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Course Outline

PAR222 Legal and Ethical Practice in EMS (Emergency Medical Services)

Course Coordinator:Natalie Dodd (ndodd1@usc.edu.au) School:School of Health - Paramedicine

2025Semester 2

UniSC Sunshine Coast

 Blended learning Most of your course is on campus but you may be able to do some components of this course online.

Please go to unisc.edu.au for up to date information on the
teaching sessions and campuses where this course is usually offered.

What is this course about?

Description

In this course you will examine the complex array of legal and ethical issues associated with paramedic clinical practice and the implications the law and ethics have on your clinical practice as a contemporary paramedic. The law and bioethical principles impact upon every part of your clinical practice and your employment as a paramedic, with your decisions regarding the provision of clinical care increasingly subjected to public scrutiny. Contemporary legal and bioethical issues will be examined in order for you to critically appraise the decisions you make as a paramedic.

How will this course be delivered?

Activity Hours Beginning Week Frequency
Blended learning
Learning materials – Online learning materials will be posted each week 2hrs Week 1 13 times
Tutorial/Workshop 1 – On campus face to face workshop with group work 2hrs Week 1 13 times

Course Topics

Ethical theory and decision making

Introduction to the law

Paramedicine and regulation

Consent and capacity

Children and the law

Documentation and involvement with the court system

The law and mental health

Advanced health directives

Statutory health attorney

Death and dying

Open disclosure

Civil and criminal liability

What level is this course?

200 Level (Developing)

Building on and expanding the scope of introductory knowledge and skills, developing breadth or depth and applying knowledge and skills in a new context. May require pre-requisites where discipline specific introductory knowledge or skills is necessary. Normally, undertaken in the second or third full-time year of an undergraduate programs.

What is the unit value of this course?

12 units

How does this course contribute to my learning?

Course Learning Outcomes On successful completion of this course, you should be able to... Graduate Qualities Mapping Completing these tasks successfully will contribute to you becoming... Professional Standard Mapping * Paramedicine Board of Australia
1 Appraise the criteria that constitute ethical and legal paramedic practice. Ethical 
1.1.a, 1.1.d, 1.1.g, 1.1.j, 1.1.k, 1.4, 5.3
2 Apply the major bioethical principles and relevant legislation to paramedic primary healthcare provision. Ethical 
1.1.a, 1.1.g, 5.3
3 Apply the major bioethical principles and relevant legislation to the paramedic profession. Empowered
Ethical 
1.1.a, 1.1.j, 5.3

* Competencies by Professional Body

CODE COMPETENCY
Paramedicine Board of Australia
1.1.a Demonstrate understanding of: reporting obligations, legal responsibilities, legal requirements, ethical and professional responsibilities, and the legal and ethical boundaries of paramedicine practice.
1.1.d Apply the Paramedicine Board of Australia’s Code of conduct to their practice.
1.1.g Demonstrate understanding of the basic principles underpinning bio- ethics in paramedicine practice.
1.1.j Operate within the current legislation applicable to paramedicine practice.
1.1.k Practise in accordance with the applicable legislation governing the safe use of scheduled medicines by paramedics in the jurisdiction of practice.
1.4 Advocate on behalf of the patient, when appropriate in the context of the practitioner’s practice as a paramedic
5.3 Understand the key concepts of the bodies of knowledge which are specifically relevant to paramedicine practice

Am I eligible to enrol in this course?

Refer to the UniSC Glossary of terms for definitions of “pre-requisites, co-requisites and anti-requisites”.

Pre-requisites

PAR101 and PAR103 and enrolled in Program SC395 or SC306

Co-requisites

Not applicable

Anti-requisites

Not applicable

Specific assumed prior knowledge and skills (where applicable)

Not applicable

Microcredential Information

Not applicable

How am I going to be assessed?

Grading Scale

Standard Grading (GRD)

High Distinction (HD), Distinction (DN), Credit (CR), Pass (PS), Fail (FL).

Details of early feedback on progress

Students will be provided with informal opportunities for feedback in each of their workshops. Feedback will be provided after each summative task.

Assessment tasks

Delivery mode Task No. Assessment Product Individual or Group Weighting % What is the duration / length? When should I submit? Where should I submit it?
All 1a Written Piece Individual 25% 
1500
 Week 6 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 2 Artefact - Creative, and Oral Group 30% 
1500 word equivalent
 Week 9 Online Assignment Submission with plagiarism check
All 3 Examination - not Centrally Scheduled Individual 45% 
1.5 hours
 Week 12 In Class
All - Assessment Task 1a:Case analysis
Goal: 
The aim of this task is to analyse a contemporary legal case, relating to paramedic practice, using a legal problem-solving model.
Product: Written Piece
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Students will analyse a case, highlight the material facts, complete an IRAC template and present a narrative response to the case.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Correctly: 1) identifies material facts; 2) completes IRAC table; 3) presents cogent narrative drawn from 1 & 2.
 1 2 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 2:Bioethics Presentation
Goal: 
The aim of this activity is to create an authentic digital artefact and associated presentation which communicates an issue relevant to paramedic practice, using a bioethical lens.
Product: Artefact - Creative, and Oral
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Students will submit artefact and presentation as an online submission. 
The rubric will reflect both individual and group contributions with associated grades.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Explains the relevant bioethical principles underpinning paramedic practice;
Application of bioethical principles to paramedic practice;
Use of Technology to convey meaning;
Use of referencing style;
Presentation and Grammatical Conventions.
 1 2
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Collaboration, Applying technologies, Information literacy
All - Assessment Task 3:Legal Analysis
Goal: 
The aim of the legal analysis is to allow you to demonstrate an understanding of the legal aspects associated with the provision of paramedic care, using a legal problem-solving model.
Product: Examination - not Centrally Scheduled
Authorship Statement:
Format: 
Students will be permitted to access legal materials supplied by the course coordinator to complete this in-class written assessment. Students will be required to respond to case studies using a legal problem-solving model.
Criteria:
No. Learning Outcome assessed
1 
Explains the relevant legal and ethical concepts and fundamental principles underpinning
paramedic practice using a legal problem-solving model.
Application of legal issues to paramedic practice
Reaches an arguable conclusion on legal issues
 3
Generic Skills: 
Communication, Problem solving, Information literacy

Directed study hours

A 12-unit course will have total of 150 learning hours which will include directed study hours (including online if required), self-directed learning and completion of assessable tasks. Student workload is calculated at 12.5 learning hours per one unit.

What resources do I need to undertake this course?

Please note: Course information, including specific information of recommended readings, learning activities, resources, weekly readings, etc. are available on the course Canvas site– Please log in as soon as possible.

Prescribed text(s) or course reader

You need regular access to the resource(s) below. Many texts are available as ebooks through the Library at no additional cost.

Required? Author Year Title Edition Publisher
Required Moritz, D. 0 PARAMEDIC LAW AND REGULATION IN AUSTRALIA. n/a n/a

Specific requirements

Not applicable

How are risks managed in this course?

Health and safety risks for this course have been assessed as low. It is your responsibility to review course material, search online, discuss with lecturers and peers and understand the health and safety risks associated with your specific course of study and to familiarise yourself with the University’s general health and safety principles by reviewing the online induction training for students, and following the instructions of the University staff.

What administrative information is relevant to this course?

Assessment: Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is the ethical standard of university participation. It ensures that students graduate as a result of proving they are competent in their discipline. This is integral in maintaining the value of academic qualifications. Each industry has expectations and standards of the skills and knowledge within that discipline and these are reflected in assessment.

Academic integrity means that you do not engage in any activity that is considered to be academic fraud; including plagiarism, collusion or outsourcing any part of any assessment item to any other person. You are expected to be honest and ethical by completing all work yourself and indicating in your work which ideas and information were developed by you and which were taken from others. You cannot provide your assessment work to others. You are also expected to provide evidence of wide and critical reading, usually by using appropriate academic references.

In order to minimise incidents of academic fraud, this course may require that some of its assessment tasks, when submitted to Canvas, are electronically checked through Turnitin. This software allows for text comparisons to be made between your submitted assessment item and all other work to which Turnitin has access.

Assessment: Additional Requirements

Eligibility for Supplementary Assessment

Your eligibility for supplementary assessment in a course is dependent of the following conditions applying:
(a) The final mark is in the percentage range 47% to 49.4%; and
(b) The course is graded using the Standard Grading scale

Group assessment. Students that have been identified as not meaningfully contributing to the group work in a timely fashion, will be removed from the group and allocated an individual assessment task to complete.

Assessment: Submission penalties

Late submissions may be penalised up to and including the following maximum percentage of the assessment task’s identified value, with weekdays and weekends included in the calculation of days late:
(a) One day: deduct 5%;
(b) Two days: deduct 10%;
(c) Three days: deduct 20%;
(d) Four days: deduct 40%;
(e) Five days: deduct 60%;
(f) Six days: deduct 80%;
(g) Seven days: A result of zero is awarded for the assessment task.

The following penalties will apply for a late submission for an online examination:
Less than 15 minutes: No penalty
From 15 minutes to 30 minutes: 20% penalty
More than 30 minutes: 100% penalty

Links to relevant University policy and procedures

For more information on Academic Learning & Teaching categories including:

  • Assessment: Courses and Coursework Programs
  • Review of Assessment and Final Grades
  • Supplementary Assessment
  • Central Examinations
  • Deferred Examinations
  • Student Conduct
  • Students with a Disability

For more information, visit https://www.usc.edu.au/explore/policies-and-procedures#academic-learning-and-teaching

Student Charter

UniSC is committed to excellence in teaching, research and engagement in an environment that is inclusive, inspiring, safe and respectful. The Student Charter sets out what students can expect from the University, and what in turn is expected of students, to achieve these outcomes.

General Enquiries

  • In person:
    • UniSC Sunshine Coast - Student Central, Ground Floor, Building C, 90 Sippy Downs Drive, Sippy Downs
    • UniSC Moreton Bay - Service Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building, Gympie Road, Petrie
    • UniSC SouthBank - Student Central, Building A4 (SW1), 52 Merivale Street, South Brisbane
    • UniSC Gympie - Student Central, 71 Cartwright Road, Gympie
    • UniSC Fraser Coast - Student Central, Student Central, Building A, 161 Old Maryborough Rd, Hervey Bay
    • UniSC Caboolture - Student Central, Level 1 Building J, Cnr Manley and Tallon Street, Caboolture
  • Tel:+61 7 5430 2890
  • Email:studentcentral@usc.edu.au
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