Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law Podcast

This podcast complements the textbook, Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law, which is edited by Christopher Johnston QC and Sophia Roper QC, with chapters authored by a team of 27 barristers at Serjeants' Inn Chambers and published by Bloomsbury Professional in 2022. It places medical decision-making in its legal context and provides practical guidance on the most ethically challenging cases that face the courts. It explains how the Mental Capacity Act works in practice and how the courts and lawyers wrestle with and resolve problems relating to the very essence of life: what is life? what is an acceptable quality of life? what treatment is so burdensome that it should not be attempted? These questions are posed, not in the abstract but, in real – often desperate, often urgent – situations. This series, hosted by Christopher and Sophia, will feature different authors in each episode, looking further and discussing the various topics covered by the book. To find out more about their practices, please see our website here: https://bit.ly/3ITGwrO To find out more about the book, please click here: https://bit.ly/3bI2DoJ

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Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law Podcast

S1E2 - Assisted Reproduction

September 21, 2022 • Serjeants' Inn Chambers • Season 1 • Episode 2

In this episode, Christopher Johnston KC is joined by Claire Watson KC to discuss medical treatment decisions related to assisted reproduction, as discussed in chapter 11 of the new fourth edition of Medical Treatment: Decisions and the Law.

Chris and Claire look at XX v Whittington Hospital NHS Trust, Warren v Care Fertility Ltd and the recent case of Jennings v HFEA while discussing the difference between Californian surrogacy versus UK surrogacy, the interpretation of legislation by judges in line with article 8 of the Human Rights Act and the exporting and importing of gametes.

Read more about Claire’s practice here: https://bit.ly/3Iyn9EC

Read more about Chris’ practice here: https://bit.ly/3ANjO2P

Please note that this podcast was recorded before the 1st of August. Ongoing cases may therefore no longer be ongoing.

While every care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of these podcasts, no responsibility for loss or damage occasioned to any person acting or refraining from action as a result of any statement in it can be accepted by those speaking or Chambers.