Postgraduate Studies

Law in Health Care

GOAL OF THE STUDIES

The goal of the studies is to provide and consolidate knowledge in the field of medical law for graduates of all degree programmes who are interested in this subject, in particular economists, lawyers, medicine doctors, health service managers, and people associated with the broadly understood health system.

DESCRIPTION

The studies provide knowledge in the field of medical law. Students will gain knowledge in the field of medical law, professional liability, mediation proceedings, learn about the legal acts that constitute medical law, learn about negotiation techniques related to contracting of health services and the rules of organising medical activities for the safety of patients and medical personnel. The partners of the University of Silesia in Katowice are the Medical University of Silesia and the Silesian Medical Chamber.

GRADUATE PROFILE

After completing the studies, the graduate:

• knows the provisions related to medical licence and professional liability
• knows and understands the hierarchy of legal acts constituting the sources of law in the Polish legal system
• possesses the knowledge and understanding of the legal acts that constitute the medical law to the extent necessary to pursue medical profession
• is familiar with the institutions of criminal and civil law, in particular those that determine the limits of liability in the event of treatment failure
• possesses general knowledge of the areas of law indirectly shaping the functioning in medical professions (European law, labour law, company law)
• is able to assess the legal aspects of activities performed routinely in everyday medical activities and management activities related to it, as well as to act in a manner adequate to these arrangements
• is aware of the importance and understanding of the patient’s rights
• is practically prepared to conduct mediation.

CURRICULUM

The curriculum is prepared in a way which allows the students to acquire the ability to use specific legal tools in practice while learning about key legal regulations. The studies provide the opportunity to obtain comprehensive knowledge in the field of medical law.
Students receive comprehensive information on the provisions relating to professional liability and the right to practice as a medical doctor. After completing the studies, the students possess practical knowledge related to the management of medical entities, allowing for effective management of health facilities.

LECTURERS

The employees of the University of Silesia, doctors engaged in forensic medicine and experts in the field of occupational medicine, practitioners representing the Silesian Medical Chamber and the Medical University of Silesia are responsible for covering individual issues constituting the curriculum.

The lecturers include:

• Joanna Andrzejewska – legal counsel, entered on the list of legal advisers of the Regional Chamber of Legal Counsels in Katowice since 2014. Provides legal assistance, among others for regional medical court. Speaker at conferences in the field of medical law, the image of doctors, mediation. Mediator entered on the list of permanent mediators at the Regional Court in Katowice.
• Prof. Jacek Barcik – lawyer, professor of social sciences in the field of law, attorney, specialist in the field of public international law, European Union law, and public health law. His research interests focus on the constitutional law of the European Union, international public health law, human rights, and transport law. Member of the European Health Law Association, European Law Institute, and International Law Association. An attorney, and a member of the Regional Bar Association in Katowice.
• Agnieszka Bielska-Brodziak, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor – professor at the University of Silesia, member of the Bioethical and Legal Theory Research Team at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, legal counsel, legal expert of the Polish Sejm. Author of scientific publications in the field of interpretation of law. She cooperates with the Silesian Department of the Polish Medical Society of Radiology, the Screener for Professional Liability of the Silesian Chamber of Physicians and Dentists, and a team of physicians of the Department of Pediatrics, Endocrinology and Pediatric Diabetology of Medical University of Silesia in Katowice. In her scientific work, Agnieszka Bielska-Brodziak, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor, specialises in the theory and philosophy of law. Her interests focus on bioethics, especially issues of legal gender and its axiological, biological, and social context, as well as the legal and ethical status of animals. Serves as the Student and PhD Student Ombudsperson of the University of Silesia.
• Prof. Rafał Blicharz – lawyer, professor in the field of law, member of the Comparative Economic Law Team at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, legal counsel, author of studies on legal regulation of the financial market with particular emphasis on the capital market, business law, and competition law. Author of scientific publications in the field of economic law. Head of the Department of Public Economic Law. Initiator of scientific and practical projects, also a coordinator for international contacts. He specialises in legal regulation of the financial market, with particular emphasis on the capital market, business entity law (business activity law, company law, and also companies with the State Treasury shareholding), as well as competition law.
• Katarzyna Dąbek-Krajewska, PhD – legal counsel, specialist in the field of medical activities. A graduate of law at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, in 2005 she obtained a doctoral degree in the field of law. Member of The European Law Students’ Association ELSA. A graduate of Collegium Invisible.
• Prof. Teresa Dukiet-Nagórska – lawyer, professor of law, recipient of the prestigious “State and Law” award for her habilitation. Author of works in the field of substantive criminal law and medical law – including the monograph “Patient’s Autonomy and Criminal Law”. In 2012, she was awarded the academic title of professor of law. She became a Full Professor at the University of Silesia and the Head of the Department of Criminal Law and Criminology of the University of Silesia.
• Mariusz Fras, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor – professor of the University of Silesia, member of the team for research on private law aspects of subjective property and non-property rights at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, attorney, author of academic works in the field of private law, specialist in the field of insurance.
• Prof. Jadwiga Glumińska-Pawlic – professor of law, author of many publications in the field of tax law and public finance. A recognised expert in local government finance, especially local taxes. Tax advisor, Chair of the National Examination Commission for Tax Advisory.
• Piotr Gorczyca, MD, PhD, DSc – professor of the Medical University of Silesia, Department of Psychiatry, specialist in adult, child and adolescent psychiatry, MA in psychology. Head of the Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Department of Psychiatry of the Medical University of Silesia.
• Jakub Hanc, MA – Assistant at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, member of the Medical Mediation Research Team and the Criminal Law and Criminology Research Team for Freedom of Art, author of publications on criminal law and medical law.
• Christian Jabłoński, MD, PhD – acting Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic and Medical Toxicology of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, specialist in forensic medicine. Head of the Silesian Branch of the Polish Society of Forensic Medicine and Criminology. Lecturer of forensics, medical law and medical ethics. A graduate of the Postgraduate Studies in Medical Law, Bioethics and Sociology of Medicine at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Warsaw.
• Mariusz Jagielski, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor – lawyer, Professor at the University of Silesia, Plenipotentiary of the Rector of the University of Silesia for Personal Data Protection, specialist in the field of personal data protection, constitutional law, and public law.
• Monika Jagielska, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor – lawyer, Professor at the University of Silesia, head of the Research Group on European and Polish private international law, member of the European and Polish Private Law Research Team at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, author of publications in the field of private law, especially on the law of obligations and consumer protection. An expert of the European Commission evaluating research projects in European Union programs, including Horizon 2020.
• Stefan Kopocz, MD, PhD – graduate of the Medical Faculty of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, specialist in the field of traumatology and orthopaedics, an employee of the Provincial Specialist Hospital No. 1 in Tychy for many years, former Chief of the Traumatology and Orthopaedic Department of the above-mentioned hospital. He has been closely associated with the Silesian Medical Chamber in Katowice Since 1993, Regional Screener for Professional Liability for the 2nd, 4th, 5th and 7th term of office. Head of the Team for Medical Legal Report in matters of professional and criminal liability of the 6th term of office, member of the Postgraduate Education Committee of the Medical University of Silesia, engaged in the promotion of medical law in the medical community. He is a member of the State Examining Board in the field of orthopaedics and traumatology of the musculoskeletal system. He belongs to the Polish Society of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, as well as the Polish Medical Society.
• Agnieszka Nowak, MD, PhD – graduate of the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, researcher and lecturer at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, specialist in forensic medicine, graduate of postgraduate studies in Medical Law, Bioethics and Sociology of Medicine at the University of Warsaw, Faculty of Law and Administration. Her scientific achievements are in her area of interest and include forensic medicine and medical law.
• Prof. Tomasz Pietrzykowski – lawyer, professor of law, researcher at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, Vice-Rector for International and Domestic Cooperation at the University of Silesia in Katowice, legal counsel. Author of monographic studies devoted to bioethical issues, as well as the structure of the legal system and the contemporary approach to legal positivism. Member of the National Animal Research Ethics Committee at the Ministry of Science and Higher Education and deputy chairman of the Bioethics Committee of the Medical University of Silesia.
• Piotr Pinior, PhD, DLitt, Assoc. Prof. – lawyer, professor at the University of Silesia, Deputy Dean for Research of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, Director of the Institute of Law at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia in Katowice, member of the Economic and Commercial Law Research Team, author of numerous works in the field of company law.
• Rafał Skowronek, MD, PhD – research and teaching Assistant Professor at the Department of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Toxicology at the Faculty of Medicine of the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, specialist in forensic medicine – forensic medicine and entomology, toxicology, pathomorphology, endocrinology. A graduate of the Doctoral Studies at the Faculty of Medicine in Katowice, a member of the Polish Society of Forensic Medicine and Criminology, the Polish Society of Toxicology, the Polish Biochemical Society, and the European Association for Forensic Entomology.
• Ryszard Szozda, MD, PhD – physician, social medicine doctor, internal medicine doctor, specialist in health care organisation, specialist in occupational medicine, doctor of medical sciences, health and safety technician. He has served as a court expert since 1988 – currently in the field of internal diseases, occupational medicine, occupational diseases of the respiratory system, medical certification and health care organisation (in the District Courts in Gliwice, Opole and Jelenia Góra), and alcohol toxicology (in the District Court in Gliwice). Author of over 400 works published in Poland and abroad (on carbon black, history of occupational medicine as well as forensic medical and insurance certification). Reviewer of print and online editions of “The Medical Disability Advisor” (USA) since 2001. Member of the State Examining Committee in occupational medicine and public health. Member of the Polish Society of Occupational Medicine. Judge in the Medical Chamber of the District Medical Court of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th term of office, including the Vice-Chair of the District Medical Court in the 6th term, delegate to the District Medical Congress of the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th term, delegate to the National Medical Congress of the 7th and 8th term of office. Initiator of the establishment of the Team for Medical Legal Report and Certification at District Medical Chamber (ORL) in Katowice in 2010 – since 2016, uninterruptedly Head of the Team for Medical Legal Report and Certification in Civil, Labour and Social Insurance Cases.
  Sławomir Tkacz, PhD, DLitt, Associate Professor – lawyer with a postdoctoral degree in law, Professor at the University of Silesia, Head of the Research Team on Law and Values at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, specialist in the theory of law and philosophy of law, attorney.
• Prof. Zygmunt Tobor – lawyer, professor of law, theoretician of law, Professor at the University of Silesia, Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia in the years 2005-2012, long-term Head of the Institute of Law, Theory and Philosophy of Law, at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, the subject of the author’s scientific interests include issues of legality, axiology of law, and interpretation of legal texts.
• Urszula Torbus, PhD – doctor of law, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, Plenipotentiary of the Rector for Labour Law, member of the Labour Law and Social Policy Research Team, mediator of the Silesian Center for Arbitration and Mediation at the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, author of many academic papers on professional liability and termination of employment contracts, with particular emphasis on dismissals for reasons not related to employees.
• Tadeusz Urban, MD, PhD – specialist in gynaecology and obstetrics. Chief of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Department of the Specialist Hospital No. 2 in Bytom, the Director for Healthcare, and Managing Director of the above-mentioned hospital in the years 2001-2008. Graduate of postgraduate studies in the field of management of health care institutions; medical law, bioethics and sociology of medicine; healthcare institution as a commercial law company; a course for members of Supervisory Boards. He has been associated with the medical self-government since 2001 as a Deputy District Screener for Professional Liability, District Screener for Professional Liability, Head of the Council of District Screeners of Medical Chambers. The originator of the establishment of the Team for Medical Legal Report in matters of professional and criminal liability in the Silesian Medical Chamber. President of the District Medical Council in Katowice since 2018. Lecturer in the field of professional, civil, criminal, and employer liability at specialisation and improvement courses as well as at postgraduate studies.
• Piotr Zawiejski, PhD – doctor of law, Assistant Professor at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, legal counsel, specialist in the field of criminal economic and fiscal law.
• Prof. Kazimierz Zgryzek – lawyer, professor in the field of legal sciences, Head of the Procedural Criminal Law Team at the Institute of Law of the University of Silesia, lawyer, former Dean of the Faculty of Law and Administration of the University of Silesia, author of several dozen publications in the field of procedural criminal law.

ORGANISATION

Duration:
Number of semesters: 2
Number of hours: 192

Organisation of classes:
Classes take place on Saturdays and Sundays 1 – 2 sessions per month. Classes will be conducted remotely, on MS Teams platform. Classes will be conducted at the seat of the Silesian Medical Chamber in Katowice, ul. Grażyńskiego 49a.

Graduation criteria:
In order to complete postgraduate studies, a student must pass the final exam with a positive grade.

Graduation document:
Postgraduate diploma issued by the University of Silesia in Katowice.

ADMISSION PROCESS

Candidates
The studies are addressed to graduates of higher education who are interested in the issues of medical law, including medical professionals, health service managers and other persons related to the broadly understood health care system, court appointed experts and lawyers engaged in health care issues, medical and ethical committees, professional liability bodies, patients ombudsmen, employees of the National Health Fund.

Admission process:
Apply online
Electronic admission process in Online Application System (IRK) on the dates specified in Online Application System (IRK). Choose and proceed according to the instructions.

Admission criteria:
Candidates are admitted to studies according to the registration order and the result of the admission procedure (if it was conducted).

Planned date of beginning of classes: October/February

FEES

After being admitted to postgraduate studies, you may start your studies, subject to paying the fee for postgraduate studies. Payments should be made to the student’s individual account, within the deadlines specified in the agreement.

CONTACT

Head of Postgraduate Studies
Prof. Zygmunt Tobor
e-mail: zygmunt.tobor@us.edu.pl

Secretary Office
Monika Łyczba
e-mail: monika.lyczba@us.edu.pl
Tel. 32 359 16 98

Faculty of Law and Administration
ul. Bankowa 11b, room 2.2
40-007 Katowice
Tel. 32 359 16 98