Healthcare and Human Rights

• Credit value: 30 credits at Level 7
• Convenor: Professor Patrick Hanafin
• Assessment: a 4000-word essay (100%)

In this module we introduce you to the relationship between health and human rights. We will consider theoretical approaches and concrete issues relating to the realisation of human rights in the context of domestic and international health policies, and distinguish the normative framework of international human rights standards from non-formalistic commitments to social justice, bioethics and morality.

We will examine the effectiveness of the law in promoting health rights in varying contexts, so that you understand the social, economic, cultural, legal and political processes by which human rights inform health policies.

Indicative syllabus

• The human right to health
• Health, human rights and international law
• Rights, justice and access to healthcare
• HIV/AIDS and human rights
• Reproductive health and human rights 
• Bioethics and human rights 
• Genetics and human rights 
• Rights and end-of-life care