Medico-Legal Aspects of Healthcare

This course provides training for healthcare providers, doctors, dentists, nurses, physiotherapists, radiographers, other healthcare professionals and personnel, hospital managers, clinical risk advisors/managers, hospital managers/directors, administrators and other professionals working directly or indirectly in the fields of patient quality, safety and clinical risk management, and will also be direct professional interest to healthcare lawyers and those involved in claims management.



The course will provide training for clinical and managerial healthcare professionals and lawyers involved in the medico-legal aspects of healthcare and in the areas of clinical risk management - leading to the award of a Professional Certificate in Medico-legal Aspects of Healthcare. This is an appropriate qualification for professionals practising in the medico-legal fields of healthcare, clinical risk management and patient safety in addition to, or as part of, their work.



The skills learned will provide the basis for participation in claims for healthcare and legal professionals and clinical risk management, risk management and patient safety committees and for further training as a risk / patient safety advisor/manager. The knowledge acquired will be applied to the improvement of patient safety and care, to the prevention and management of legal claims and to healthcare delivery in general. The qualification may also be suitable to those in the fields of claims management and those specialising in healthcare law.



What Will I Learn?

• Communicate effectively in writing, orally and by visual presentation to be able to present ideas at all levels of a medical enterprise from lower staff to corporate management.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of areas of: Beginning and end of life issues; Medical research; Medico-ethical aspects of law and medical ethics; Medical Litigation Issues: Plaintiff and • Defendant perspectives.

• Demonstrate a knowledge of issues in patient safety and quality; medical negligence litigation; health & safety; consent; confidentiality, privacy; expert witnesses, medication safety, coroners, medical research, medical ethics and fitness to practice

• Demonstrate a knowledge of the areas of: Death reporting and the Coroner’s Court; Fitness to Practice and Professional Regulation; Practical aspects of expert witness and evidence in litigation and at Hearings.

• Demonstrate knowledge and a detailed understanding of the main aspects of medico-legal theory and practice and an understanding of the basic aspects of clinical risk management.

• Demonstrate the ability to cogently listen, interpret, discuss and debate, vocally and in writing and research issue/s in relation to medico-legal issues within a healthcare setting.

• Possess an ability to ensure effective communication skills in the medical workplace in general, as between the doctor and patient and in other settings such as the courtroom when involved with or as an expert medical witness.

• Transfer their skills for consideration and progress towards the possibility of (I) entering into the Graduate Diploma programme and further (II) consider the Master’s Programme if suitable.

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

FLME40040 Risk Management and Quality: Semester 1 Taught (SMED40040) Autumn 15

Eligibility criteria:

- Doctors, nurses, dentists, physiotherapists and radiographers must have a minimum of three years’ post qualification experience.

- Other healthcare personnel and professionals must have a basic qualification in one of the health sciences or hold such other qualifications as approved by the School of Medicine and Medical Science and have a minimum of three years’ clinical or healthcare managerial experience or other relevant experience.

- Anyone outside this criteria will be considered on an individual basis by examining qualifications, work experience and suitability



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online: Application



Who Should Apply?

Part Time option suitable for:



Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: No

4 Months part-time.

X673: Professional Certificate Medico-Legal Aspects of Healthcare Part-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught