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Focuses on an audit examining the murders committed by Dr. Harold Shipman, a general practitioner in Great Britain. How Shipman was convicted of the murders of 15 of his patients; Detection of fatal doses of the drug diamorphine in the victims; Examination of the death certificates issued by Shipman.

Reports on the creation of guidelines by the United Kingdom Central Council for Nursing Midwifery and Health Visiting (UKCC) concerning situations when it is appropriate for nurses to hide a patient's medication in food. Idea that medication may only be given covertly when it is in the best interest of the patient.

Reports that Johns Hopkins University took responsibility for the death of a healthy research participant. Investigation which revealed shortcomings in oversight of the research; Inability of the university to explain clearly why the volunteer died; Description of the research, which involved giving volunteers hexamethonium by inhalation.

Discusses the stance of Great Britain's Labour Party, which was re-elected in June 2001, on health care reform. Opinion that Labour's handling of the national health service (NHS) will be a test of the administration; Expectation that Labour will tackle waiting lists and quality of care; Predictions for increases in health spending; Development of private-public partnerships within the private finance initiative (PFI); Promise of the administration that it will target health inequalities between rich and poor.

Focuses on Timothy Peters, King's College School of Medicine professor of clinical biochemistry, who was found guilty of serious misconduct by the General Medical Council of Great Britain. His role as research supervisor of Anjan Banerjee, who was found guilty of research fraud; Details of the case against Banerjee and action taken against him.

Announces the launch of a campaign to reassure parents in the United Kingdom of the safety of the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine. Association of the vaccine with autism and intestinal abnormalities; Surveillance of the vaccine in Finland which reported no such side effects; Response of the Medicines Control Agency and Department of Health.

Focuses on the government in the United Kingdom, which plans to continue to loosen restrictions on human embryo stem cell research. Opinion of the European Commission that the creation of embryos for such research is ethically unacceptable; Details of current legislation regarding the use of human embryos in research.

Discusses Richard Neale, a gynecologist whose Great Britain medical license was revoked by the General Medical Council (GMC) on July 25, 2000, after he was found guilty of professional misconduct. Question as to why he was allowed to practice in Great Britain after he had lost his license in two provinces in Canada; Details of his career; Need for an investigation of the role of Neale's employers.

Reports that Jennifer Colman was elected to the governing body of the General Medical Council (GMC) in Great Britain in April 2000. Reaction to the election in light of a 1987 finding that the doctor was guilty of professional misconduct; Effect of the controversy on the GMC.

Reports on the court ruling in the case of Nottingham University in England against Simon Fishel for being in breach of his contract with the university while abroad. Establishment of the Nottingham University Research and Treatment Unit in Reproduction (NURTURE) by Dr. Fishel; The lawsuit against Fishel for allegedly gaining secret profits from his own work abroad; Settlement of the court case.

Discusses efforts worldwide to stop rape. Evidence that South Africa has the highest incidence of rape as of late 1999; How rape has been brought to the attention of the public through advances in technology; Reasons why many women do not report the crime; How rape is considered a punishable act of genocide.

Reports that the government of Great Britain is planning a rewrite of legislation to compel mentally disordered people to comply with treatment following discharge from a hospital or prison. Details of changes being suggested for the 1983 Mental Health Act; Concerns regarding possible actions mentally disordered people may take without continued medical treatment.

Reports that the World Medical Association has postponed the proposed revision of the Declaration of Helsinki, an international agreement governing drug research. Concerns of researchers on the growing number of ethical guidelines governing drug trials; Considerations needed to be addressed in the plan to organize a global forum on drug research ethics.

Reports that UNAIDS will publish a document on ethical considerations in HIV-vaccine research. Contents of the document; Requirements in the ethical acceptability of conducting HIV vaccine research; Guidance points included in the document.

Reports on measures that the government in Great Britain will be instituting to detain people with untreatable personality disorders who present a threat to the public. Fears expressed by the Royal College of Psychiatrists over the measures; Who will care for the detainees; Comments from Home Secretary Jack Straw who announced the proposals on February 15, 1999.

States that British surgeons are battling to maintain their ability to self-regulate. The Senate of Surgery of Great Britain and Ireland preparing a formal response to recommendations made by the General Medical Council; Concern for safeguards against idiosyncratic practice in independent consultant practice; Recommendations of the Senate report for a monitoring procedure, including revalidation for consultants.

Comments on the pilot phase of the Randomised Asphyxia Study stopped in 1996 in the United Kingdom. Study to determine if magnesium sulphate reduced severe handicap or death in babies with birth asphyxia; Adverse events, including the use of anhydrous magnesium sulphate instead of hydrated magnesium sulphate; Recommendation for the UK Medicines Control Agency should ensure a uniform convention for expressing doses of magnesium sulphate, based on molecular weight, as a safeguard.

Reports the ten-year strategy for opposing drug abuse in Great Britain released by the country's Drug Czar, Keith Hellawell. Focus of the White Paper on treatment and education; Success of needle-exchange programs and safe-injection education.

Reports on actions being taken by several countries to ban people from Great Britain from donating blood in a step to prevent transmission of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Announcement made by the United States Food and Drug Administration regarding people who have spent longer than six months in Great Britain; Similar restrictions being made by the Japanese Ministry.