Law, Ethics, and Professionalism in EHS - UAE

• The lesson introduces the legal system, focusing on an introduction to law, ethics, and professionalism within the context of Emergency Health Sciences (EHS).
• The primary learning outcome is to explain the legal status and requirements of medical care in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Definition of Law

• Law is defined as a rule of conduct and a system of regulations or processes recognized as binding and enforced by a legitimate authority.
• Laws are principles that help individuals in a society resolve disputes and problems without resorting to force.
• Laws govern relationships between individuals, organizations, and the government.
• They clarify duties, obligations, and rights within a society, ensuring people understand what is expected of them and what they can expect from others.
• Governments enact laws to maintain societal function and control behaviors that could jeopardize public safety.

Importance of Understanding Law for Paramedics

• Familiarizes paramedics with relevant legal vocabulary, concepts, and the structure of the law.
• Equips them with knowledge of their legal responsibilities to avoid legal issues that could affect their careers.
• Helps paramedics understand the limits of their practice and the implications of their actions.
• Protects paramedics, patients, coworkers, and facilities.
• Promotes ethical behavior in patient care within the workplace, encouraging high professional standards.

Areas of Law: General Law and Private Law

• General law covers administrative, constitutional, and criminal acts.
• Private law governs the rights and duties between private individuals and organizations, with civil law as a primary subdivision.
• Criminal and civil laws are the laws most relevant to healthcare practitioners.

General Law Subdivisions

• General law governs the powers of the government and public authorities and the actions between individuals and the government.
• Constitutional law derives from a country's constitution.
• Administrative law governs the functions, organization, and powers of government administrative agencies and controls their operations.
• Criminal law addresses offenses against a country or its sovereignty, punishing behavior that harms individuals or public interests.
• Police bring criminal cases to court on behalf of the state's citizens.
• A crime has been committed when: the action is considered an offense, and there was an intention to carry out the act.
• Types of crimes include: felony and misdemeanor.
• A felony is a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year.
• Examples include abuse, illegal drug dealing, murder, practicing medicine without a license, fraud, mayhem, and rape.
• A misdemeanor is a less serious crime, punishable by fines or imprisonment for less than one year.
• Examples include traffic violations, petty theft, and disturbing the peace.
• Criminal law aims to maintain justice, public order, safety, and individual protection by punishing offenders.
• Punishments aim to deter future crime and rehabilitate criminals.

Private Law Subdivision

• Seeks to recognize and enforce the rights and duties of private individuals and organizations.
• Civil law defines the rights and duties of individuals and private entities in their relationships.
• Under civil law, individuals or entities can sue others. Civil disputes often involve: contract violations, slander, libel, trespassing, product liability, or auto accidents.
• Civil cases often involve family matters such as divorce, and child custody.
• Judgments in such case usually require the payment of money to the injured party.
• In civil law, the person who brings the case is the 'Plantiff' and the other party is the 'Respondent'.
• The two basic subdivisions of liability in Civil Law include Tort and Contract.
• A Tort action is a wrongful civil action which lead to loss. It can result in legal liability.
• A contract is a legally bonding agreement of the rights and duties to the parties involved in the case.

Sources of Law

• Origins of laws, referring to the sovereign or authority from which law derives its validity.
• The Constitution sets out the powers and functions of government branches and fundamental principles.
• Legislation generally takes priority over other sources of law apart from the Constitution.
• Judicial decisions can evolve into case law.

Sources of Law in the UAE

• According to Article 7 of the UAE Constitution (1971, amended through 2009), Islamic Sharia is the main source of legislation.
• The laws of the Constitution lay down the structure for the judiciary and courts.
• UAE legislation is a mixture of Islamic Sharia laws and civil laws.

Islamic Sharia Law

• Islamic law is embodied in the Sharia, an Arabic word meaning "the right path".
• Sharia governs all aspects of a Muslim's life:
• The Holy Qu'ran is considered the principal source as it has the word of Allah.
• The Sunnah are the verbal teachings of Prophet Mohammed.
• Agreement among religious scholars regarding solutions to matters not covered in the Koran or the Sunnah. It is called Al Ijma.
• Al Qiyas is used in the absence of a clear decision and drawn in line with previously cited sources of law.

Legal Systems

• Legal systems are processes or procedures for interpreting, enforcing, and applying the law.
• It provides a systematic and orderly method for resolving disagreements.
• Two Types: Common Law System and Civil Law System.

Legal Systems Cont...

Common Law System

• Consists of principles evolved from judicial decisions of courts.
• Judicial decisions are binding.
• Common law court reviews past decisions of similar courts to make a decision.
• The United States of America and England apply common law jurisdictions.
• Common law is not recognized/adopted in the UAE.

Civil Law System

• Places less emphasis on court precedent than other law systems.
• Civil law relies on federal laws and constitutions.
• In a civil law system, a judge establishes facts and bases judgements on codified laws.
• Civil law system has been adopted by the UAE.

An introduction to law, ethics, and professionalism within Emergency Health Sciences (EHS). It defines law as a binding rule of conduct enforced by authority. Focuses on legal requirements of medical care in the UAE and the importance of understanding law for paramedics.