My research interests lie within the broad fields of health care law and ethics, and family law. I've published on matters relating to developing/emerging biotechnologies (including xenotransplantation), reproduction, consent and capacity, and risk and regulation. I'm interested in decision-making processes and practices with regard to the 'vulnerable', including best interests assessments for pregnant women under the MHA, and how and from whom consent is obtained when the patient and her parents are under 18. I'm currently working on a number of projects relating to claims of conscience in health care practice, including a British Academy funded project (with Mary Neal frm the University of Strathclyde) exploring pharmacists' perceptions of ethical conflict and professional guidance, and a Royal Society of Edinburgh funded project (with Mary Neal (University of Strathclyde) and Stephen Smith (Cardiff University)) in which we have established the Accommodating Conscience Research Network (ACoRN). I'm also exploring how parental requests for experimental treatment should be regulated, post-Gard.
1. Health care law and ethics generally. I have a particular interest in clinical research involving human and non-human animals, developing biotechnologies (such as xenotransplantation), reproduction and reproductive technologies, organ donation and transplantation, consent and capacity, decision making for the 'vulnerable', and issues relating to capacity, consent, risk and regulation.
2. Family law - especially issues around parents, parenthood and reproductive technologies, children and childhood - particularly children and health.
2018-19
Lecturing and leading workshops on Law 300 Health Care Law and Ethics.
I am on academic research leave (sabbatical leave) for the Lent term 2019.
Associate Editor - BMC Medical Ethics (Springer), Medical Law Review (Oxford University Press).
AHRC Peer Review College member.
External Examiner
2017- University of Leicester.
2016 - University of Surrey.
I am currently working on 4 projects, 2 of which relate to claims of conscience in health care:
(i) a British Academy/Leverhulme funded project with Mary Neal (University of Strathclyde) exploring pharmacists' perceptions of ethical conflict and professional guidance in the light of the revised General Pharmaceutical Council Standards of Conduct, Ethics and Performance. In this project we are interviewing pharmacists in the UK about the role of personal values in their practice, and how this fits with professional expectations.
(ii) a Royal Society of Edinburgh funded project with Dr Mary Neal (University Strathclyde) and Dr Stephen Smith (Cardiff University), in which we have established the Accommodating Consciencr Research Network (ACoRN). The Network will explore the 'what', 'why', 'how', and 'when' of accommodating claims of conscience within health care practice.
(iii) the appropriate role of the court when parents and treating teams disagree about providing experimental treatment to children.
(iv) whether the best interests test, under the MCA 2005, is an appropriate test to apply to pregnant women under the MHA, in the context of delivery decisions at the end of term.
