota and cost $1.10. Students can add money to their cards using a credit card on-line.
Academic Integrity:
Southern Maine Community College requires all students to adhere to high standards of integrity in their academic work. Activities such as plagiarism and cheating are not acceptable and will not be condoned by the College. Students involved in such activities are subject to serious disciplinary action.

PLAGIARISM is defined as the use, whether by paraphrase, or direct quotation of a work, published, or unpublished of another person’s ideas, words, statistics, or other creative materials, without full or clear acknowledgement that the work belongs to that other person.

CHEATING would include the giving or receiving of unauthorized assistance on quizzes, examinations, and written assignments from any source not approved by the instructor.
 STEALING, DESTROYING, or UNAUTHORIZED COPYING of another person’s computer program of files, deliberately preventing another’s access to the college computer system, or impeding the system’s performance in any way are also included in this policy.
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Plagiarism Statement:
Adherence to ethical academic standards is obligatory. Cheating is a serious offense, whether it consists of taking credit for work done by another person or doing work for which another person will receive credit. Taking and using the ideas or writings of another person without clearly and fully crediting the source in plagiarism and violates the academic code as well as the Student Code of
Conduct. If it is suspected that a student in any course in which s/he is enrolled has knowingly committed such a violation, faculty member should refer the matter to the College’s Disciplinary
Officer and appropriate action will be taken under the Student Code of Conduct. Sanctions may include suspension from the course and a failing grade in the course. Students have the right to appeal these actions to the Disciplinary Committee under the terms outlined in the Student code of Conduct.
Add-Drop Policy:
Students who drop a course during the one-week “add/drop” period in the fall and spring semesters and the first three days of summer sessions receive a 100% refund of the tuition and associated fees for that course. Please note any course that meets for less than the traditional semester length, i.e., 15 weeks has a pro-rated add/drop period. There is no refund for non attendance.
Withdrawal Policy:
A student may withdraw from a course only during the semester in which s/he is registered for that course. The withdrawal period is the second through the twelfth week of the fall and spring semesters and the second through the ninth week of twelve-week summer courses. This period is pro-rated for shorter-length courses. To withdraw from a course, a student must complete and submit the appropriate course withdrawal form, available at the Enrollment Service Center (no phone calls please). The designation “w” will appear on the transcript after a student has officially withdrawn. A course withdrawal is an uncompleted course and may adversely affect financial aid eligibility. Failure to attend or ceasing to attend class does not constitute withdrawal from the course. There is no refund associated with a withdrawal.
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) Syllabus Statement:
Southern Maine Community College is an equal opportunity/affirmative action institution and employer. For more information, please call 207-741-5798. If you have a disabling condition and wish to request accommodations in order to have reasonable access to the programs and services offered by
SMCC, you must register with the Disability Services Coordinator, Sandra Lynham, who can be reached at 741-5923. Further information about services for students with disabilities and the accommodation process is available upon request at this number. Course policies about online testing are modified to suit each individual’s accommodations.
End-of-Course Evaluation:
Students complete evaluations for each course attended at SMCC. Evaluations are submitted online and can be accessed through the student portal. Students can access the course evaluations beginning one week before the end of classes. The deadline for submission of evaluations occurs Monday at 5
PM following the last day of the class. You will receive an email to your student email account when course evaluations are available.
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Reviewed by N. Huntington and L. McFarren 8/28/2015
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