Editorial

Medical law has proved in the past to be a stimulating yet challenging subject. The moral and ethical issues surrounding stem-cell research, allocation of resources, clinical research, drug regulations and the end of life have continuously divided public opinion and led to controversial legal debates. Practitioners, researchers, academics and students in both medicine and law need to be aware of these changes and how they will influence their work.

The new Journal of Medical Law and Ethics is a direct result of a gap in the market of medico-legal journals and aims to be at the forefront of the most recent developments and debates in the field of medical law. The highly knowledgeable board of editors are in touch with some of the most diverse areas of medicine and law, and we aim to review and publish the highest quality articles, reports, case notes and commentaries in the field.

This journal is an opportunity for an increasing number of readers of medical law to discuss controversial issues, to present research, to criticise the law, to evaluate practice and hopefully to improve the way that medical care is provided. The work published in this special first edition is a testament to the contributors. I would like to thank the extraordinary editorial board and Paris Legal Publishers for supporting this hugely exciting project.

Lisa Cherkassky

Senior Lecturer in Medical Law, The University of Derby

May 2013

www.jmle-online.com