Len Doyal Obituary

My friend Len Doyal, who has died aged 80, was for galore years a elder teacher successful aesculapian morals astatine St Bartholomew’s and nan Royal London Hospital Medical School, wherever his world programme, Ethics and Law Applied to Medicine and Dentistry, was overmuch praised for nan measurement it integrated rule and morals pinch objective practice.

He was appointed professor of aesculapian morals and rule location successful 1996 and became nan first non-medical honorary advisor successful a British hospital. Much successful request arsenic a span betwixt morals and hands-on medicine, he became a longstanding personnel of nan BMA morals committee, earlier retiring successful 2000.

Len was calved successful nan US, successful Atlanta, Georgia, to Thomas, who was head of proscription for nan authorities of Georgia, and Muriel (nee Pendley), a homemaker. After completing a grade successful accuracy astatine Georgia State University he won a Fulbright danasiwa to further study nan taxable nether Karl Popper astatine nan London School of Economics. It was a momentous travel from nan Jim Crow South to nan tribunal of a legendary fig successful nan accuracy of science, but sadly he recovered galore of Popper’s ideas almost arsenic problematic arsenic those that he had near behind.

Not wishing to return to nan US, successful 1968 Len recovered refuge successful school accuracy astatine Middlesex Polytechnic (now University) and location met Lesley Coates, a chap world whom he joined successful 1973. Over nan years, arsenic Lesley roseate to beryllium a professor of wellness studies, they besides cooperated academically, penning associated articles and books, including Living With HIV and Dying With Aids (2013).

Their location successful Finsbury Park, northbound London, was a convivial gathering constituent for feminist and leftwing groups and it was location that I first met Len astatine nan founding of nan diary Critical Social Policy. Our book, A Theory of Human Need (1991), was awarded some nan Isaac Deutscher and Gunnar Myrdal prizes. Working done those ideas together successful nan 1980s was a joyousness and a useful antidote to nan prevailing Thatcherite tide. Among his different books were Clinical Ethics: Theory and Practice (2011) and Informed Consent successful Medical Research (2000), nan second of which he co-edited.

After 22 years astatine Middlesex Polytechnic, Len moved to thatch aesculapian morals astatine Barts and nan Royal London Hospital Medical School, wherever he was consistently celebrated pinch students, who elected him unit president of nan student national for 5 consecutive years.

He was ever consenting to prosecute positively and sensitively pinch those who disagreed pinch him, yet his determination to research nan astir basal of ethical dilemmas did sometimes origin upset. The astir notable of his arguable positions was his statement that non-voluntary euthanasia should beryllium ineligible nether definite constricted circumstances.

In his spare clip Len played nan guitar and loved nan American canon of celebrated euphony from nan 60s onwards.

He is survived by Lesley, their children, Daniel and Hannah, and 4 grandchildren.