Adapting to the Future: Redefining Duty of Care and Liability in Light of the Rise of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare

This research examines the complex legal landscape surrounding duty of care, liability, and accountability in the context of Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in healthcare. As AI systems become increasingly involved in medical practices and clinical decision-making, their unique characteristics, such as opaque "black box" decision-making and lack of human-like reasoning, pose significant challenges to existing legal frameworks. The study highlights the inadequacy of medical negligence laws in addressing AI-related incidents in healthcare and the potential of vicarious liability, product liability, the concept of the “reasonable computer”, and transparency regulations in addressing AI errors. The findings emphasise the importance of ongoing regulatory adaptation to ensure that legal frameworks evolve with advancements in AI technology, ultimately safeguarding the interests of patients and healthcare practitioners

The Introduction and Implementation of Voter ID in the United Kingdom: A Project Summary

The introduction of voter identification (ID) in the Elections Act 2022 has attracted considerable attention amongst academics, lawyers and journalists alike, with tens of millions of people in the United Kingdom (UK) who traditionally cast their vote in polling stations being directly impacted. Concerns have been repeatedly raised that the reforms are unnecessary given the infrequency of impersonation, that the new law may disenfranchise minorities, the elderly and less well-off people, and pile more pressure on local authorities to administer the process, as well as costing tens of millions of pounds to implement. This article provides a brief overview of the introduction and implementation of voter ID in Great Britain and, more specifically, my own research activities in this area since 2017. During this project I have published numerous outputs, including public-facing and accessible blogs which have attracted a wide audience, but also substantive academic articles which have been used by legal teams in a challenge which ultimately proceeded to the UK Supreme Court. I have also collaborated with other academics, lawyers and journalists to disseminate my findings to a broader audience

Mooting: An Undergraduate’s Perspective

Mooting is the tried and tested method of legal education of preparing law students for practice. It is to many law firms and chambers as essential to employability as the degree itself. It exists as a test of a future trainee or pupil\u27s advocacy, communication, and research skills. With the advent of legal advice clinics in universities, the status of moots as an effective form of practical legal education has been brought into question. Arguably, however, this claim is unfounded. The essential value of mooting is expanded upon through this article by the author\u27s own anecdotal experiences as a mooter both at the national and international level

Research in Legal Practice

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Research in Practice: How my Research Skills are Relevant in my Work

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Do the Current UK Laws Governing Surrogacy and Gamete Donation Adequately Protect the Parents and Children, or is Reform Required to Achieve This?

The UK laws that cover technologically assisted reproduction are from a time in which these techniques were viewed as taboo and the science behind them was new and under -studied. This article will analyse the advantages and disadvantages of the UK’s surrogacy and gamete donation laws. It explores the extent to which they are lacking and, drawing on laws in other jurisdictions to decide what, if any, reforms are needed to ensure that parents and children that are traversing the UK’s systema are treated fairly and with respect. The article argues that the reform of laws governing gamete donation were adequate, taking into consideration the changes of the publics’ perception of this and the science that makes it possible. However, there are still areas of gamete donation such as the practice of posthumous gamete donation that necessitate reform. Furthermore, this study argues that the law governing surrogacy is in desperate need for reform. The current system can be seen to encourage a system that can leave women in economically disadvantaged countries at risk of exploitation as well as putting the prospective parents in a legally uncertain situations that the judiciary are forced to address

Revolutions in Family Law and Their Effect on Family Disputes

Herring once set out that family law has undergone a profound revolution over the last few years which has shaped the way in which family law disputes are handled. Whilst there is some truth in this statement, the extent to which the aforementioned reforms have impacted the law in this area is up for debate. This paper questions how such reforms have provided the courts with alternative methods of dealing with family law cases and particularly focuses on the areas of access to justice and familial breakdown. It is concluded that, despite the amendments, the legal system remains flawed in handling family matters. This paper explores the adverse effects of such changes with a particular focus on cuts to legal aid and litigants in person. Further, the research discusses the proposal of a non-fault divorce system and how, despite the goal being to reconstruct the previous divorce law into one which existed on a ‘no fault’ basis, fault continues to be a central position within the process of a divorce

Have the Legal and Social Concepts of Domestic Abuse Been Profoundly Revolutionised, or Is Further Reform Required?

Domestic abuse is an important aspect of family law that is governed by everyday attitudes, personal beliefs, legislation, and legal precedents. These are important to consider when assessing how society has reacted, and still reacts, to ‘controversial’ issues that challenge the norm. This article analyses to what extent domestic abuse law may be reforming and how these changes will influence future decisions. It is suggested that although the definition of domestic abuse has broadened to include coercive control and recognise women, men, and children as potential victims. There is a need for more to be done to eliminate patriarchal views and attitudes that shape society’s understanding of domestic abuse and legal responses

Are the Laws Forbidding Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide in the UK Taking Away the Personal Autonomy of Terminally Ill Citizens?

The purpose of this article is to examine the view that the current blanket ban on assisted suicide in the UK actively takes away the personal autonomy of citizens with terminal illnesses who wish to end their own lives. This work will examine a variety of factors that may contribute to this legal debate such as personal autonomy, end-of-life decisions, human rights and medical ethics. The current problems associated with the law on euthanasia will also be addressed in order to better comprehend the socio-legal debate surrounding whether or not assisted suicide ought to be legalised. This article will also discuss the potential measures that could be implemented in the future to legalise euthanasia and how law-makers can prevent the slippery-slope which is a fear of those against the legalisation of assisted suicide