DMSVTD 270 | Patient Advocacy

DMSVTD 270 | Patient Advocacy Total: 8 Hours | E- Lecture: 4 Hours | E-Lab: 4 Hours | On Site Lab: 0 Hours This course introduces students to the ethical, legal, and safety responsibilities of healthcare professionals. Students will explore foundational topics such as informed consent, patient confidentiality, professional codes of conduct, and adherence to legal standards including HIPAA, scope-of-practice rules, and mandatory reporting requirements. A core emphasis is placed on human safety in clinical practice. Students will learn strategies for safeguarding patients from harm, recognizing signs of neglect or abuse, and identifying indicators of human trafficking. The curriculum also includes vaccines as part of the broader discussion of healthcare law and ethics. Instruction highlights the ethical responsibility to understand vaccine requirements for healthcare workers, the legal implications of compliance or non-compliance, and the safety considerations for patients and providers. Instruction highlights both ethical obligations and legal pathways for reporting and responding, ensuring students understand how to act decisively while maintaining compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations. Students will also explore the ethical responsibility to provide equitable care for all individuals, including members of the LGBTQ community and even those who may have committed serious crimes. Upholding equal dignity in care reflects the highest standard of medical ethics and ensures diagnostologists practice without bias or discrimination. Through case studies and applied scenarios, students will practice ethical reasoning, legal interpretation, and safety-centered decision-making in real-world contexts. By the end of the course, students will be equipped to uphold ethical integrity, navigate healthcare law, and actively protect the safety and dignity of every patient.