PBBS 1012 Communication, Counselling And Medico Legal Assignment 2026 | DIT
PBBS1012 Assignment Brief
Module: Communication, Counselling and Medico Legal
Code: PBBS 1012
Weightage: 20%
Mode Of Assessment: Case Study Analysis
Assignment Objective
This assignment aims to supports students in demonstrating professional values, ethical decision-making, legal accountability, and commitment to safe infection prevention and control practices in accordance with professional codes of conduct. (A4, PLO 11).
Instruction To Students
- Select ONE (1) real healthcare-related legal case involving a medico-legal issue such as:
- Negligence or malpractice
- Breach of confidentiality
- Failure to obtain informed consent
- Occupational exposure incidents
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs)
- Outbreak management failures
- Failure to comply with infection prevention and control measures
- Failure to report notifiable infectious diseases
- The selected case may be obtained from:
- Court judgments
- Published journal articles
- Professional disciplinary cases
- Government or Ministry of Health reports
- WHO reports
- Credible news reports
- Support all discussions with relevant literature, legal references, professional guidelines, and current evidence.
- Students are encouraged to relate the case analysis to infection prevention and control practices where applicable.
Assignment Structures
Part A: Case Background (20 Marks)
Provide a concise overview of the selected case.
Include:
- Background of the case
- Healthcare setting involved
- Individuals involved
- Summary of events
- Outcome of the case
Guiding Questions
- What happened?
- Who was involved?
- What was the outcome?
Part B: Ethical And Legal Analysis (30 Marks)
Analyze the ethical and legal issues involved in the case.
Ethical Principles
- Beneficence
- Non-maleficence
- Autonomy
- Justice
- Accountability
Legal Responsibilities
- Duty of care
- Negligence
- Malpractice
- Confidentiality
- Professional accountability
Guiding Questions
- Which ethical principles were upheld or violated?
- What legal responsibilities were involved?
- Were there any breaches of professional standards?
Part C: Infection Prevention And Control Analysis (25 Marks)
Discuss the case from an Infection Control perspective.
Consider:
- Standard precautions
- Transmission-based precautions
- Surveillance
- Risk communication
- Patient safety
- Occupational safety
Guiding Questions
- What IPC issues contributed to the incident?
- Which IPC principles were breached?
- How could the incident have been prevented?
Part D: Professional Code Of Conduct And Reflection (15 Marks)
Discuss how professional codes of conduct apply to the case.
Reflect on:
- Professional accountability
- Ethical decision-making
- Safe practice
- Responsibility to protect patients and healthcare workers
Guiding Questions
- How should healthcare professionals have responded?
- What lessons can be learned from this case?
- How can ethical principles and legal responsibilities be integrated into IPC practice?
Part E: Recommendations And Conclusion (10 Marks)
Provide recommendations to prevent recurrence.
Include:
- Staff education
- Policy improvement
- Monitoring and auditing
- Leadership support
- IPC strengthening strategies
Conclude with key lessons learned from the case.
Assignment Guidelines:
Students should follow the guidelines for assignment writing as sections given.
I. Assignment Format & Structure:
Students must adhere to the provided assignment structure and sections.
II. Grading Criteria:
Assessment will be based on individual performance using a standardized rubric.
III. Word Limit:
The assignment should not exceed 2500 words.
IV. Formatting Requirements:
- Font: Times New Roman
- Font Size: 12
- Spacing: 1.5
V. Referencing Style:
APA 6th or 7th edition must be used for citations and references.
VI. Submission Deadline:
Date: 31st July 2026
Time: On or before 4:30 PM
VII. Late Submission Penalty:
A 2.5% deduction will be applied for late submissions.
VIII. Plagiarism Policy:
Zero marks will be awarded if plagiarism is detected