§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what is the time scale for the United Kingdom to sign and ratify the European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine. [3313]
§ Ms JowellThe Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine contains a wide range of provisions covering a number of complex ethical issues. The Government are considering the implications of the provisions and of signature and ratification. No decisions on a timescale for signature have been made.
§ Mrs. RoeTo ask the Secretary of State for Health what arrangements he will put in place to ensure that the interests of patients are protected when any research is conducted without their consent, pursuant to article 17 of the European Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine. [3314]
§ Ms JowellUnder the Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine, research must not be conducted on patients capable of giving consent without such consent and this accords with current United Kingdom law. Article 17 affects only those incapable of giving consent. For the protection of patients, the Department of Health has required since 1991 that all research on National Health Service patients must be approved by an independent Local Research Ethics Committee. A range of guidance is available to members of such Committees, including a Briefing Pack issued by the Department of Health earlier this year.