Healthcare Research Ethics and Law: Regulation, Review and Responsibility

Healthcare Research Ethics and Law sets out the law as it relates to the functions of Research Ethics Committees (RECs) within the context of the process of ethical review and aims to be accessible and readily understood by REC members. Each chapter begins by locating the material within the practical context of ethical review and then provides a more theoretical and analytical discussion detailing how the theory and practice fit together. The key legal issues of confidentiality, consent and negligence are addressed in detail, alongside practical guidance as to how and when liability may be incurred in these areas. In addition, the practical and legal implications of the implementation of European Directive 2001/20/EC, the Human Tissue Act 2004 and the Mental Capacity Act 2005 are considered alongside a discussion of their socio-political background and relevance for medical research in the UK.