New Zealand Law Society - Health Law Committee
The Independent Review Panel's report is now available. More information.
The Health Law Committee makes submissions on proposed changes in health law.
The Health Law Committee started life in 1993 as the Biological and Medical Issues Committee. This was initially an ad hoc committee established to examine a range of issues of a medico-legal nature, including issues relating to consent, confidentiality and research involving human participants. A substantial focus of the committee was, and has remained, the interface between medical ethics and law.
Holly Hedley is the committee convenor. She is a Senior Associate at Buddle Findlay Wellington and has worked in Buddle Findlay's speciality health team since 2010. Holly advises public and private sector clients on the full range of health law issues including treatment and consent, mental health and addiction, investigations and adverse events and regulatory and public law matters.
Committee members have experience and expertise in health law:
In the past 18 months, the committee has contributed to NZLS submissions on the Abortion Legislation Bill, the Crimes (Definition of Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Bill, and the Rights for Victims of Insane Offenders Bill. The committee also made a submission on the Ministry of Health’s consultation paper: Proposed Guidelines for the posthumous use of gametes, reproductive tissue and stored embryos.