Northern Ireland Forum for Ethics
in Medicine and Healthcare
Student Essay Competition 2014
The Northern Ireland Forum for Ethics in Medicine and Healthcare Essay Competition is
held annually. This year two prizes, each £100, will be awarded for the best
undergraduate and postgraduate student essay, respectively, on a topic of the entrant’s
own choice within the broad remit of ‘ethical issues in health and social care’. The
competition is open to all registered students within any Faculty in Queen’s University
Belfast or the University of Ulster. Essays (recommended word limit 1,500-2,500 words)
should be word-processed (double-spaced, A4) and submitted to the Honorary Secretary
(preferably by email attachment to d.bell@qub.ac.uk ) before the closing date of Monday
30th June, 2014. Essays should conform to the instructions for authors (enclosed).
Applicants should indicate on their application whether they are an undergraduate or
postgraduate student. Essays will be judged by a panel comprising at least three
members of the Forum’s Council, reflecting the disciplines and institutions represented
by the entrants in any given year.
Suggested essay topics include:Ethical dilemmas at the beginning of life (e.g. abortion, saviour siblings, assisted
conception); ethical dilemmas at the end of life (e.g. euthanasia and assisted suicide);
ethical issues relating to organ transplantation; healthcare rationing; research
governance; genetic screening; drug development, marketing and prescribing; social
equality, disability, discrimination and human rights; autonomy and consent. The above
list is not exhaustive; entrants may wish to write on another topic of their own choosing.
Instructions to Authors:
All manuscripts should be typed using Arial Narrow font size 12. A strict word limit is not
applied but as a general guide, articles should normally occupy between 6-10 pages in
the published journal (1500-2500 words approximately).
The first page of the manuscript should include the title, name(s) of author(s) and full
address (including email) of the corresponding author.
An abstract (200-300 words approximately) is required and should reflect the content of
the article including a statement of rationale and a reasoned concluding statement.
The use of emboldened subheadings to separate the text of the manuscript into
approximately 3-5 sections is encouraged.
References should be numbered sequentially in the order in which they are cited within
the main text. Superscripted square brackets should be used [1] .
The following format should be employed when referencing:
[1] Pickering S, Braude P. Further advances and uses of assisted conception
technology. BMJ 2003; 327: 1156-1158.
[2] Mental Capacity Act 2007. Department for Constitutional Affairs.
http://www.dca.gov.uk/legal-policy/mental-capacity/mca-summary.pdf (Accessed 26th
October 2006)
Manuscripts should be submitted to:
Dr David Bell (Honorary Secretary)
Senior Lecturer, Therapeutics and Pharmacology,
Centre for Medical Education,
School of Medicine, Dentistry and Biomedical Sciences,
The Queen’s University of Belfast,
Whitla Medical Building,
97 Lisburn Road,
Belfast BT9 7BL
Submission as a word document by email attachment is preferred:
Email: D.Bell@qub.ac.uk