Len Doyal
Encyclopedia
Professor Len Doyal is emeritus
professor
of medical ethics
at Queen Mary, University of London
and a medical ethicist. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia
in 1944 and studied philosophy
and sociology
at Georgia State University
, earning his undergraduate degree (with distinction) in 1966. That same year he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship
to study with Karl Popper
at the London School of Economics
.
(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.
and The Middlesex Hospital
s joint medical school he organised and jointly taught on a part-time basis on the subject. 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.
Professor Doyal was given a joint appointment as Senior Lecturer in Medical Ethics in St. Bartholomew’s
and The Royal London Medical College, University of London in 1990, being made Reader in 1994. He was promoted to Professor of Medical Ethics in 1996. The General Medical Council
and General Dental Council
both praised his academic programme Ethics and Law Applied to Medicine and Dentistry for the way it integrates law and ethics with clinical practice. In 2000 he was made a Licenced Practitioner within the Higher Education Academy
and was awarded the Drapers' Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
He is an editor of The Journal of Postgraduate Medicine.
In 1996, he established the Trust Clinical Ethics Committee, including writing Terms of Reference and drafting policies concerning good professional practice.
Professor Doyal has also been a consultant to many important medical organisations , including the Department of Health, the General Medical Council, the Medical Research Council, the Royal Colleges of Medicine and Surgery and the British Medical Association upon whose Ethics Committee he sat for nearly a decade. Most recently, he chaired the Department of Health Panel on the Ethical Evaluation of Student Projects within Medical Education.
. He has advocated that non-voluntary euthanasia should be legal under certain limited circumstances. His position was criticised by Deborah Annetts of Dignity in Dying
.
, Senator Jim Walsh
and Senator John Hanafin, though Senator David Norris accused Senator Walsh of scaremongering. The Health Service Executive
said the lecture was cancelled for safety reasons.
Emeritus
Emeritus is a post-positive adjective that is used to designate a retired professor, bishop, or other professional or as a title. The female equivalent emerita is also sometimes used.-History:...
professor
Professor
A professor is a scholarly teacher; the precise meaning of the term varies by country. Literally, professor derives from Latin as a "person who professes" being usually an expert in arts or sciences; a teacher of high rank...
of medical ethics
Medical ethics
Medical ethics is a system of moral principles that apply values and judgments to the practice of medicine. As a scholarly discipline, medical ethics encompasses its practical application in clinical settings as well as work on its history, philosophy, theology, and sociology.-History:Historically,...
at Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London
Queen Mary, University of London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
and a medical ethicist. He was born in Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in 1944 and studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
at Georgia State University
Georgia State University
Georgia State University is a research university in downtown Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Founded in 1913, it serves about 30,000 students and is one of the University System of Georgia's four research universities...
, earning his undergraduate degree (with distinction) in 1966. That same year he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship
Fulbright Program
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
to study with Karl Popper
Karl Popper
Sir Karl Raimund Popper, CH FRS FBA was an Austro-British philosopher and a professor at the London School of Economics...
at the London School of Economics
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
.
Personal life
He is married to Professor Lesley Doyal and they have two children and four grandchildren. He lives in central London and in Perugia, Italy.Professional affiliations
Professor Doyal is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and non-medical Fellow of the Royal Society of Medicine.Early career
Professor Doyal worked for over two decades at Middlesex UniversityMiddlesex University
Middlesex University is a university in north London, England. It is located in the historic county boundaries of Middlesex from which it takes its name. It is one of the post-1992 universities and is a member of Million+ working group...
(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 CollegeUniversity College Hospital
University College Hospital is a teaching hospital located in London, United Kingdom. It is part of the University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and is closely associated with University College London ....
and The Middlesex Hospital
Middlesex Hospital
The Middlesex Hospital was a teaching hospital located in the Fitzrovia area of London, United Kingdom. First opened in 1745 on Windmill Street, it was moved in 1757 to Mortimer Street where it remained until it was finally closed in 2005. Its staff and services were transferred to various sites...
s joint medical school he organised and jointly taught on a part-time basis on the subject. The Nuffield Foundation
Nuffield Foundation
The Nuffield Foundation is a British charitable trust, established in 1943 by William Morris , the founder of the Morris Motor Company. Lord Nuffield wanted to contribute to improvements in society, including the expansion of education and the alleviation of disadvantage...
gave him a grant to produce, write and direct a video library and associated teaching materials on informed consent, which was published in 1990.
Professor Doyal was given a joint appointment as Senior Lecturer in Medical Ethics in St. Bartholomew’s
St Bartholomew's Hospital
St Bartholomew's Hospital, also known as Barts, is a hospital in Smithfield in the City of London, England.-Early history:It was founded in 1123 by Raherus or Rahere , a favourite courtier of King Henry I...
and The Royal London Medical College, University of London in 1990, being made Reader in 1994. He was promoted to Professor of Medical Ethics in 1996. The General Medical Council
General Medical Council
The General Medical Council registers and regulates doctors practising in the United Kingdom. It has the power to revoke or restrict a doctor's registration if it deems them unfit to practise...
and General Dental Council
General Dental Council
The General Dental Council is a United Kingdom organisation which regulates all dental professionals in the country. Established in 1956 by an amendment to the Dentists Act 1948, now updated in the Dentists Act 1984, it keeps an up-to-date register of all qualified dentists and other dental care...
both praised his academic programme Ethics and Law Applied to Medicine and Dentistry for the way it integrates law and ethics with clinical practice. In 2000 he was made a Licenced Practitioner within the Higher Education Academy
Higher Education Academy
The Higher Education Academy is an independent organisation in the United Kingdom that supports higher education institutions with strategies for the development of research and evaluation to improve the learning experience for students.-History:...
and was awarded the Drapers' Prize for Excellence in Teaching.
Research
Professor 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, Professor Doyal was an Honorary Consultant to the Royal Hospitals Trust. He has also consulted, written and lectured extensively.In 1996, he established the Trust Clinical Ethics Committee, including writing Terms of Reference and drafting policies concerning good professional practice.
Professor Doyal has also been a consultant to many important medical organisations , including the Department of Health, the General Medical Council, the Medical Research Council, the Royal Colleges of Medicine and Surgery and the British Medical Association upon whose Ethics Committee he sat for nearly a decade. Most recently, he chaired the Department of Health Panel on the Ethical Evaluation of Student Projects within Medical Education.
Discussion of controversial issues
One of many issues has discussed publicly is euthanasiaEuthanasia
Euthanasia refers to the practice of intentionally ending a life in order to relieve pain and suffering....
. He has advocated that non-voluntary euthanasia should be legal under certain limited circumstances. His position was criticised by Deborah Annetts of Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying
Dignity in Dying is a United Kingdom nationwide campaigning organisation. It is funded by voluntary contributions from members of the public, and as of December 2010, it claimed to have 25,000 actively subscribing supporters...
.
Lecture cancelled because of disruptive protestors
In April 2009, a lecture by Professor Doyal and debate in Cork University Hospital were cancelled after protesters took up positions in the lecture theatre. Father Paul Kramer, a Catholic Priest, was among the protesters and ordered Professor Doyal to leave Ireland. The police who were present made no attempt to stop the protesters. Professor Doyal had to be escorted out by hospital security guards. The talk had been criticised by Bishop John BuckleyJohn Buckley (bishop)
John Buckley is an Irish Roman Catholic bishop. He was born in Inchigeela in west County Cork. He studied for the priesthood at St Patrick's College, Maynooth, and was ordained in 1965.-Early life and ordination:...
, Senator Jim Walsh
Jim Walsh (politician)
Jim Walsh is an Irish Fianna Fáil politician and member of Seanad Éireann since 1997.-Early and personal life:Jim Walsh lives in New Ross, County Wexford. Walsh attended New Ross Christian Brothers School. He is married to Marie Furlong, they have one son and two daughters. Outside of his Seanad...
and Senator John Hanafin, though Senator David Norris accused Senator Walsh of scaremongering. The Health Service Executive
Health Service Executive
The Health Service Executive is responsible for the provision of healthcare providing health and personal social services for everyone living in Ireland, with public funds. The Executive was established by the Health Act, 2004 and came into official operation on January 1, 2005...
said the lecture was cancelled for safety reasons.
Books
- Empiricism, Explanation and Rationality (with Roger Harris)
- A Theory of Human Need (with Ian Gough)
- Informed Consent in Medical Research (with Jeff Tobias)