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This elective provides students with the opportunity to examine some of the key policy and legal issues confronted by state medical licensing boards in the context of regulating the medical profession. The role of the professional regulation board in the context of the modern health care delivery system will be examined in-depth. Discussion will focus on issues such as the role of licensing boards in managed care, prescribing practices and privileges, the impact of technology on physician oversight, and the changing supervisory role of physicians over allied health professionals. A seminar/tutorial teaching format will be used, with emphasis on student research and class discussion.

As a result of participation in this elective, students will be able to:

Analyze and discuss leading cases from Illinois and other jurisdictions about the regulation of physicians.
Describe and discuss the legal, regulatory, and administrative issues arising out of the use of telemedicine, the internet, and e-mail in medical practice.
Analyze and explain the legal arguments pertaining to the role of medical boards in managed care, as presented in cases such as Murphy v. Arizona Bd. of Med. Exam'rs, 949 P.2d 530 (Ariz. Ct. App. 1997) and Morris v. District of Columbia Bd. of Med., 701 A.2d 364 (D.C. Ct. App. 1997).
Discuss the recent debate over the acceptance of advance nurse practitioners in Illinois.
Consider issues relative to the regulation of "alternative" medicine by state medical boards.
Identify and discuss issues concerning prescribing privileges, including the arguments for and against expanding the right to non-physicians, such as psychologists.
Discuss the arguments for and against making "physician profiles" available to the public.

Student evaluation will be based upon performance in oral presentations concerning topics mentioned above, daily participation in seminar sessions, and the submission of a research paper on a selected topic.

Completion of all third-year clerkships
Enrollment in the M.D./J.D. Dual Degree Program

Faculty responsible for elective	Ross D. Silverman, J.D., M.P.H. rsilverman@siumed.edu
Telephone	217.545.4261
Enrollment: Maximum number of students :	5 per experience
Schedule	2 weeks, Full-time
Credit Hours	2 non-clinical credits awarded

MD/JD Electives
Medical Humanities Electives