Special Topic

Description

LLAW325: RESEARCH PROJECT ON ASSISTED REPRODUCTIVE TECHNOLOGY LAW

• Are you interested in the relationship between emerging technologies, medical law and public policy?
• Do you like thinking about the ethical, cultural and scientific issues relating to new technologies, and considering how these should impact law?
• Would you like to work as part of a group to provide a report that will actually be seen and read by people who make recommendations for law and policy changes in the area of medical law?

Background
The Advisory Committee on Assisted Reproductive Technology (ACART), has been asked to provide a ‘horizon scanning’ report on certain emerging areas of medical law and reproductive technology for the Ministry of Health. Should it be decided that regulation in these areas is needed, ACART has the responsibility to write the relevant Guidelines. As the Government-appointed Chair of ACART, Debra Wilson immediately saw an opportunity for some of her law students to be involved in the initial stages of this project and gain valuable insight into the process of designing law and policy.

One of the areas that is under consideration is uterus/womb transplants. This is an emerging technology where a woman born without a womb (or who has had their womb removed for medical reasons) can have a donor womb implanted to enable her to gestate and give birth to a child. While the benefits of this are immediately obvious, there are many legal, ethical, cultural and scientific implications of such a procedure that need to be taken into account in order to form a policy position on whether such transplants should be permitted in New Zealand in the future.

The project
Debra Wilson is looking for a team of 6-8 students to work together to undertake the initial research and draft a 20-30,000 word report that will be used as part of ACARTs deliberative process. There will also be an oral report, potentially to Ministry personnel (or recorded and viewed by them later).

Assessment for the course is:
• Group Written Project: 50%
• Individual Oral Presentation: 20%
• Individual Written Report: 30%

Lectures/Project meetings will be on Thursdays from 10-12pm. Although these times might not be used every week, students must be prepared to attend in person.

Who are we looking for?
To be considered, students must:
• Have completed all LAWS 200s (Note: LAWS202 - LAWS206 are PRE-REQUISITES for this course not co-requisites)
• Have some experience with writing longer research essays (5,000 words plus)
• Be able to work independently
• Be willing and committed to working as part of a group, meeting group deadlines and be prepared to give an oral report
• Show an interest in the topic
A student’s overall academic record and brief CV will also be considered as part of the selection process.

How to apply

If you are interested in being considered for this project, please email Debra Wilson by 6 February at debra.wilson@canterbury.ac.nz with your brief CV attached (no more than 2 sides A4), any other relevant information, and an explanation as to why you would like to be considered and what you might bring to the team.  Your explanation should be no more than 4 paragraphs.  A short-list of candidates will be invited to an in-person interview on 11-12 February, and successful candidates advised by 14 February.

Note, this is a limited entry course and successful candidates will be enrolled by the Faculty of Law, i.e.  you cannot apply to enrol yourself.