Research interests and publications

Richard’s research primarily focuses on end-of-life care, surgery, innovation, and clinical ethics. Working alone or in collaboration, Richard has published numerous peer-reviewed articles in legal, bioethical, and medical journals.

His books include a co-authored medical ethics textbook, several co-edited collections, a book for a general readership – Euthanasia: All That Matters (Hodder, 2013) – and two monographs, Euthanasia, Ethics and the Law: From Conflict to Compromise (2007, Routledge), and Law, Ethics and Compromise at the Limits of Life: To Treat or Not to Treat? (2012, Routledge).

Research presentations

Richard has given numerous invited presentations, including at the Royal Society, the Royal College of Surgeons, and the Royal Society of Medicine. His invited annual lectures include the John Locke Annual Lecture at the Faculty of the History and Philosophy of Medicine and Pharmacy (London), the Institute of Medical Ethics Annual Lecture (London), the Annual Medical Law Lecture (Liverpool), and the Swan Lecture at Trinity College (Dublin).

He has also spoken at a wide range of bioethical, legal, and clinical conferences internationally, including keynote and plenary lectures at the:

• Palliative Care Congress (Belfast);
• Sapporo Conference for Palliative and Supportive Care in Cancer (Japan);
• Korean Parliamentarian Forum on Global Health (South Korea);
• International Conference on Clinical Ethics Consultation (Switzerland);
• CENTRES Clinical Ethics Conference (Singapore);
• Postgraduate Bioethics Conference (Liverpool);
• EACME Annual Conference (Italy); and
• General Medical Council annual conference (London).

Richard has also delivered invited lectures to such regional and national groups as the Bristol Medico-Chirurgical Society, the Daiwa Foundation, and Medico-Legal Societies in Bristol, Belfast, and Newcastle, as well as presentations for local schools and student societies.

Research funding

Richard’s research has been funded by, amongst others, the Wellcome Trust, NIHR, EPSRC, European Commission, the National Research Foundation of Korea, and the Nuffield Council on Bioethics. He was PI on BABEL (Balancing Best Interests in Healthcare, Ethics and Law), a £1.5m Wellcome Trust Collaborative Award.

Richard works with researchers in bioethics and health law internationally, including colleagues in (amongst other countries) Japan, Korea, Singapore, Germany, and Switzerland. He also regularly collaborates with colleagues in surgery, engineering, and innovation, including on Bristol’s NIHR Biomedical Research Centre.