S. Mental Health Law
Course Information
- Course Number
- L9563
- Curriculum Level
- Upperclass
- Areas of Study
- Administrative Law and Public Policy, Health Care and the Law, Human Rights
- Type
- Seminar
Section 001 Information
Instructor
Section Description
A study of the delicate balance between civil liberties and government benevolence. Beginning with Buck v. Bell and concluding with surrogate decision making and the "right to die," the course will explore such issues as involuntary civil commitment, the rights of the homeless mentally ill, the accuracy of psychiatric predictions of violent behavior in death penalty cases, the right to treatment, the right to refuse treatment, the regulation of experimental treatment, and, time permitting, assisted suicide. Although there is some discussion of mental disability cases involving the death penalty and incompetency to stand trial, the course focuses primarily on civil rather than criminal law issues. For those who are interested, there may also be an opportunity to examine international human rights issues as they relate to mental disabilities. Students have the option of writing a paper or completing a take-home examination and will attend a court hearing to observe how the cases we study are actually applied.
Exam (open book/take home with 10-12 page limit) or paper (10-15 page limit) option.
- School Year & Semester
- Fall 2023
- Location
- JGH 807
- Schedule
-
Class meets on
- Monday
- Points
- 2
- Method of Evaluation
- Paper and Exam
- J.D Writing Credit?
- Minor (upon consultation)
Learning Outcomes
- Primary
-
- Understanding of key principles of constitutional and statutory law. Understanding of how they are implemented in court hearings.
- Secondary
-
- Understanding of ethical and moral underpinnings of the law and insight into cutting edge issues of civil and criminal law re: mental disabilities.
Course Limitations
- Instructor Pre-requisites
- None
- Instructor Co-Requisites
- None
- Requires Permission
- No
- Recommended Courses
- None
- Other Limitations
- None