Osgoode Professional Development

Module 1 - February 3, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Accountability in Health Care: The Legal Framework

		• Introduction: the role of the legal system in health care delivery • Provincial and Federal divide and its impact on the legal framework • Types of health care providers • Corporate status of hospitals • Accountability and LHINs • Directors’ roles and duties • Individual and institutional liability • Accreditation and licensing • The hospital as commercial contractor • The role of the CCAC • Other actors/agents in the community with fiduciary responsibilities • Affiliation and partnership agreements • A right to health care: what is covered, and what’s not?


Module 2 - February 10, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Consent and Capacity

		• Information about and access to health care: the impact of the informed consumer • What is valid consent? • Informed consent • Withdrawing consent • Documenting consent: best practices • Right to refuse treatment • Assessment of capacity • Substitute decision makers: what’s the ranking order? • Dealing with complex ethical situations • Consent & capacity in a mental health setting • The interplay between the civil and criminal systems • Consent and capacity – a clinician’s perspective • End of life issues • Reproductive choice issues • Human subjects research and consent


Module 3 - February 17, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Medical Malpractice: Theory and Practice

		• Medical malpractice case law review: what kinds of cases are on the rise? • The standard of care – what is the current legal standard of care in a malpractice suit? • Breach of the standard of care • Causation • Assessing damages – are awards going up? • Defences to a malpractice claim • The importance of documentation – charting essentials • Disclosing adverse events • Apology legislation and its implication • The rising spectre of class actions • Overview of the litigation process • Mock examination for discovery • Mock trial – witness cross-examination


Module 4 - February 24, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Health Information, Privacy and Security

		• Overview of the law relating to the privacy of health information • What is the circle of care? • Hospital information sharing agreements • Privacy challenges in the wider health care community • Privacy, public health and pandemic planning • Working within the legal framework: how do you get your transactions done – what are the practical considerations? • The challenges posed by new technology


Module 5 - March 3, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Regulation of Health Care Professionals and Other Legal Issues Affecting Health Care Providers

		• Role of the Colleges/ processes before the Colleges • Health Professions Appeal and Review Board • Health Services Appeal and Review Board • Public Inquiries • Coroners’ Inquests • Human rights challenges - end-of-life issues - human reproductive issues • Collaborative care


Module 6 - March 24, 2011 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Health Care Risk Management: Current and Emerging Issues and Practices

		• The key fundamentals of a risk management system • Operational Risk Management and Enterprise Risk Management • Community health care and risk management: special considerations • Responding to risk in specialty areas - Obstetrics - Acute/Critical Care - Occupational Health and Safety - Health Records - Pharmacy - Infection Control and Pandemic Planning - Food Services - Environmental • Staff safety and patient safety • Audits and safety inspections – what you should expect • Health care insurance – what is available? • Post-incident reviews • Pandemic planning • Emerging issues: what’s new, and what’s coming next?

Note: There will be a take-home assignment at the end of this module.