Medical Law

Profession

A healthcare lawyer is not just a legal adviser; he/she is a member of a multidisciplinary team, a full participant in working out a strategy for economic development of a medical or pharmaceutical organisation of any form of ownership. The role of a lawyer in a medical (pharmaceutical) organisation can be compared with the role of a counselor-at law, whose task is to represent the interests of the management and employees of the organisation in the event of conflict situations with patients, as well as in relations with regulatory, supervisory and law enforcement agencies. The main difference between the concepts of “lawyer” and “medical lawyer” is the scope of the functions performed. A distinctive feature of the profession of a medical lawyer suggests understanding of the specifics of medical and pharmaceutical activities. At the same time, a medical lawyer can be not only a “shield” of a company; they are also able to competently represent the interests of medical and pharmaceutical staff or patients in court.

Educational Process

The programme has been worked out in such a way that the student receives only introductory data of the lecture courses. The main body of knowledge is mastered at the seminars dedicated to discussing the latest trends in the relevant field of legal regulation. Case analysis (that is, specific court decisions) makes it possible to see the application of certain provisions of legislation, governing the medical and pharmaceutical field in practice. Students regularly take part in round table discussions, academic seminars and conferences, publish articles in academic journals and carry out research work.
The course provides an opportunity to acquire knowledge and professional skills necessary for a lawyer working in healthcare. It is possible to form an individual curriculum: the student is allowed to choose those subjects from the course module that are particularly interesting to him/her, (e.g. legal regulation of control and supervisory activities in the field of healthcare, the specifics of representing the interests of medical and pharmaceutical organizations in the judicial bodies, or information and digital technologies in medical and pharmaceutical activities).
Disciplines: Current Issues of Medical Law, Safety of Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities, Biosafety, Financial Support of Medical and Pharmaceutical Activities, Legal Regulation of the Circulation of Medicines and Medical Products in the Russian Federation, Legal Responsibility in Medical Law, etc.

Practice

Depending on the student’s choice, an internship in law firms of Moscow and the Moscow Region is possible, specializing in legal support for medical and pharmaceutical companies, or in a large medical organization (after passing an interview). Students have the opportunity to put their knowledge into practice within 6 weeks: participate in the negotiation process, draw up legal documents, including procedural ones, resolve disputes arising from medical (pharmaceutical) workers and patients, conduct

Career

The graduates who have mastered the programme are sought-after by employers, since they have a variety of knowledge and skills acquired in the field of legal support of the activities of a medical (pharmaceutical) organization. They will be able to work both in the public healthcare system and in private clinics. They will also be able to hold civil service positions in federal executive authorities and executive authorities of the constituent entities of the Russian Federation responsible for health care.