Medical Law

Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry

Archived website of the Bristol Royal Infirmary Inquiry, an independent inquiry into children's heart surgery at the Infirmary. This public inquiry was chaired by Professor Ian Kennedy, Professor of Health Law, Ethics and Policy at University College London. Sections accessible from this site include the inquiry background, the hearing, events, answers, analysis, and a review of background papers, submissions, and inquiry seminars. The final report published as a Command Paper on 18 July 2001, is available from the site.

Office for Human Research Protections

The Office for Human Research Protections (OHRP) is the division of the United States Department of Health and Human Services responsible for ensuring that human subject research complies with appropriate regulations through the provision of guidance and education to research institutions. The OHRP website publishes a range of policy guidance, including federal regulations, compliance procedures and other advice-giving materials. Policy guidance is organised by topic including consent, research, human subjects, children, prisoners, stem cells and tissue storage.

Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research

Website of Public Responsibility in Medicine and Research (PRIM&R), a non-profit, membership organisation based in the United States concerned with "implementing, and advancing the highest ethical standards in the conduct of research". The site provides organisational and membership information along with details of past and upcoming conferences and PRIM&R publications. There is a large collection of links to related online resources, arranged under headings such as human subjects research, animal care and research, biosafety and general ethics.

American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics

Website of the American Society of Law, Medicine and Ethics (ASLME) , which aims to provide interdisciplinary educational resources for professionals and students whose work encompasses aspects of health, law and ethics. ASLME is responsible for the publication of two major health law journals, the Journal of Law, Medicine & Ethics and the American Journal of Law & Medicine. Back issues and individual articles can be ordered from the site. A collection of audio presentations, lectures and talks are made freely available to download on RealPlayer 8.0.

Declaration of Helsinki

Text of the Declaration of Helsinki, adopted in June 1964 by the General Assembly of the World Medical Association (WMA). The document is on the WMA's website. It incorporates amendments made at subsequent General Assembly meetings. The declaration concerns ethical principles for physicians and others carrying out medical research with human subjects. It is provided in English, French and Spanish.

Inquiry Into the Management of Care of Children Receiving Complex Heart Surgery at the Bristol Royal Infirmary. Final Report

This is a final report issued by a panel chaired by Professor Ian Kennedy in May 2000 by Bristol Royal Infirmary. It follows the public outcry after the discovery that over a long period of time tissue from children who had died following paediatric cardiac surgery at Bristol had been stored without their parents' knowledge or consent. The inquiry addresses this issue, considers the state of the law, and makes recommendations. The report was issued as Command Paper: CM 5207. The webpages are archived at the National Archives

AnimalLaw.com

An information resource site developed by the International Institute for Animal Law and the National Anti-Vivisection Society in the United States. The site publishes law-related information and provides access to publicly available legislative materials dealing with animals rights and welfare primarily in the US. Legal issues surrounding the use of animals in product testing, medical research and other laboratory situations are covered. AnimalLaw offers a facility to search laws by US state or at federal level, or by citation or bill number.

Reforming the Mental Health Act : Part 2. high risk patients

Part two of a policy paper ("white paper") published by the UK Government in December 2000. Gives details of special arrangements for the small minority who pose a threat to others. Arrangements for assessment, for compulsory treatment, and the role of the new Mental Health Tribunals are described. The first part, "The new legal framework" [q.v.] deals with the proposed restructuring of the law for all mental health patients.

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