Aim of the Research interest groups
One way of achieving EAHL goals is the development of Interest groups in specific areas of health
law. The overall aim of EAHL Interest groups is to provide EAHL members with an opportunity for
on-going interaction with European colleagues along thematic lines.
EAHL interest groups are designed to build shared knowledge in the field of health law, to
exchange information, to be fora for discussion, for joint research activities and joint
publications. EAHL interest groups can take different forms, depending on their aim.
The groups may serve as platforms for discussion on topical issues, for assessment and response
to new and emerging challenges for health law, as research networks on specific topics, as fora
for the purpose of providing input into national law and practice, of formulating best practices
(eg. for cross border health care) and of providing for a health law assessment of relevant
European legislative proposals as an active contribution to EU and Council of Europe legislative
initiatives.
Activities of EAHL Interest groups may take the form of virtual networking via e-mailing lists and
discussion groups. The interest group can also promote communication by creating its own website (with links to the EAHL website). The holding of thematic workshops, courses, seminars and
conferences in the year no EAHL conference is held, is strongly encouraged. Interest groups are
also encouraged organize a thematic (satellite) session during EAHL conference in order to
present the state of the art/viewpoints/outcome of the interest group. This will stimulate
discussion for a broader health law forum.
Interest groups are asked to promote membership of their own group and of the EAHL as
well. An interest group can be initiated by any EAHL member and is open for EAHL members to
join. Interest groups are administered in accordance with the relevant by-law.
How to set up an Interest group
Members interested in setting up an Interest group should submit a written proposal to the Board
(purpose setting up, justification, types of activities, and names of at least seven initial members
from at least two different countries). Once approved by the Executive Board, the Interest group
comes formally into existence and will be listed on the EAHL website. The EAHL website and
newsletters should be used for providing information on the activities (and their outcome),
upcoming events etc.
To facilitate the recruitment of seven founding members, EAHL members interested in setting up
an Interest group may request the EAHL secretariat to circulate a “Solicitation for Expressions of
Interest” to all EAHL members prior to the submission of their setup request.
Each Interest Group is administered by its chairperson(s), whose responsibilities include the
setting up and maintenance of the Interest group’s activities, the keeping of a register of Interest
group members, and the submission of reports on the Interest group’s activities and membership
to the Executive Board.
The Interest group status is reviewed every two years by the Executive Board which, at its
discretion, may discontinue groups with fewer than seven/ten members, no activities, or conduct
incompatible with the EAHL Constitution. EAHL Interest Groups must be financially self-
supporting; the EAHL does not carry any financial responsibility for the activities of the EAHL
interest groups.
For more information, please contact Anne-Marie Duguet or Henriette Roscan-Abbing All your
suggestions or proposals for topics of discussion will be welcome.
The EAHL supports the following interest groups (access only for EAHL members):
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Biobanking (Rafael Vale e Reis)
Data protection in health care (Jean Herveg)
Health service systems (David Frenkel)
Reproductive issues (Vera Lucia Raposo)
Research methodology (Roland Friele)
Public health care (Susana Aires de Sousa)
Use of the human body (Solvita Olsena & Austen Garwood-Gowers)
Gender identity (Alexander Schuster)
Medical negligence (Helena Moniz & Anne-Marie Duguet)
Health Care and Rationing (Andre den Exter)
Health Law, Asylum Seekers and Illegal Immigrants (Henriette Roscam-Abbing)