Associate Professor Bernadette Richards
Associate Professor of Medical Ethics and Professionalism and Theme Lead, Kind & Compassionate Professional
Academy for Medical Education
07 334 65361
Oral Health Centre, Herston
Bernadette’s role is to focus on the embedding of professionalism and ethics in the medical programme. She supports the design of learning across the curriculum so as to heighten awareness of these two important themes. As Integrity Officer she provides assistance for students to develop and maintain these skills.
Researcher biography
Bernadette Richards, BA, LLB (Hons), PhD has recently joined the University of Queensland Medical School as Associate Professor of Ethics and Professionalism. Prior to that she was working on the Future Health Technologies Project at the Singapore ETH Centre, Campus for Research Excellence and Technological Enterprise (CREATE), Singapore, exploring trustworthy data governance. She is an Adjunct Associate Professor of Law at the Queensland University of Technology Australian Centre for Health Law Research and Adelaide Law School. She is a member of the NHMRC’s Australian Health Ethics Committee, the Embryo Research Licensing Committee and Dietary Guidelines Governance Committee and the South Australian Voluntary Assisted Dying Taskforce. She was previously the Chair of the Mitochondrial Donation Expert Working Committee and was involved in the proposed amendment to the law. Bernadette is the President of the Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law (AABHL), and is an active researcher, having completed major projects on organ donation, consent to treatment and legal issues around innovative surgery. She is a chief investigator on three current major grants, NHMRC Partnership Grant, “Strategies for the inclusion of vulnerable populations in developing complex and sensitive public policy: A case study in Advance Care Planning”, NHMRC Ideas Grant, 'The algorithm will see you now: ethical, legal and social implications of adopting machine learning systems for diagnosis and screening' and ARC Discovery Grant, 'Support or Sales? Medical Device Representatives in Australian Hospitals'. Her co-authored book, ‘Technology, Innovation and Healthcare: An evolving relationship’ was published in February 2022 and she has published over 90 journal articles, book chapters and books.
Books
Richards, Bernadette J., Taylor, Mark and Jacobson, Susannah Sage (2022). Technology, innovation and healthcare: an evolving relationship. Cheltenham, United Kingdom: Edward Elgar Publishing. doi: 10.4337/9781788973144
Richards, Bernadette and de Zwart, Melissa (2017). Tort Law Principles. Australia: Thomson Reuters.
Richards, Bernadette and Louise, Jennie (2014). Medical Law and Ethics a Problem-Based Approach. Melbourne, VIC, Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Book Chapters
Richards, Bernadette (2024). Reflections on these leading works. Leading works in health law and ethics. (pp. 255-268) edited by Sara Fovargue and Craig Purshouse. Abingdon, Oxon, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781003146612-18
Bennett, Belinda and Richards, Bernadette (2022). Reproductive technologies and reproductive rights: the role of law and ethics. The Cambridge handbook of information technology, life sciences and human rights. (pp. 113-121) edited by Marcello Ienca, Oreste Pollicino, Laura Liguori, Elisa Stefanini and Roberto Andorno. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781108775038.011
Richards, Bernadette J. (2020). A court of morals, a court of law, or a little bit of both?. Religion matters: the contemporary relevance of religion. (pp. 55-66) edited by Paul Babie and Rick Sarre. Singapore: Springer Nature. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-2489-9_4
Richards, Bernadette J. (2019). Autonomy and the law widely used, poorly defined. Beyond Autonomy: Limits and Alternatives to Informed Consent in Research Ethics and Law. (pp. 17-32) edited by David G. Kirchhoffer, and Bernadette J. Richards. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781108649247.002
Richards, Bernadette (2018). General principles of consent to medical treatment. Health Law in Australia . (pp. 135-157) edited by Ben White, Fiona McDonald and Lindy Willmott. Australia: Thomson Reuters.
Richards, Bernadette (2015). Negligence and tort law: the corruption myth. Law and Popular Culture in Australia. (pp. 17-29) edited by Melissa de Zwart, Bernadette Richards and Suzanne Le Mire. Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Richards, Bernadette (2015). Medical law and ethics: divergence and convergence. Law and Popular Culture in Australia. (pp. 61-77) edited by Melissa de Zwart, Bernadette Richards and Suzanne Le Mire. Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Richards, Bernadette (2013). Patient consent conversation. Legal and Forensic Medicine. (pp. 853-864) Berlin, Heidelberg: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-32338-6_32
Richards, Bernadette (2013). Informed choice not informed consent: Shifting focus and protecting interests. Ethics, Law and Society. (pp. 183-199) edited by Nicky Priaulx and Anthony Wrigley. London, United Kingdom: Routledge. doi: 10.4324/9781315094342-13
Journal Articles
Chan, Hui Yun and Richards, Bernadette (2023). When will death be? Legal considerations and regulatory safeguards in predictive modelling applications for end of life care. Journal of Law and Medicine, 30 (3), 745-760.
Scheibner, James, Kroesche, Nicole, Wakefield, Luke, Cockburn, Tina, McPhail, Steven M. and Richards, Bernadette (2023). Does legislation impede data sharing in Australia across institutions and jurisdictions? A scoping review. Journal of Medical Systems, 47 (1) 116, 1-13. doi: 10.1007/s10916-023-02009-z
Lysaght, Tamra, Chan, Hui Yun, Scheibner, James, Toh, Hui Jin and Richards, Bernadette (2023). An ethical code for collecting, using and transferring sensitive health data: outcomes of a modified Policy Delphi process in Singapore. BMC Medical Ethics, 24 (1) 78, 78. doi: 10.1186/s12910-023-00952-7
Baquero, Ashley, Beyda, David H., Singh, Maria Fiatarone, Gilcrease, Glynn, Gutierrez, Joseph E., Lavee, Jacob, Matas, David, Paul, Norbert, Richards, Bernadette, Robertson, Matthew P., Rogers, Wendy, Scalettar, Raymond, Shapiro, Michael, Sharif, Adnan, Toledo, Alexander H. and Trey, Torsten (2022). Comment on "Lung Transplantation for Elderly Patients With End-stage COVID-19 Pneumonia". Annals of Surgery, 276 (1), E65-E66. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000004413
Richards, Bernadette and Scheibner, James (2022). Health technology and big data: social licence, trust and the law. Journal of Law and Medicine, 29 (2), 388-399.
Richards, Bernadette, Jacobson, Susannah Sage, Lotz, Mianna and Rogers, Wendy (2022). The Regulation of Medical Device Representatives: A Question of Trust?. Law, Technology and Humans, 4 (1), 117-128. doi: 10.5204/lthj.2281
Blakely, Brette, Rogers, Wendy, Johnson, Jane, Grundy, Quinn, Hutchison, Katrina, Clay-Williams, Robyn, Richards, Bernadette and Maddern, Guy (2022). Ethical and regulatory implications of the COVID-19 pandemic for the medical devices industry and its representatives. BMC Medical Ethics, 23 (1) 31. doi: 10.1186/s12910-022-00771-2
Pandos, Olga C. and Richards, Bernadette J. (2022). Lost in translation: overcoming practical barriers in the operation of advance care directives and enduring powers of attorney in South Australia. Adelaide Law Review, 43 (1), 271-297.
Richards, Bernadette, Sage Jacobson, Susannah and James Aquino, Yves Saint (2021). Regulation of AI in health care: A cautionary tale considering horses and zebras. Journal of Law and Medicine, 28 (3), 645-654.
Grieger, Joel, Giancaspro, Mark and Richards, Bernadette (2020). Consumer law, technology and health care: A shift in focus, a panacea or a confounder?. Journal of Law and Medicine, 28 (1), 54-67.
Sharif, Adnan, Lavee, Jacob, Baquero, Ashley, Fiatarone Singh, Maria, Matas, David, Richards, Bernadette, Shapiro, Michael E., Trey, Torsten and Rogers, Wendy (2020). Reply to Chen et al. Transplant International, 33 (7), 819-820. doi: 10.1111/tri.13632
Nicol, Dianne and Richards, Bernadette (2020). Mitochondrial donation: The Australian story. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17 (2), 161-164. doi: 10.1007/s11673-020-09988-5
Boylan, Adelaide, Thomas, Josephine and Richards, Bernadette (2020). Challenging mutual mistrust: Medico‐legal interprofessional learning. Medical Education, 54 (5), 476-477. doi: 10.1111/medu.14118
Richards, Bernadette (2020). Health care, technology and innovation: What's law got to do with it?. Journal of Law and Medicine, 27 (3), 561-569.
Ingman, Wendy V., Richards, Bernadette, Street, Jacqueline M., Carter, Drew, Rickard, Mary, Stone, Jennifer and Dasari, Pallave (2020). Breast density notification: An Australian perspective. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9 (3) 681. doi: 10.3390/jcm9030681
Richards, Bernadette (2020). Balancing interests in healthcare: What happens when commercial interests outweigh patient welfare and a brief overview of the swinging pendulum of informed consent in Singapore. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 17 (1), 15-20. doi: 10.1007/s11673-020-09975-w
Carter, Stacy M., Rogers, Wendy, Win, Khin Than, Frazer, Helen, Richards, Bernadette and Houssami, Nehmat (2020). The ethical, legal and social implications of using artificial intelligence systems in breast cancer care. The Breast, 49, 25-32. doi: 10.1016/j.breast.2019.10.001
Cahill-O'Callaghan, R. J. and Richards, B. J. (2018). Policy, principle, or values: an exploration of judicial decision-making. Louisiana Law Review, 79 (2), 397-418.
Grundy, Quinn, Hutchison, Katrina, Johnson, Jane, Blakely, Brette, Clay-Wlliams, Robyn, Richards, Bernadette and Rogers, Wendy A (2018). Device representatives in hospitals: are commercial imperatives driving clinical decision-making?. Journal of Medical Ethics, 44 (9), 589-592. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2018-104804
Richards, Bernadette J. (2018). Social media: the unnamed plaintiff. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 15 (3), 309-312. doi: 10.1007/s11673-018-9872-7
Richards, Bernadette and Coggon, John (2018). Assisted dying in Australia and limiting court involvement in withdrawal of nutrition and hydration. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 15 (1), 15-18. doi: 10.1007/s11673-018-9839-8
Webster, Adam, Richards, Bernadette, de Zwart, Melissa, Reilly, Alex and Le Mire, Suzanne M. (2018). Enhancing the first year curriculum and experience: Law school 'boot camp'. SSRN Electronic Journal. doi: 10.2139/ssrn.3138414
Richards, Bernadette and Pope, Thaddeus Mason (2017). Stretching the boundaries of parental responsibility and new legal guidelines for determination of brain death. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 14 (3), 323-328. doi: 10.1007/s11673-017-9803-z
Lysaght, Tamra, Richards, Bernadette and Muralidharan, Anantharaman (2017). Exploring the boundaries of autonomy and the ‘right’ to access innovative stem cell therapies. Asian Bioethics Review, 9 (1-2), 45-60. doi: 10.1007/s41649-017-0001-4
Furrow, Barry R. and Richards, Bernadette J. (2017). Regulating the new: A consideration of CRISPR and approaches to professional standards of practitioners of Chinese medicine in Australia and accessing the NDIS. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 14 (2), 167-172. doi: 10.1007/s11673-017-9785-x
Richards, Bernadette J. and Okninski, Michaela (2017). Considering professional misconduct and best interests of a child (palliative orders). Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 14 (1), 19-22. doi: 10.1007/s11673-016-9765-6
Toews, Maeghan, Giancaspro, Mark, Richards, Bernadette and Ferrari, Paolo (2017). Kidney paired donation and the "valuable consideration" problem: The experiences of Australia, Canada, and the United States. Transplantation, 101 (9), 1996-2002. doi: 10.1097/TP.0000000000001778
Richards, Bernadette J. and Okninski, Michaela E. (2017). The best interests of a child: a tragedy in three parts. Medical Law Review, 25 (1), 138-149. doi: 10.1093/medlaw/fww048
Richards, Bernadette and Okninski, Michaela E. (2016). Regulating “quack” medicine and decision-making for children re-visited. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 13 (4), 467-471. doi: 10.1007/s11673-016-9746-9
Richards, Bernadette (2016). Medical innovation laws: An unnecessary innovation. Australian Health Review, 40 (3), 282-285. doi: 10.1071/AH15081
Richards, Bernadette and Hutchison, Katrina (2016). Consent to innovative treatment: No need for a new legal test. Journal of Law and Medicine, 23 (4), 938-948.
Pope, Thaddeus Mason and Richards, Bernadette J. (2015). Decision-Making: At the End of Life and the Provision of Pretreatment Advice. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 12 (3), 389-394. doi: 10.1007/s11673-015-9652-6
Richards, Bernadette and Williamson, Laura (2015). Supporting Innovation in the UK: Care Act 2014: Developments in Social Care Legislation in England and the Medical Innovation Bill. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 12 (2), 183-187. doi: 10.1007/s11673-015-9637-5
Richards, Bernadette, Madden, Bill and Cockburn, Tina (2015). Untangling the Surrogacy Web and Exploring Legal Duties Following the Discharge of Mental Health Patients. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 12 (1), 25-29. doi: 10.1007/s11673-014-9592-6
Richards, Bernadette, Porter, Gerard, Lipworth, Wendy and Lysaght, Tamra (2015). The medical innovation bill: Still more harm than good. Clinical Ethics, 10 (1-2), 1-4. doi: 10.1177/1477750915575258
Richards, Bernadette (2014). Property in Tissue (Again) and Negligent Conception. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 11 (4), 437-440. doi: 10.1007/s11673-014-9574-8
De Zwart, Melissa and Richards, Bernadette (2014). Wi-fi in the ivory tower: Reducing isolation of the law PhD student through social media networks. QUT Law Review, 14 (1), 81-93. doi: 10.5204/qutlr.v14i1.524
Lemmens, Trudo and Richards, Bernadette J. (2014). Investigating Research and Accessing Reproductive Material. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 11 (1), 11-19. doi: 10.1007/s11673-013-9503-2
Pope, Thaddeus Mason and Richards, Bernadette (2013). Who Makes the Decisions, Especially When it Concerns Minors?. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 10 (4), 441-444. doi: 10.1007/s11673-013-9486-z
Richards, Bernadette and Coggon, John (2013). Informing Patients and Making Decisions. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 10 (2), 139-143. doi: 10.1007/s11673-013-9439-6
Richards, Bernadette and Stewart, Cameron (2013). Professional Conduct and Making Decisions for Minors. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 10 (1), 11-15. doi: 10.1007/s11673-012-9410-y
Richards, Bernadette, Hayes, Tom and Tsui, Mabel (2012). Making Decisions. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 9 (4), 385-393. doi: 10.1007/s11673-012-9399-2
De Lacey, Sheryl, Rogers, Wendy, Braunack-Mayer, Annette, Avery, Jodie, Smith, David and Richards, Bernadette (2012). Perceptions of embryo status and embryo use in an Australian community. Reproductive BioMedicine Online, 24 (7), 727-744. doi: 10.1016/j.rbmo.2012.01.014
Coggon, John, Madden, Bill, Cockburn, Tina, Stewart, Cameron, Singh, Jerome Amir, Bhan, Anant, Upshur, Ross E. and Richards, Bernadette (2012). Organ Donation, Discrimination After Death, Anti-Vaccination Sentiments, and Tuberculosis Management. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 9 (2), 125-133. doi: 10.1007/s11673-012-9370-2
Stewart, Cameron, Richards, Bernadette, Huxtable, Richard, Madden, Bill and Cockburn, Tina (2012). Sale of Sperm, Health Records, Minimally Conscious States, and Duties of Candour. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 9 (1), 7-14. doi: 10.1007/s11673-011-9347-6
Naffine, Ngaire and Richards, Bernadette (2012). Regulating Consent to Organ and Embryo Donation: The Legal Dimensions of the Problem. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 9 (1), 49-55. doi: 10.1007/s11673-011-9348-5
Naffine, Ngaire, Richards, Bernadette, de Lacey, Sheryl, Braunack-Mayer, Annette and Rogers, Wendy (2012). Who controls the uses of organs after death? Law in the books, law in practice and the view of the people. Journal of law and medicine, 20 (2), 295-305.
Richards, Bernadette, Madden, Bill and Cockburn, Tina (2011). Considering the "Born-Alive" Rule and Possession of Sperm Following Death. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 8 (4), 323-327. doi: 10.1007/s11673-011-9324-0
Richards, Bernadette, Madden, Bill and Cockburn, Tina (2011). Recent Developments. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 8 (2), 113-119. doi: 10.1007/s11673-011-9300-8
Stewart, Cameron and Richards, Bernadette (2010). Recent Developments. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 7 (4), 341-343. doi: 10.1007/s11673-010-9256-0
de Lacey, Sheryl, Rogers, Wendy and Richards, Bernadette (2010). Directed embryo donation: free choice or discrimination?. Journal of law and medicine, 18 (1), 169-177.
Naffine, Ngaire, Richards, Bernadette and Rogers, Wendy (2009). Scaring us all to death: the need for responsible legal scholarship on post-mortem organ donation. Journal of law and medicine, 16 (4), 696-707.
Rogers, Wendy A. and Richards, Bernadette J. (2008). Organ donation after cardiac death: Legal and ethical justifications for antemortem interventions. Medical Journal of Australia, 188 (3). doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2008.tb01574.x
Richards, Bernadette and Rogers, Wendy A. (2007). Organ donation after cardiac death: Legal and ethical justifications for antemortem interventions. Medical Journal of Australia, 187 (3), 168-170. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2007.tb01178.x
Conference Paper
Ledger, Alison, Richards, Bernadette and Pather, Nalini (2024). Integrating artificial intelligence into medical education: a path to future ready healthcare professionals. Asia Pacific Medical Education Conference, Colombo, Sri Lanka, 15-21 January 2024.