Medical Ethics and Palliative Care MA

This programme provides an opportunity to undertake in-depth study of healthcare ethics and law relating to palliative and end-of-life care. Students develop the ability to think systematically and critically about the moral and legal issues encountered by healthcare professionals, managers and policymakers in this field. Ideal for working professionals or recent graduates with interests in palliative care, the programme comprises four taught modules plus a dissertation on a topic chosen by the student. Teaching takes place in short, intensive blocks to facilitate combining study with full-time work, and the course may be studied flexibly over one, two or five years.

Why choose this course?


• Block teaching delivery (typically three days per module) allows you to combine part-time study with work full-time – ideal for healthcare professionals.



• Enjoy rich ethical debates, share experiences, and learn about different practices and perspectives with a diverse student cohort.



• Taught by staff with expertise in both law and philosophy, and with experience in delivering courses for professionals.



• This programme is available to intercalating medical students.



Nowhere is healthcare ethics more relevant than the difficult decisions taken during palliative care. The combination of advances in medical technology, increased expectations, and changing moral attitudes has given rise to a host of complex ethical and legal issues for those involved in the delivery of end-of-life healthcare. For example, who should make medical decisions for patients who are too ill to decide for themselves? What should the response be to patients who refuse treatments likely to be beneficial or demand treatments that are unlikely to succeed?

The reality of these situations is rarely straightforward, especially when decision-making not only affects patients and their loved ones, but also involves a large, interdisciplinary support team, which can include physicians, nurses, occupational and physical therapists, psychologists, social workers, chaplains, and dietitians. Care itself can also be provided in a variety of contexts, including in hospice, hospital, and home settings. Since multiple values lie at the heart of care giving decisions, it’s no surprise that conflict can arise.

This unique programme provides an opportunity to explore and understand the moral dilemmas confronting those involved in all aspects of end-of-life care, and the ethical, legal and policy issues that arise in palliative care and related fields.

About Keele

Keele University was established in 1949 by the former Vice-Chancellor of Oxford University. Founded to meet the needs of a changing world, Keele has always had a pioneering vision to be a different kind of university.

We excel in both teaching and research, with some of the most satisfied students in England, and research that is changing lives for the better at a regional, national and global level.

Our beautiful 600-acre campus is one of the biggest in Britain – but all the most important services and facilities are on your doorstep, with accommodation, teaching spaces, facilities including a medical centre, sports centre and pharmacy, and a range of shops, eateries and entertainment venues – including the Students’ Union – clustered around the centre.