Douglas Hamilton

Douglas Hamilton came from dental background to embarked upon the Healthcare Law and Ethics course at Dundee University in 2006.

"After many years in general dental practice, I embarked upon the Healthcare Law and Ethics course at Dundee University in 2006, with the aim of acquiring a degree of expertise in medico-legal matters.

While the syllabus content could, at times, be somewhat daunting, it was structured with a degree of flexibility. Core teaching, research and assignment submission were all achievable electronically, and academic and IT support were easily accessible. Furthermore, by second year it was possible to select modules that were of greater interest and relevance to my particular field.

However, while distance learning allowed postgraduate study to dovetail with my personal and professional commitments, it also demanded significant self-discipline. Work had to be submitted on time and reflect the ongoing appraisals of the course tutors.

Completion of all three years has certainly provided me with an excellent knowledge of the critical areas of medical law, such as negligence and consent, as well as more controversial and current issues. It has also taught me to critique and argue with facts (rather than simply recite them) in a cogent and succinct manner."