Syllabus

Course:           HCM 670: Topics in Health Care Law
Instructor:      Professor Jordan “Jody” Blanke
Office:             Business & Education Building 225 (Atlanta Campus)
Telephone:     (678) 547-6313
E-mail:            blanke_j@mercer.edu
Office Hours: Tuesday 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.

SSBE Mission Statement
The Stetson School of Business and Economics of Mercer University delivers career focused business education to develop entrepreneurial leaders and responsible global citizens.

Course Description
This course will explore the various legal, ethical and regulatory issues relating to the collection, use and retention of data.  It will examine the privacy requirements mandated for certain industries, such as health, finance and credit reporting.  It will also address topics related to the use of data in social media and targeted advertising.

Course Objectives
Upon successful completion of this course, the student should be able to:

·         Understand the basics of health care law and policy.

·         Discuss the basics of the U.S. health care system and efforts to reform it.

·         Understand the legal and ethical ramifications of a variety of issues pertaining to health care.

Prerequisites
None.

Required Textbook
Ebook Custom Publish for HCM 670
http://www.jblearning.com/catalog/9781284007688/

Course Requirements
There will be two non-cumulative exams, each one covering half of the material covered. There will also be a research paper, which will be presented on the last day of class. The research paper may be on any topic that is related to this course. It must be between 2000 and 2500 words (or the equivalent of about 4-6 pages of single-spaced text or 8-12 pages of double-spaced text with 1 inch margins and 12-point typeface).  The paper will be due (by email) on July 10.

Grading
Exam #1                                              30%
Exam #2                                              35%
Research Paper  and Presentation         35%

Grading scale
86.0 average and above                       A
80.0 and above                                    B+
72.0 and above                                    B
65.0 and above                                    C+
60.0 and above                                    C
Below 60.0                                          F

Class Schedule

Mercer University Honor Code and Council
See Mercer catalog for detailed description.

Honor Code
Mercer University Atlanta expects each and every student to maintain the highest principles of academic honesty and integrity.  Violations of academic honesty represent a breach of the University's expectations and will be regarded as a serious matter.

All work on discussions, essays and other assignments must be your own.  You are expected to write your own discussion comments and written assignments.  It is very easy for me to figure out when you have merely cut and pasted from other sources. The first time you do this, you will receive a grade of 0 on that assignment; the second time you do it, you will receive a grade of “F” in the course.

Disability Statement
Students requiring accommodations or modifications for a disability should inform the instructor at the close of the first class meeting or as soon as possible.  The instructor will refer you to the ACCESS and Accommodation Office to document your disability, determine eligibility for accommodations under the ADAAA/Section 504 and to request a Faculty Accommodation Form.  Disability accommodations or status will not be indicated on academic transcripts.  In order to receive accommodations in a class, students with sensory, learning, psychological, physical or medical disabilities must provide their instructor with a Faculty Accommodation Form to sign.  Students must return the signed form to the ACCESS Coordinator.  A new form must be requested each semester.  Students with a history of a disability perceived as having a disability or with a current disability who do not wish to use academic accommodations are also strongly encouraged to register with the ACCESS and Accommodation Office and request a Faculty Accommodation Form each semester.  For further information, please contact Richard Stilley (stilley_r@mercer.edu), at (678) 547-6823 or visit the ACCESS and Accommodation Office website at http://atlstuaffairs.mercer.edu/disability-services.cfm

Inclement Weather:
If severe weather occurs, classes will be canceled in accordance with the Associate Provost’s decision of Mercer-Atlanta.  Call the Mercer weather phone for information about class cancellations—(678) 547-6111 (Atlanta) or listen to WSB 750 AM.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Health Policy and Law
Chapter 2: Policy and the Policymaking Process
Chapter 3: Law and the Legal System
Chapter 4: Overview of the U.S. Healthcare System
Chapter 8: Understanding Health Insurance
Chapter 10: Health Reform in the U.S.

Chapter 1: Introduction to Ethics
Chapter 2: Contemporary Ethical Dilemmas
Chapter 3: End-of-Life Dilemmas
Chapter 6: Introduction to Law
Chapter 12: Patient Consent

Other Links:

Ethics for People on the Move: Catharyn Baird: TedxMileHigh - video
Ethical Leadership, Part 2: Best Practices - video (Ethics Unwrapped)
Kidder: How Good People Make Tough Choices - summary (PDF file)
The Kidder Overview of Understanding Ethics: Part I - video
Rush Kidder: 4 Paradigms of Dilemmas - video

Moore v. Regents of the University of California
NIH Finally Makes Good with Henrietta Lacks' Family
The Immortal Cells of Henrietta Lacks - video
Celebrity Transplants and Squeaky Wheels
"So What About Mickey Mantle?" and Other Controversies
U.S. Surrogacy Map

Ethics Case Study:
    Wikipedia article on Rofecoxib (Vioxx)
    Merck to Pay $950M Over Vioxx (N. Y. Times)
    Many See Hope in Parkinson's Drug Pulled From Testing (N.Y. Times)
    FDA May Restrict Acetaminophen (WebMD.com)
    Wikipedia article on Thalidomide
    The Public's Quiet Savior From Harmful Medicines (New York Times)
    New Drugs Stir Debate on Rules of Clinical Trials (N.Y. Times)

Georgia Advance Directive for Health Care - PDF file
Living Wills and Durable Powers of Attorney for Health Care - Georgia Bar Association