A new book examined the law and ethics surrounding the treatment and care of people with dementia. The book presented perspectives of clinicians, lawyers, and ethicists, and included accounts from dementia sufferers and their carers.
Source: Charles Foster, Jonathan Herring, and Israel Doron (eds), The Law and Ethics of Dementia, Hart Publishing
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jul
A private member's Bill was published that was designed to codify existing best practice relating to decisions by medical practitioners to depart from standard practice and to administer innovative treatment.
Source: Medical Innovation Bill, Lord Saatchi, TSO
Links: Bill | Explanatory notes
Date: 2014-Jun
An article examined the English law regarding children's capacity or competence to consent to, or to refuse, medical treatment. It said that the existing law was unsatisfactory in this regard and that the Mental Capacity Act 2005 and Deprivations of Liberty Safeguards should be applied to minors. It recommended establishing Mental Capacity Tribunals to provide legal safeguards and to support decision-making.
Source: Robin Mackenzie and John Watts, 'Is childhood a disability? Using Mental Capacity Tribunals and the Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards to shield children's capacity to consent to and refuse medical treatment', Tizard Learning Disability Review, Volume 19 Number 2
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the ethical implications of legislation for presumed consent in organ donation, outlining the perceived ethical and outcome benefits of such a system.
Source: Hannah Welbourn, 'A principlist approach to presumed consent for organ donation', Clinical Ethics, Volume 9 Number 1
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Mar
An article examined the treatment of adverse effects in the evaluation of public health interventions. It presented a framework for considering a range of potential harms: direct harms; psychological harms; equity harms; group and social harms; and opportunity harms. It concluded that a broad range of adverse effects should be taken into account when implementing and evaluating public health interventions and strategies.
Source: Theo Lorenc and Kathryn Oliver, 'Adverse effects of public health interventions: a conceptual framework', Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, Volume 68
Links: Abstract
Date: 2014-Jan
A paper discussed the faith-related barriers to organ donation and outlined an action plan, developed by religious leaders in partnership with NHS Blood and Transplant, to increase donation levels.
Source: Gurch Randhawa, Faith Engagement and Organ Donation Action Plan, University of Bedfordshire/NHS Blood and Transplant
Links: Paper | NHS Blood and Transplant response | University of Bedfordshire press release
Date: 2014-Jan
A new book examined the modern evolution of medical confidentiality. It looked at the common law position on medical privilege, the rise of public health and collective welfare measures, legal and public policy perspectives on medical confidentiality and privilege, and contestations over statutory recognition for medical privilege and Crown privilege.
Source: Angus Ferguson, Should a Doctor Tell? The evolution of medical confidentiality in Britain, Ashgate Publications
Links: Summary
Date: 2014-Jan
