Ethics briefing

ABSTRACT

The NHS often had to treat these complications but this did not extend to providing subsequent corrective cosmetic surgery - for example for scarring.4 The Bill would still allow the procedures for under 18-year-olds from a limited range of registered health professionals (doctors, dentists, pharmacists, nurses) where there was an assessed medical need. The Minister of State (Department of Health and Social Care), Edward Argar MP, offered ‘wholehearted support for the introduction of an age restriction for cosmetic procedures’ noting that ‘it is vital that the regulatory framework around the cosmetics industry enables consumers, particularly vulnerable consumers, to make an informed and safe choice’.5 Abortion – remote services At the BMA’s virtual annual representative meeting (ARM) in September, the BMA adopted policy supporting the continuation of remote services for early medical abortions (EMA) post COVID-19 pandemic. Subsequently, the Court of Appeal also ruled against the group Christian Concern’s challenge to the temporary approval of remote provision of EMAs.6 In the discussion and concluding remarks of the judgement it was noted, among other things, that registered medical practitioners remained ‘in charge throughout the procedure, which has been altered to reflect the changing and challenging times.’(at 49) and the purpose of remote provision ‘was to protect women’s health and to ensure that women were not driven to EMAs outside prescribed and approved settings. The motion calls on the WMA to support the requests made in the July 2019 letter to the UN Human Rights Council High Commissioner calling for international independent observers to be allowed into the Xinjiang region of China;reaffirm its Statement on Forced and Coerced Sterilisation, asserting that no person, regardless of gender, ethnicity, socio-economic status, medical condition or disability, should be subjected to forced or coerced permanent sterilisation, and call on its members medical associations to advocate against forced and coerced sterilisation in their own countries and globally The motion also recognised the evidence emerging that the Uyghur population are being used to produce PPE for global markets and that WMA members should promote fair and ethical trade in the health sector, and insist that the goods they use are not produced at the expense of the health of workers in the global community.