2010 PG Cert Higher Education Practice, UEA.

2006 PhD, ‘The Law and Practice of Consent to Medical Intervention’, Sheffield Hallam University.

Rob is a Professor of Medical Law and was previously Deputy Head of the UEA Law School. He is co-author of the forthcoming 7th edition of Medicine, Patients and the Law, which is one of the most highly regarded medical law textbooks on the market. He is also editor of the Commentaries section of the Medical Law Review, which is the most authoritative medical law journal in the word. Rob is an expert in clinical negligence and informed consent, with a particular interest in maternity litigation.

Rob also has specific expertise in the fields of information disclosure, end-of-life decision-making, advance decision-making and mental capacity.  He has authored numerous articles in the Medical Law Review and has also published pieces in a number of leading generalist law journals.  His article on informed consent and information disclosure in the aftermath of Montgomery v Lanarkshire, co-authored with Professor José Miola (University of Leeds), appeared in the University of Oxford's highly respected Law Quarterly Review.  Rob’s published work on informed consent was also cited, with approval, by the highest court in Singapore.  See, Hii Chii Kok v Ooi Peng Jin London Lucien and Others [2017] SGCA 38. In respect of mental capacity, Rob’s written evidence was cited in the recent ‘Law Commission Consultation Paper No 222 – Mental Capacity and Deprivation of Liberty’. On the 29th June 2018, Rob's further written evidence on the Law Commission's proposals for the Liberty Protection Safeguards was cited in the Final Report of the Joint Committee on Human Rights “The Right to Freedom and Safety: Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards”.

Having undertaken multi-disciplinary empirical research on informed consent, Rob has skills in working with a range of healthcare professionals, patients and medical students. He has knowledge of qualitative research methods and data analysis, and is also familiar with the process of gaining ethical approval for research carried out in the NHS. 

Rob is currently a co-investigator on multi-disciplinary funded project from the Nuffield Foundation. This bid, in collaboration with UEA’s School of Health Sciences, received funding to the tune of £378,204 to investigate the development of an assent-based process for the inclusion of adults with impairments of capacity and/or communication in ethically-sound research.

Rob sits on the editorial boards of the Medical Law Review, Medical Law International, the Journal of Professional Negligence, the Journal of Medical Law and Ethics and the BMC Medical Ethics. He also sits as a member of UEA’s Social Work and Law Ethics Committee.

In 2010, Rob won one of the prestigious UEA Excellence in Teaching Awards, which recognises and celebrates outstanding teaching. This was awarded in recognition of his teaching on three popular final year modules: Medical Law, Company Law and Media Entertainment & Sports Law. Colleagues and students alike have testified to Rob's enthusiasm, innovation and ability to engage and motivate his classes. In 2014, Rob was also nominated for a UEA Excellence in Engagement Award. His on-going concern and support for the welfare of students is also shown in the active role he plays as an academic adviser. 

In his spare time, Rob swims, cycles and plays amateur football.  He is a supporter of Manchester United and also enjoys watching cricket, rugby and boxing.

2015 - Present: Professor of Medical Law, UEA Law School.

2007 – 2015: Reader in Medical Law, UEA Law School.  

2005 – 2007: Senior Lecturer in Law, Sheffield Hallam University.

2002 – 2005: Research Student and Associate Lecturer, Sheffield Hallam University.

Rob’s research focuses mainly on medical law, with a particular interest in informed consent and clinical negligence. He also has an interest in mental capacity and best interests, assisted suicide, end-of-life decision making and advance decision making.  Rob has published in a range of specialist law journals including the Medical Law Review, the Journal of Professional Negligence, Medical Law International, the Tort Law Review, the Medico-Legal Journal and the Texas Review of Entertainment and Sports Law. Rob has also published articles in general law journals such as Legal Studies, the Law Quarterly Review, the Cambridge Law Journal, the Common Law World Review and Northern Ireland Legal Quarterly.

Rob sits on the editorial board of OUP's esteemed Medical Law Review, and also sits on the editorial boards of the Journal of Professional Negligence and the Journal of Medical Law and Ethics.

Rob would be willing to supervise students in the following areas:
Consent
Information Disclosure
Mental Capacity
Mental Health
End of Life Decision Making
Advance Decisions
Clinical Negligence
Company Directors
Corporate Manslaughter
Organ Transplantation

Deputy Head of UEA Law School;

Committee Member of the UEA G-Rec Ethics Committee;

Committee Member of the Norfolk and Norwich Medico-Legal Society;

Assistant Director of UG Admissions;

UG Outreach Team.

In addition to the courses I am module leader for, I have teaching interests in: