Len Doyal
Len Doyal
Personal life
He is married to Lesley Doyal and they have two children and four grandchildren. He lives in central London and in Perugia, Italy.
Early career
Doyal worked for over two decades at Middlesex University (then Middlesex Polytechnic), developing and teaching a course on the natural and social sciences, political and moral philosophy, as well as politics and philosophy of technology.
In 1986 he was made Principal Lecturer in Philosophy and the same year he published Empiricism, Explanation and Rationality, coauthored with Roger Harris, a popular introduction to philosophy of social sciences.
Medical ethics and law
In the 1980s he became interested in ethics and law applied to medicine and at University College and The Middlesex Hospitals joint medical school he organised and jointly taught on a part-time basis on the subject.[1] The Nuffield Foundation gave him a grant to produce, write and direct a video library and associated teaching materials on informed consent, which was published in 1990.[1]
Doyal was given a joint appointment as senior lecturer in medical ethics in
Research
Doyal's areas of academic interest in clinical ethics concern the moral foundations of the duties of clinical care, informed consent, medical research, passive and active euthanasia, the rationing of scarce health care resources, the rights of children and the boundaries of respect for confidentiality.
He is an editor of the Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.
Consultancy and other professional practice
Until his retirement, Doyal was an honorary consultant to the Royal Hospitals Trust.[1] He has also consulted, written and lectured extensively.[1]
In 1996, he established the Trust Clinical Ethics Committee, including writing Terms of Reference and drafting policies concerning good professional practice.
Doyal has also been a consultant to many important medical organisations, including the
Discussion of controversial issues
One of many issues has discussed publicly is euthanasia.[2] He has advocated that non-voluntary euthanasia should be legal under certain limited circumstances.[2][3] His position was criticised by Deborah Annetts of Dignity in Dying.[4]
Lecture cancelled because of disruptive protestors
In April 2009, a lecture by Doyal and debate in
Books
- Empiricism, Explanation and Rationality (with Roger Harris)
- A Theory of Human Need (with Ian Gough)
- Informed Consent in Medical Research (with Jeffrey S. Tobias)[9]
References
- ^ Queen Mary, University of London
- ^ a b Call for no-consent euthanasia, Sarah Boseley, The Guardian, 8 June 2006, retrieved 10 April 2009
- ^ Legalise non-voluntary euthanasia, says professor of medical ethics Archived 2008-06-23 at the Wayback Machine, Royal Society of Medicine, RSM website, 8 June 2006, retrieved 10 April 2009
- ^ 'Legalise euthanasia' says expert, BBC News, 8 June 2006, retrieved 10 April 2009
- ^ a b Rosary-chanting protesters force euthanasia talk to be abandoned, Ralph Riegel and Senan Hogan, Irish Independent, 10 April 2009, retrieved 10 April 2009
- ^ "Pro-Life Irish Shut Down Euthanasia Lecture in Cork". Archived from the original on 2011-07-20. Retrieved 2009-04-19.
- ^ Senator critical of debate on euthanasia, Jimmy Walsh, The Irish Times, 10 April 2009, retrieved 10 April 2009
- ^ Safety issues led to decision, says HSE, Louise Roseingrave, The Irish Times, 10 April 2009, retrieved 10 April 2009
- PMC 5060152.