Class 6 – September 29 th, 2009 Health and Medical Research for Lawyers: Molly Brownfield

 Guest Lecture by Professor Kim Krawiec  Clip from Legally Blonde  Overview of Ethical Issues in Medical/Legal Universe  Research Resources  Professional, Governmental, and Academic Organizations  Medical and Legal Literature  Legal Research Guides/Portals  Primary/Practice-Oriented Sources  Review of Take-Home Assignment #3  Distribution of Take-Home Final  Class Evaluations

 Any overarching themes?  Control over our bodies  Life/death decisions  Limits on science and technology  Much of this stems from “Right to Privacy” stemming from the equal protection and due process provisions of the Fourteenth Amendment, but it’s clear there’s a lot of gray out there

 Let’s use this site to see if we can gain any information re: the legal situation presented in the scene from Legally Blonde.

 Contains reports, background materials, and related sites including links to prior bioethics commissions.

DUL Databases:

 Displays as an Exel file with hyperlinks to relevant laws

 The discussion of digital health records has raised some concerns about patient privacy and indefinite access to medical records.  Where would we look to find primary information on medical records retention?

 Could go into WL 50- State Surveys and click on Table of Contents to browse Topics

 Note there are all kinds of relevant 50- State surveys to provide us with comprehensive or comparative views of state laws in different health care topics…

 Can also view it as a PDF

 Make sure to read the instructions carefully – read the front and back – see all 12 questions!  Similar to what you’ve been doing all semester, but more polished format  Think of something you would present to a law firm partner – want to use paragraphs and transition sentences rather than bullet points  Some questions may end up being solely about the research process – there will be instances in real life where the answer might be “there isn’t anything on this, but here is where and how I looked to be certain.”  Grades – even though this class ends early, grades won’t be released until all Fall Semester grades are received. Once grades are released, I’ll put your reviewed take-home finals in your mailbox folders.