The MEC (medical ethics committee) is made up of BMA members from a wide range of specialties and experience, alongside lay members who are experts in their fields including theology, law and moral philosophy.
Our priorities
- The MEC debates ethical issues on the relationship between the medical profession, the public and the state.
- The committee liaises with the General Medical Council (GMC) on all ethical matters affecting medical practice.
- The MEC is supported by the ethics secretariat, who also produce detailed guidance and discussion papers on a wide range of medico-ethical issues and offer individual ethical advice to members.
Our people
Chair: Dr Zoe Greaves
Deputy chair: Dr John Chisholm
Chief officers
Chair of the representative body: Dr Latifa Patel
Chair of council: Dr Chaand Nagpaul
Deputy chair of council: Dr David Wrigley
Treasurer: Dr Trevor Pickersgill
Elected by the representative body
Dr John Chisholm
Dr Zoe Greaves
Professor Baroness Ilora Finlay
Dr JS Bamrah
Dr Grace Allport
Dr Wendy Savage
Dr Jan Wise
Elected by council
Dr Mary McCarthy
Dr Ian Wilson
Dr Jacqueline Davis
Appointed by council
Professor Bobbie Farsides
Professor Emily Jackson
David Lock QC
Dr Mary Neal
Professor Gurch Randhawa
Professor Dominic Wilkinson
Professor Sridhar Venkatapuram
Professor Robert Song
Observers
BMA patient liaison group: Emma Beeden
General Medical Council: Mark Swindells
Royal College of Nursing: Dr Janet Holt
Take part in one of our free courses designed to give you the right skills to:
- break down equality and inclusion bias (CPD-accredited)
- value difference and inclusivity
- live our BMA behaviour principles.
Our meetings
The committee meets four times a year to discuss the latest issues affecting the medical profession. Our meetings are open to all elected medical ethics representatives, but non-members can apply to attend via the committee visitors scheme.
Meeting dates:
- Wednesday 15 December 2021
- Tuesday 22 March 2022
- Wednesday 25 May 2022
How to join
There are many advantages to becoming involved in our committees. You can actively influence BMA policy-making and negotiations, represent your colleagues' voices and develop your leadership skills.
Each committee has a few routes to becoming an elected member. In the case of the MEC, these are:
- Seats/term - every year, elections for 7 seats on MEC take place for a one-session term.
- Timeline - the nomination period opens a month before ARM and voting closes a few days after ARM.
- Eligibility - all BMA members can stand for election but only ARM delegates can vote.
Of the nominees, BMA council elects a further three seats for a one-session term.
BMA council appoints a further 8 external members to represent the medical profession and disciplines such as law, moral philosophy, natural sciences or other health professions for a one-session term.
Representatives from the General Medical Council, the Royal College of Nursing and BMA patient liaison group sit on the committee as observers.
The election section below is kept up to date with details about any running elections, so make sure you keep checking it throughout the year.
Elections
ARM elections 2022 to 2023
The MEC is holding elections for 7 seats for a one-session term. Not more than 3 may be in the same branch of medical practice.
Of the nominees, BMA council will elect a further three seats for a one-session term.
Eligibility
To stand in this election, you must:
- be a BMA member
- have a BMA online account.
Only ARM delegates can vote in this election.
Nominations and casting your vote
- Nominations - from 12pm on Friday 29 April 2022 to 10am on Monday 27 June 2022.
- Ballot - from 2pm on Monday 27 June 2022 to 12pm on Wednesday 29 June 2022.
Results
Results will be announced from Friday 1 July 2022 at 5pm on the election portal.
Read our guide on how to use our online system for elections.
If you have any questions about these elections, please email [email protected].
Get in touch
If you have any questions or would like to find out more about the work of the medical ethics committee, please email [email protected].