HMGT 372 at the University of Maryland Global Campus examines legal and ethical issues encountered in health care management and their effects on the delivery of health services and patient care. UMGC lists HMGT 300 or NURS 300 as the prerequisite.
The stated aim is to apply ethical principles and practice within the legal and ethical standards of health care. Students often find the difficulty is separating what the law requires from what ethics asks, since the two do not always agree.
Because cases rarely have one correct answer, marks go to reasoning that is structured, balanced and supported by sources.
Course at a Glance
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| University | University of Maryland Global Campus |
| Course code | HMGT 372 (3 credits) |
| Prerequisite | HMGT 300 or NURS 300 |
| Level | Upper-level undergraduate |
| Subject area | Health law and ethics for managers |
| Typical work | Case analyses, discussions and short papers (general; check your syllabus) |
What HMGT 372 Covers
- Ethical principles used in health care, applied to management situations.
- Legal standards that frame health care practice and administration.
- Consequences of legal and ethical issues for service delivery and patient care.
- Application of ethical practice within legal and ethical standards.
Key Concepts Explained
Four Common Ethical Principles
Health care ethics is often organized around autonomy (respecting choices), beneficence (doing good), non-maleficence (avoiding harm) and justice (fairness). A strong analysis names which principles are in tension.
Invented illustration: A facility has one available bed and two patients in need. Justice asks for a fair allocation rule; beneficence favors the patient who benefits most; autonomy concerns informed participation. The analysis explains the conflict and defends a stated decision rule.
Law Versus Ethics
Something can be legal yet ethically questionable, or ethical yet legally risky. State the legal requirement first, then the ethical considerations, then your recommendation.
Managerial Accountability
Managers are responsible for policies, training and monitoring that reduce harm. Link your recommendation to a concrete organizational step, such as a policy review or staff education.
Typical Assignments and How to Approach Them
| Type | Tests | Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Ethical case analysis | Structured reasoning | Identify facts, principles in conflict, options, recommendation |
| Legal issue paper | Understanding of standards | Use primary or authoritative sources and state the date |
| Discussion post | Reasoned position | Take a view and answer the strongest objection |
A Five-Step Ethics Framework
| Step | Do this |
|---|---|
| 1. Facts | Summarize what is known and unknown |
| 2. Law | State the relevant legal duty |
| 3. Principles | Identify the ethical principles in conflict |
| 4. Options | Compare two or three actions and their consequences |
| 5. Decision | Recommend one and justify it |
Worked Example: A Short Ethical Analysis
Consider this invented scenario. A clinic manager learns that a staff member viewed the records of a neighbor without a work reason. The manager must decide how to respond.
Model reasoning (invented): The legal question is whether patient privacy rules were breached and what reporting duties follow, which the organization's compliance officer and counsel should confirm. The ethical principles in tension are respect for patient confidentiality, fairness to the employee and the duty to protect other patients. Options include coaching, formal discipline or escalation. A defensible recommendation is to investigate promptly, apply the policy consistently and review access controls so the issue is less likely to recur.
The answer does not claim to give legal advice. It identifies the legal question, applies principles and ends with an organizational action. That shape works for most cases.
Using Legal and Ethical Sources
Cite authoritative sources: statutes and regulations from government sites, professional codes of ethics, and peer-reviewed commentary. Check the date, because legal standards change and vary by state.
When you quote a principle, link it to the situation. A sentence that merely defines autonomy earns less than one that shows how respecting a patient's informed choice changes what the manager should do.
Writing About Confidentiality and Consent
Confidentiality and informed consent are common topics in a course on legal and ethical issues. Treat them as examples of how duties apply, not as terms to define.
Explain what the duty protects, who owes it and what exceptions are recognized. Then apply it to a management scenario, such as how a records policy should handle access by staff. Cite authoritative sources, state the date and note that rules vary by state. Avoid statements such as "the law always requires" unless a source supports them.
Where Students Get Stuck
- Giving personal opinion only. Support views with principles and sources.
- Legal overstatement. Avoid claiming what a law says unless you cite it; laws vary by state.
- One-sided analysis. Address the best counter-argument.
Study Tips for HMGT 372
- Memorize the four principles and one example of each.
- Practice the five-step framework on news cases.
- Always date and cite legal sources.
How We Help with HMGT 372
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Frequently Asked Questions
UMGC lists HMGT 300 or NURS 300.
It examines legal and ethical issues in health care management; it is not a law degree course.
Legal duties are set by law; ethical duties come from professional and moral principles and may go beyond the law.
Use facts, law, principles, options and decision.
No; we provide academic study support only.
No; you submit your own work, using our models as study aids.