The MA Medical Ethics and Palliative Care at Keele University offers you a rigorous exploration of the complex moral and legal dimensions surrounding healthcare at the end of life. This postgraduate degree is designed for professionals and academics seeking to deepen their understanding of critical issues faced by healthcare providers, policymakers, and patients. You will engage with foundational moral theories and principles of medical law, applying these frameworks to analyse practical ethical problems and often controversial topics related to life, death, and the human body. This programme equips you with the advanced analytical tools necessary to navigate these challenging ethical landscapes with confidence and expertise.
Studied full-time on campus over one year, your learning experience will involve intensive engagement with core modules and specialist topics, including consequentialism, deontology, medical consent, confidentiality, and resource allocation within palliative care. You will critically examine key aspects of medical law, from capacity and negligence to human rights. A significant component of your study is the independent research and writing of a substantial dissertation, supervised by an expert in medical ethics or palliative care. You will graduate with advanced critical thinking and research skills, prepared for roles in healthcare ethics committees, policy development, or further academic study in this vital field.