Palliative care seeks to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing potentially terminal illness. It seeks to prevent, assess and treat pain and other physical, psychological and spiritual issues. Many readers will be aware of the problems that it poses. The Parliamentary Health Committee have decided to undertake an inquiry into palliative care (but expressly not extending to issues relating to euthanasia). Separately, the House of Lords have agreed to establish a Committ

Thousands of video and picture messaging telephones will recently have been bought by individuals. It will be tempting to use this technology in the workplace but should the temptation be resisted?

The Code of Practice to the Mental Health Act 1983 gives guidance on how the Act should be applied. In the foreword to the Code, it is said that it "should be used by everyone who works with people with mental health problems

One of the greatest misconceptions in the health sector is to ascribe to the next of kin a legal status. They have no such legal status: The phrase "next of kin" is not one recognised by the law. Next of kin can certainly not either purport to consent on an individual’s behalf or manage their affairs (unless they also have an appropriate Power of Attorney or are a duly appointed receiver).

The Regulatory Reform Committee has stated that the aim of the Regulatory Reform (Business Tenancies) (England and Wales) Order 2003, which comes into force on 1<SUP>st</SUP> June 2004, is to improve the operation of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1954 by making the procedures "quicker, easier, fairer and cheaper".

If a single parent wants to relocate within the UK, they do not require the consent of either the other parent or the court. If, however, one parent opposes the other's plans to relocate...

Earlier this year the House of Lords considered the issue of conditional discharge and the obligation on the responsible after care bodies to fulfil those conditions.

The Human Rights Act prohibits inhuman or degrading treatment. It has been argued that treatment without consent constitutes such treatment.

A toughened-up code on international recruitment - preventing hospitals from actively recruiting nurses and other healthcare professionals from developing countries – was unveiled on 8th December by Health Minister John Hutton.

On 30 September 2003 some of the remaining provisions of The Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002, which received Royal Assent in May 2002, will come into force. <B><P>A summary of the new provisions

We are currently receiving lots of queries from EEA nationals asking about the need to apply for residence documents, and in particular documents certifying permanent residence.

A recent report has demonstrated that the Government's controversial ‘right to rent' scheme is discriminating against potential tenants.