Veidlapa Nr. M-3 (8)
Study Course Description
Legal Problems in Biomedicine
Course Code
JF_117
Branch of Science
Law
ECTS
3.00
Target Audience
Juridical Science
LQF
Level 7
Study Type And Form
Full-Time; Part-Time
Study Course Implementer
Course Supervisor
Karina Palkova
Structure Unit Manager
Ieva Puzo
Structural Unit
Faculty of Social Sciences
Contacts
Dzirciema street 16, Rīga, szf@rsu.lv
About Study Course
Objective
To promote students' knowledge of legal problems in biomedicine. To introduce students to the legal framework of biomedical practice and solution to problems.
Preliminary Knowledge
Law in Medicone, Human Rights, Criminal Law, Civil Law.
Learning Outcomes
Knowledge
1.Students have a basic understanding of biomedical law. They are able to carry out both relevant work and research, and continue further learning under complex and unpredictable conditions within the given subject area, and to modify them where necessary, using new and non-standard approaches. Able to justify and explain their opinion in a reasoned way and participate in discussions as well as provide opinions on complex or systemic issues in biomedicine, on aspects of the professional field with both professionals and non-professionals. In addition, students are able to independently follow innovations in the relevant field of law in order to address professional issues or carry out research. They are able to analyse socio-legal processes creatively and constructively, to debate and justify their own opinion.
Skills
1.Students are able to apply the current legal framework to biomedical law issues and identify problems related to topical issues of national and international regulation. Students are able to use different strategies to analyse basic and problematic issues of biomedical law and to propose reasoned solutions to biomedical law problems.
Competences
1.Upon successful completion of the course, students will be able to independently analyse biomedical law issues and propose solutions to the identified problems.
Assessment
Individual work
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Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
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1.
Individual work |
-
|
-
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Two independent assignments are to be submitted, one to be submitted and presented at the fourth seminar (information about the content of the test will be attached to the fourth seminar in the form of instructions, the topics and descriptions of the assignments will be specified in the instructions) and the other as the end-of-course assignment.
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Examination
|
Title
|
% from total grade
|
Grade
|
|---|---|---|
|
1.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
The details of the test content will be added to the fourth seminar in the instruction.
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||
|
2.
Examination |
-
|
-
|
|
The final mark consists of the average assessment for the fourth seminar and the end-of-course assignment, as well as the examination mark.
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Study Course Theme Plan
FULL-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction: description of biomedical rights, basic principles, trends. Biomedical rights and ethics.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Biological human rights and freedom from today’s perspective. Interaction between medicine and biology and modern legal problems.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The beginning and the end of the human life. Legal problems.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Development of biomedicine and legal challenges. Biomedicine and Human rights. Case law, case studies.
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-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Use of biotechnologies at the beginning of human life: legal challenges.
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-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Legal aspects of gender reassignment.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Legal aspects of transplantation.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
The problem of refusing treatment at the end of human life. Legal problems of euthanasia.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Artificial intelligence and robotics in biomedicine, related issues.
|
-
Class/Seminar
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Personal data protection in biomedicine.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
20 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
PART-TIME
Part 1
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Introduction: description of biomedical rights, basic principles, trends. Biomedical rights and ethics.
|
-
Lecture
|
Modality
|
Location
|
Contact hours
|
|---|---|---|
|
On site
|
Auditorium
|
2
|
Topics
|
Biological human rights and freedom from today’s perspective. Interaction between medicine and biology and modern legal problems.
|
Total ECTS (Creditpoints):
3.00
Contact hours:
12 Academic Hours
Final Examination:
Exam (Written)
Bibliography
Required Reading
1.
Altman, M. C., & Schwan, D. (Eds.). (2025). Ethics and medical technology: Essays on artificial intelligence, enhancement, privacy, and justice. Springer.Suitable for English stream
2.
Casarosa, F., Gennari, F., & Rossi, A. (Eds.). (2025). Enabling and safeguarding personalized medicine. Springer.Suitable for English stream
3.
Colcelli, V., Cippitani, R., Brochhausen-Delius, C., & Arnold, R. (Eds.). (2023). GDPR requirements for biobanking activities across Europe. Springer.Suitable for English stream
4.
Crouch, M. (2025). Medical genetics and law: An international perspective (2nd ed.). Springer.Suitable for English stream
5.
Draghici, C. (2024). Procreative rights in international law: Insights from the European Court of Human Rights. Cambridge University PressSuitable for English stream
6.
Ferrara, A. (2025). Bioethical reflections on the border between life and death. Springer.Suitable for English stream
7.
Hayenhjelm, M., & Nordlund, C. (2025). The risks and ethics of human gene editing: A philosophical guide to the arguments. Springer VS.Suitable for English stream
8.
Laing, J. M., & McHale, J. V. (Eds.). (2025). Principles of medical law (5th ed.). Oxford University Press.Suitable for English stream
9.
Laurie, G., Dove, E., Ganguli-Mitra, A., McMillan, C., Postan, E., Sethi, N., & Sorbie, A. (Eds.). (2021). The Cambridge handbook of health research regulation. Cambridge University Press.Suitable for English stream
10.
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2025). Regulation (EU) 2025/327 of 11 February 2025 on the European Health Data Space and amending Directive 2011/24/EU and Regulation (EU) 2024/2847. Official Journal of the European Union, L, 2025/327.Suitable for English stream
Additional Reading
1.
Council of Europe. (1950). Convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms (ETS No. 5).Suitable for English stream
2.
Council of Europe. (1997). Convention for the protection of human rights and dignity of the human being with regard to the application of biology and medicine: Convention on human rights and biomedicine (ETS No. 164).Suitable for English stream
3.
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2016). Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data and repealing Directive 95/46/EC. Official Journal of the European Union, L 119, 1–88.Suitable for English stream
4.
European Parliament & Council of the European Union. (2024). Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending certain Union legislative acts. Official Journal of the European Union, L, 2024/1689.Suitable for English stream
Other Information Sources
1.
Ārstniecības likums. (1997). Latvijas Vēstnesis, 167/168. Spēkā esošā konsolidētā redakcija.Suitable for English stream
2.
Biobanku likums. (2026). Latvijas Vēstnesis, 99. Spēkā esošā redakcija.Suitable for English stream
3.
Pacientu tiesību likums. (2009). Latvijas Vēstnesis, 205. Spēkā esošā konsolidētā redakcija.Suitable for English stream
4.
Par miruša cilvēka ķermeņa aizsardzību un cilvēka audu un orgānu izmantošanu medicīnā. (1992). Latvijas Republikas Augstākās Padomes un Valdības Ziņotājs, 1/2. Spēkā esošā konsolidētā redakcija.Suitable for English stream
5.
Seksuālās un reproduktīvās veselības likums. (2002). Latvijas Vēstnesis, 27. Spēkā esošā konsolidētā redakcija.Suitable for English stream