A Professor of Law at Lancaster University has been appointed to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics, the UK’s leading independent body for bioethics and policy research, it was announced today (December 9).

Professor Suzanne Ost, from the University’s School of Law, will take up the role this month.

As a Council member, she will play a key role in deciding questions of strategic direction and topic identification for the Council, as well as scrutinising and ensuring the quality of its outputs at key stages during its projects.

The Nuffield Council on Bioethics, a leading independent policy and research centre, has a world-leading reputation for tackling some of the most complex and controversial bioethical issues facing societies across the globe.

“I am delighted to be taking up the role of council member for the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and very much look forward to helping support the delivery of the Council’s important mission to embed ethics at the centre of decision-making,” said Professor Ost.

“The Council has recently evidenced its commitment to public engagement and the importance of legislation and policy being informed by public views through its Citizens’ Jury on Assisted Dying, which I was privileged to be involved in, and its current work on the 14-day rule for human embryo research.

“The Council is also taking a leading role in its unique time-framed horizon scanning of topics likely to raise ethical implications in the UK, which is a really valuable tool for policymakers and researchers.”

Professor Ost’s research in healthcare law and ethics and socio-legal research examines law, policy and professional practice through a critical ethical lens.

She is currently acting as expert adviser for Jersey’s Assisted Dying Review Panel, providing a report scrutinising the island’s draft assisted dying law.

Recently, she advised parliamentarians on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) bill and was also Expert Adviser to Jersey’s Citizens’ Jury on Assisted Dying (2021).

Professor Ost was appointed to the Council through a competitive open recruitment process.

Head of the School of Law at Lancaster University Professor Bryan Clark said: “I am delighted to celebrate this prestigious appointment to the Nuffield Council on Bioethics with Suzanne.

“This new role adds to her significant professional engagement in this field and is testament to her world-leading expertise in healthcare law."