Welcome to our Spotlight On series, where we showcase the world-leading work of our academics. Professor Emma Cave, from our Law School is tackling some of the key challenges in health law.
Law, ethics and scientific innovation
Medicine, law and ethics frequently converge on issues ranging from consent and capacity to compulsion and patient autonomy.
Professor Emma Cave is at the forefront of navigating this complex field.
She is also a leading voice in the governance of emerging biotechnologies, such as stem cell-based embryo models, embryo culture and reproductive technologies.
At the heart of Emma’s work is the determination to ensure law and regulation not only respond to medical advances but anticipate them.
Medical, moral and legal challenges
Emma’s interest in medical ethics began early. Raised in a family of healthcare professionals, dinner table conversations often revolved around clinical dilemmas.
This sparked a lifelong interest in the moral and legal challenges faced by doctors and patients.
Emma began her research career with a fellowship at the University of Central Lancashire’s Centre for Professional Ethics, alongside her PhD.
She trained NHS research ethics committees under the guidance of Professors Ruth Chadwick and the late Margaret (‘Margot’) Brazier.
Emma worked closely with Margot, whose mentorship was formative in her career, co-authoring with her the widely used textbook Medicine, Patients and the Law, now in its seventh edition.
Informing policy and regulation
Following posts at both the Universities of Manchester and Leeds, Emma joined us in 2013, becoming Professor of Healthcare Law in 2016.
Here she has taken on leadership roles including Deputy Dean for Research and is currently Director of the Durham Centre for Ethics and Law in the Life Sciences – CELLS.
Emma is renowned for her ability to translate scholarship into policy and regulation, and her impact extends far beyond academia.
She has held influential positions in national regulatory bodies and public inquiries.
This includes work with the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority, the UK Covid-19 Inquiry Ethics Advisory Group and the UK Infected Blood Inquiry.
Emma led the General Medical Council’s advisory form on revising its Good Medical Practice guidance, helping shape professional standards for UK medical professionals.
She also chaired the Nuffield Council on Bioethics working group on stem cell-based embryo models, providing vital guidance on a rapidly advancing area of science.
She currently serves on the British Medical Association Medical Ethics Committee and the House of Commons Health and Social Care Committee Independent Expert Panel.
Real-world focus
Emma works to ensure that health law evolves alongside developments in science and medicine.
Her research has clarified how concepts such as consent, capacity and best interest apply in real-world settings, especially in cases involving children and adolescents.
She also highlights the legal and ethical challenges created by new technologies, such as embryo research and emerging reproductive technologies.
Emma has played a key role in advancing understanding of crisis decision-making, examining how ethics committees and regulatory frameworks operate under pressure - such as during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Ethically grounded, scientifically informed
Emma is currently exploring the regulation and ethics of stem cell-based embryo models and potential changes to embryo research time limits.
Emma is also researching decision-making capacity, and the challenges of determining best interests, in the treatment of anorexia nervosa.
Through her advisory roles and publications, she embeds ethical reasoning in health law and shapes national and international debate.
At Durham, her work continues to influence policy, education and practice-building a future where health law is ethically grounded and scientifically informed.
Find out more
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