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HKU Centre for Medical Ethics and Law to collaborate with University of Cambridge on emerging issues in medical ethics, law and policy

15 Sep 2014

The University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the University of Cambridge will hold a signing ceremony on September 16 (Tuesday) to mark the collaboration of the two leading universities in research on emerging issues in medical ethics, law and policy.

Professor Emeritus Dr John Spencer of Cambridge University and Mr Terry Kaan, Co-Director of the HKU Centre for Medical Ethics and Law will officiate at the ceremony. Other attendees include HKU Dean of Law Professor Michael Hor, Co-Director of the Centre for Medical Ethics and Law Dr Philip Beh, HKU Department of Pathology Chair Professor L C Chan, and representatives from WYNG Foundation and PHG Foundation.

In the evening, Professor John Spencer, professor in the Cambridge University Law Faculty from 1995 until 2013, will hold a public lecture on “Criminalising sickness? Liability for the transmission of disease”.

Details are as follows:
Date: September 16, 2014 (Tuesday)

Signing ceremony
Time:  5:30pm (Rescheduled)
Venue:  Alumni Reading Room (A0901), 9/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

WYNG-Hatton Public Lecture
Time:  6:30pm to 7:30pm
Venue:  Large Moot Court, 2/F, Cheng Yu Tung Tower, Centennial Campus, HKU

Abstract of WYNG-Hatton Public Lecture
In the WYNG-Hatton Lecture Professor Spencer will explore the moral, legal and logistical dimensions of imposing civil or criminal liability for transmitting illness to another person. Professor Spencer’s talk will focus on a UK ruling that an HIV-positive person may be found to have maliciously inflicted grievous bodily harm for knowingly having unprotected sexual intercourse with and infecting an unaware partner.  These developments have been the subject of heated debate, as researchers and advocacy groups have pointed out the additional stigma and burden potentially imposed upon the sick by such legal consequences. The wider relevance of the topic and the future of legislation around the transmission of illness is of considerable interest in Hong Kong, where emerging infectious diseases are of constant concern and high in public awareness.

Biography of Professor John Spencer
Professor Spencer’s wide expertise includes criminal law and the law of tort, and through these, medical law. He served as a professor in the Cambridge University Law Faculty from 1995 until 2013 and will be one of Cambridge’s team of Deputy Vice-Chancellors for the 2014-2015 academic year. In the context of the WYNG Foundation and the Hatton Trust’s recent gift to the Cambridge Law Faculty, Professor Spencer will be the Hatton-WYNG Medical Law, Ethics and Policy Programme Distinguished Adviser, and Chair of the Faculty Medical Law, Ethics and Policy Committee.

Please contact Ms Rachel Li (tel: 3917 2919 / Email: lirachel@hku.hk) for reservation of seat or for queries.