Heath, in a nutshell.

Basically, I created this blog in the hope I could follow some top lawyers and law students, and they'd give me advice on how to get my foot in the legal doorframe. But it's one hell of a long shot. I'm a second year student, currently searching for LPC places, weighing up the costs and pros of each place. I've got my heart set on moving to Bristol so I'll be in the west country again and a short drive from Wootton Bassett, my home town. I dont plan on living at home because I doubt i'll get any peace and quiet but it'd be lovely to be able to go home regularly.


I'm learning sign language on the side as well. I have deaf family members and used to be at a conversational standard, I'm hoping to get back on form with this as I feel not only will I be able to talk to my family members properly other than on face book, but it'll make me stand out from the legal rat pack, having a second language other than the usual French, German and Spanish that is normally seen on potential lawyers CV's. 

Im finding some parts of the course fantastic, and other parts are about as fun as stabbing yourself in the eye. Tort law is a particular favourite and Medical law. I was gutted not to be able to take legal theory this year but there's always next. I'm hoping to do a dissertation based on how Utilitarianism affects certain aspects of medical law. Public law and European law on the other hand is a massive drag. It induces many many tears.

I'm studying at Aberystwyth university. I won a scholarship here, basically an unconditional offer and a monetary value, however all the money they gave me was spend on deposits for my second year house and summer retainer. I hate the house with a passion. Electricity is ridiculously expensive, the house is cold constantly and the land lord is a prat. Aberystwyth is a beautiful place. It's lovely being by the sea and there are some fatastic places to eat. There are a million pubs, my favourite being Lord Beechings with its 241 cocktails. Hmmm Cosmopolitans. The club scene is pretty dire though. Why Not is a dive, a no go for any claustrophobic or anyone who hates stickly floors. Pier Pressure is much better, although you have to pay to get in so often most of my more hard core partying friends prefer why not for it's free entry. Finally the union is another option. Most days you've got to be pretty desperate to go there. It never gets any big acts like other universities. Sclub reunion (as in 3 members of s club seven) is about as big as we get. Although the dubstep scene is massive here, we have had the likes of chase and status and Sidney Sampson (Riverside motherf*cker?) recently. On a wednesday is reload, where they play the worlds most cheesiest music. Thats a treat. There's also the Angel Inn where they have an almost underground basement which they kit out with strobe lights and host Drum and Base nights, reggae dubstep etc. But if that's not your scene then you're stuffed. As an indie lover i'm very deprived.

My hobbies are ballet and cooking. I'm too old for real ballet now so I do a more aerobics form of Ballet now and I really enjoy cooking. I'm pretty good at it. I dont even mind cooking meat dishes for my boyfriend, but luckily he's happy to eat vegetarian food most of the time. He loved my Potato, chickpea and spinage thai green curry that I made the other night :)

Anyhow, this blog will hopefully take off and i'll be able to talk to other law students/practitioners.

Medico

I was fortunate enough to be accepted onto a joint lawyers/doctors seminar. I was expecting it to be medical students not actual GP's, but this is invaluable insight to how the seperate professions work and interlink. We have to devise a contraversial scenario and create a presentation based on the legal, medical and ethical implications. This is what we have come up with:

 “Ben is aged 19  and following a rugby accident has become paralysed from the chest down.  In the accident he dislocated his neck vertebrae trapping the spinal column which rendered him immediately paraplegic.  The accident occurred in September 2009. Prior to the accident he was an active member of his local Rugby Club and was also part way through a degree at University in construction engineering.  He was however likely to take up a position as a professional rugby player. He needs constant care which is provided by his parents at home and is therefore reliant on them for all his physical needs.

In a routine visit to his GP to re-evaluate his current medical care – he has been taken there by two friends – he tells his GP (who has knows the family fairly well as they have been registered with the GP’s practice for many years) that he has decided he cannot live what he calls “a second rate existence” anymore, constantly dependent on other people particularly his parents for his everyday needs.  He has attempted to commit suicide three times over the past 12 months but without success. He has decided that he wishes to end his life now as he cannot face living this way for the next 30-40 years,  bearing in mind his parents will only be able to look after him for a portion of this time whilst their own health allows them to.  He has arranged for his two friends to take him to the Dignitas clinic in Berne, Switzerland in the next few weeks/months so he can carryout his wishes to effectively die a death with dignity.  He appears competent and rational and does not appear upset by his decision .  He informs the GP his parents are not aware of his decision and he has no intention of telling them.  They believe his friends are taking him on a long weekend away.  He explicitly requests that you do not discuss this matter with his parents."

The main question is whether to break the code of confidentiality or not, and tell his parents. 

I think there is much scope for ethical grounds on this. for a start, as he is not terminally ill, by breaking the confidentiality promise, you would be saving his life rather than allowing him to take his own life in a more dignified and slightly earlier time. Also as he is reliant on his parents, surely they have a right to know. It's likely he feels a burden on his parents and this has influenced his decision. 

These are the initial complications and issues that rise immediately to my mind, and I haven't even had time to sit down and start creating the presentation yet! I will keep you updated as to what we come up with but any feed back would be very appreciated. Everyone is likely to have different ideas and opinions, which is what makes this so fascinating.