Melbourne Law School The Melbourne Law Masters

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Subjects 2009


Sports Health and Medical Law (formerly Sports Medicine Law) 730790

Objectives

A student who has successfully completed this subject should:

  • Possess a general understanding of the role of medicine in Australian sport
  • Recognise the expanding scope and role of medico-legal issues in sport
  • Understand the law relating to medico-legal issues in Australian sport
  • Be able to engage in informed debate over the sufficiency of that law to serve the interests of key stakeholders in sport.
Syllabus

This subject will consider selected topics from the medico-legal aspects of sports. The primary focus will be upon analysing the legal relationship between the sports medicine professional and the athlete-patient, especially in the context of team sports, where responsibilities are divided between athlete and team. It will incorporate selective study of a number of legal disciplines, including negligence, confidentiality and anti-discrimination law.

Topics will include the legal aspects of:

  • Responsibility for injury in the practice of sports medicine
  • Sports participation with injury or disability
  • Working with other health professionals in the ‘sports medicine team’
  • Boxing
  • Infectious diseases in sport
  • Performance-enhancing drugs
  • The pregnant athlete
  • Sex status of sports participants.