Medical Law Professor continues as Law Society convener

Glasgow Caledonian University professor Alison Britton has been re-appointed as convener to the Law Society of Scotland’s health and medical law sub-committee.

The professor of healthcare and medical law in the Glasgow School for Business and Society will convene the sub-committee for the next three years following a highly successful first term.

The sub-committee was established in 2013 and has rapidly grown in prominence under Professor Britton’s convenership, shaping health and medical related policy and legislation in Scotland.

She has given evidence to the Scottish Parliament and acted as a media spokesperson on health and medical matters including the recent Assisted Suicide (Scotland) Bill.

Professor Britton is currently contributing to legislation and policy debate around whistleblowing in the NHS and whether to adopt an opt-out system for organ donation.

Her position has been of great benefit to GCU students too, with regular visits to Holyrood and an LLB fourth year module developed to cover policy and healthcare legislation.

Professor Britton said: “You don’t have to be a lawyer or a politician to be concerned about health care – it affects us all and this role enables me to contribute to society and to shape policy. I have thoroughly enjoyed it so far and am very much looking forward to the next three years. My aims are for us to engage and collaborate more with external stakeholders and work towards securing applied research funding.

“The Law Society of Scotland has given me lots of support in this role and, along with the wealth of expertise of my committee colleagues, the opportunity to make a difference. Our students benefit too as they have come to hear me give evidence at Parliament and can get the inside track on the latest legal developments.”

Michael Clancy, director of law reform at the Law Society of Scotland, said: “We are delighted that Professor Britton will continue in her role as convener. Over the past three years, Professor Britton has contributed significantly to the Society’s engagement with the Scottish government and the Scottish Parliament, raising the profile of the Sub-committees work and that of the Society.

“Professor Britton has made a huge contribution to the development of health related legislation in Scotland. Her structured, informative and well considered analysis of proposed law reform has raised important issues for further consideration and debate throughout the legislative passage of a number of bills.”