Emeritus Professor Malcolm Parker
Emeritus Professor

Malcolm Parker

Email: 

Background

My research interests cover a number of areas within history and philosophy of science and medicine, moral psychology, bioethics and medical ethics, health law, and medical education, with particular interests in philosophy of psychiatry, end-of-life care and decisions, reproductive medicine, medical professionalism, research ethics, evidence-based medicine and complementary medicine.

Areas of particular interest include:

  • Conceptual research in bioethical methodology, particularly principlism and global bioethics
  • Ethical aspects of the doctor-patient relationship
  • End-of-life issues including euthanasia, mandatory psychiatric review of requests for assisted death, psychiatric medicalisation, withdrawal of treatment, causation of death, competence determination, end-of-life policy-making
  • Reproductive issues including prenatal testing, posthumous conception and embryo research
  • Human research ethics
  • Changes in medical negligence and tort law
  • Evidence-based medicine: implications for medical ethics and relations to clinical judgement
  • Complementary and alternative medicine: scientific and ethical status, regulation, negligence, integration with orthodox medicine
  • Education in medical ethics, medical and health law, professionalism, medical humanities
  • Assessment of personal and professional behaviour of medical students
  • Statutory regulation of clinical competence and professional conduct

Availability

Emeritus Professor Malcolm Parker is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Applied ethics Health Sciences

Qualifications

  • Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery and Medical Science, The University of Queensland
  • Masters (Coursework), University of New England Australia
  • Masters (Coursework), University of Melbourne
  • Doctoral Diploma of Medicine, The University of Queensland

Research interests

  • List of interests

    • Conceptual research in bioethical methodology, particularly principlism and global bioethics • Ethical aspects of the doctor-patient relationship • End-of-life issues including euthanasia, mandatory psychiatric review of requests for assisted death, psychiatric medicalisation, withdrawal of treatment, causation of death, competence determination, end-of-life policy-making • Reproductive issues including prenatal testing, posthumous conception and embryo research • Human research ethics • Changes in medical negligence and tort law • Evidence-based medicine: implications for medical ethics and relations to clinical judgement • Complementary and alternative medicine: scientific and ethical status, regulation, negligence, integration with orthodox medicine • Education in medical ethics, medical and health law, professionalism, medical humanities • Assessment of personal and professional behaviour of medical students • Statutory regulation of clinical competence and professional conduct

Research impacts

My research has had direct or indirect impact in the following areas:

  • Management of impaired doctors and medical students - leader in development of curriculum, teaching and assessment of medical professionalism and student behaviour, via publications, research-based developments at UQ and invited national and international contributions.
  • Medical education - improving and expanding medical ethics and law education in Australia, via publication and research-based development of curricum, teaching and assessment.
  • Human research ethics - broadening the remit of the National Statement on Research Involving Humans beyond the medical categories, via collaborative contributions to the research literature.

Search Professor Malcolm Parker’s works on UQ eSpace

252 works between 1987 and 2020
All (252) Journal Article (191) Book Chapter (11) Conference Publication (36) Book (1) Other Outputs (11) Edited Outputs (2)

1 - 20 of 252 works

2020

Journal Article

Clinical supervision in general practice training: the interweaving of supervisor, trainee and patient entrustment with clinical oversight, patient safety and trainee learning

Sturman, Nancy, Parker, Malcolm and Jorm, Christine (2020). Clinical supervision in general practice training: the interweaving of supervisor, trainee and patient entrustment with clinical oversight, patient safety and trainee learning. Advances in Health Sciences Education, 26 (1), 297-311. doi: 10.1007/s10459-020-09986-7

Clinical supervision in general practice training: the interweaving of supervisor, trainee and patient entrustment with clinical oversight, patient safety and trainee learning

2020

Journal Article

With a grain of salt? Supervisor credibility and other factors influencing trainee decisions to seek in-consultation assistance: a focus group study of Australian general practice trainees

Sturman, Nancy, Jorm, Christine and Parker, Malcolm (2020). With a grain of salt? Supervisor credibility and other factors influencing trainee decisions to seek in-consultation assistance: a focus group study of Australian general practice trainees. BMC Family Practice, 21 (1) 28, 28. doi: 10.1186/s12875-020-1084-7

With a grain of salt? Supervisor credibility and other factors influencing trainee decisions to seek in-consultation assistance: a focus group study of Australian general practice trainees

2020

Journal Article

Development of Voluntary Assisted Dying Training in Victoria, Australia: A Model for Consideration

White, Ben P., Willmott, Lindy, Close, Eliana, Hewitt, Jayne, Meehan, Rebecca, Greaves, Laura Ley, Parker, Malcolm H. and Yates, Patsy (2020). Development of Voluntary Assisted Dying Training in Victoria, Australia: A Model for Consideration. Journal of Palliative Care, 36 (3), 162-167. doi: 10.1177/0825859720946897

Development of Voluntary Assisted Dying Training in Victoria, Australia: A Model for Consideration

2019

Journal Article

Australian Policies on "Futile" or "Non-beneficial" Treatment at the End of Life: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Close, Eliana, Parker, Malcolm, Willmott, Lindy, White, Ben and Crowden, Andrew (2019). Australian Policies on "Futile" or "Non-beneficial" Treatment at the End of Life: A Qualitative Content Analysis. Journal of Law and Medicine, 27 (2), 415-439.

Australian Policies on "Futile" or "Non-beneficial" Treatment at the End of Life: A Qualitative Content Analysis

2019

Journal Article

Factors associated with non-beneficial treatments in end of life hospital admissions: a multicentre retrospective cohort study in Australia

Carter, Hannah Elizabeth, Lee, Xing Ju, Gallois, Cindy, Winch, Sarah, Callaway, Leonie, Willmott, Lindy, White, Ben, Parker, Malcolm, Close, Eliana and Graves, Nicholas (2019). Factors associated with non-beneficial treatments in end of life hospital admissions: a multicentre retrospective cohort study in Australia. BMJ Open, 9 (11) 030955, e030955. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2019-030955

Factors associated with non-beneficial treatments in end of life hospital admissions: a multicentre retrospective cohort study in Australia

2019

Journal Article

Doctors' perceptions of how resource limitations relate to futility in end-of-life decision making: a qualitative analysis

Close, Eliana, White, Ben P., Willmott, Lindy, Gallois, Cindy, Parker, Malcolm, Graves, Nicholas and Winch, Sarah (2019). Doctors' perceptions of how resource limitations relate to futility in end-of-life decision making: a qualitative analysis. Journal of Medical Ethics, 45 (6), 373-379. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2018-105199

Doctors' perceptions of how resource limitations relate to futility in end-of-life decision making: a qualitative analysis

2019

Journal Article

Misconceiving “Neutrality” in bioethics: rejoinder to “Bioethics and the Myth of Neutrality”

Parker, Malcolm (2019). Misconceiving “Neutrality” in bioethics: rejoinder to “Bioethics and the Myth of Neutrality”. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 16 (2), 147-151. doi: 10.1007/s11673-019-09907-3

Misconceiving “Neutrality” in bioethics: rejoinder to “Bioethics and the Myth of Neutrality”

2019

Journal Article

Australian Policies on "Futile" or "Non-beneficial" Treatment at the End of Life: A Qualitative Content Analysis

Close, Eliana, Parker, Malcolm, Willmott, Lindy, White, Ben and Crowden, Andrew (2019). Australian Policies on "Futile" or "Non-beneficial" Treatment at the End of Life: A Qualitative Content Analysis. Journal of Law and Medicine, 27 (2), 401-425.

Australian Policies on "Futile" or "Non-beneficial" Treatment at the End of Life: A Qualitative Content Analysis

2018

Journal Article

Reasons for ambivalence about accepting addiction as a reason for performing euthanasia

Hall, Wayne and Parker, Malcolm (2018). Reasons for ambivalence about accepting addiction as a reason for performing euthanasia. Addiction, 113 (7), 1186-1187. doi: 10.1111/add.14246

Reasons for ambivalence about accepting addiction as a reason for performing euthanasia

2018

Journal Article

Law as clinical evidence: a new constitutive model of medical education and decision-making

Parker, Malcolm, Willmott, Lindy, White, Ben, Williams, Gail and Cartwright, Colleen (2018). Law as clinical evidence: a new constitutive model of medical education and decision-making. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 15 (1), 101-109. doi: 10.1007/s11673-017-9836-3

Law as clinical evidence: a new constitutive model of medical education and decision-making

2018

Conference Publication

Medical Futility at the End of Life: an Australian Policy Analysis

Close, E., Parker, M, Crowden, A., Willmott, L., White, B.P., Gallois, C., Graves, N., Winch, S. and Calloway, L. (2018). Medical Futility at the End of Life: an Australian Policy Analysis. Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference, Townsville, QLD Australia, 24 September 2018.

Medical Futility at the End of Life: an Australian Policy Analysis

2018

Conference Publication

ROSA: Registrar-initiated oversight, support and advice

Sturman, N., Parker, M. and Jorm, C. (2018). ROSA: Registrar-initiated oversight, support and advice. GP18, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 11-13 October 2018.

ROSA: Registrar-initiated oversight, support and advice

2017

Journal Article

Comparing doctors' legal compliance across three Australian states for decisions whether to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment: Does different law lead to different decisions?

White, Ben P., Willmott, Lindy, Cartwright, Colleen, Parker, Malcolm, Williams, Gail and Davis, Juliet (2017). Comparing doctors' legal compliance across three Australian states for decisions whether to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment: Does different law lead to different decisions?. BMC Palliative Care, 16 (1) 63, 1-8. doi: 10.1186/s12904-017-0249-1

Comparing doctors' legal compliance across three Australian states for decisions whether to withhold or withdraw life-sustaining medical treatment: Does different law lead to different decisions?

2017

Journal Article

Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: focus on the data

Parker, Malcolm H. (2017). Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: focus on the data. Medical Journal of Australia, 207 (10), 453-453. doi: 10.5694/mja17.00441

Euthanasia and physician-assisted suicide: focus on the data

2017

Journal Article

Australian doctors' knowledge of and compliance with the law relating to end-of-life decisions: implications for LGBTI patients

Cartwright, Colleen, White, Ben, Willmott, Lindy, Parker, Malcolm and Williams, Gail (2017). Australian doctors' knowledge of and compliance with the law relating to end-of-life decisions: implications for LGBTI patients. Culture, Health and Sexuality, 20 (8), 1-13. doi: 10.1080/13691058.2017.1385854

Australian doctors' knowledge of and compliance with the law relating to end-of-life decisions: implications for LGBTI patients

2017

Journal Article

The need to exercise caution in accepting addiction as a reason for performing euthanasia

Hall, Wayne and Parker, Malcolm (2017). The need to exercise caution in accepting addiction as a reason for performing euthanasia. Addiction, 113 (7), 1178-1180. doi: 10.1111/add.14025

The need to exercise caution in accepting addiction as a reason for performing euthanasia

2017

Journal Article

Incidence, duration and cost of futile treatment in end-of-life hospital admissions to three Australian public-sector tertiary hospitals: A retrospective multicentre cohort study

Carter, Hannah E., Winch, Sarah, Barnett, Adrian G, Parker, Malcolm, Gallois, Cindy, Willmott, Lindy, White, Ben P, Patton, Mary Anne, Burridge, Letitia, Salkield, Gayle, Close, Eliana, Callaway, Leonie and Graves, Nicholas (2017). Incidence, duration and cost of futile treatment in end-of-life hospital admissions to three Australian public-sector tertiary hospitals: A retrospective multicentre cohort study. BMJ Open, 7 (10) e017661, e017661. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-017661

Incidence, duration and cost of futile treatment in end-of-life hospital admissions to three Australian public-sector tertiary hospitals: A retrospective multicentre cohort study

2016

Journal Article

Is there a role for law in medical practice when withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment? Empirical findings on attitudes of doctors

Willmott, Lindy, White, Ben, Parker, Malcolm, Cartwright, Colleen and Williams, Gail (2016). Is there a role for law in medical practice when withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment? Empirical findings on attitudes of doctors. Journal of Law and Medicine, 24 (2), 342-355.

Is there a role for law in medical practice when withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining medical treatment? Empirical findings on attitudes of doctors

2016

Journal Article

The role of law in decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment from adults who lack capacity: a cross-sectional study

White, Benjamin P., Willmott, Lindy, Williams, Gail, Cartwright, Colleen and Parker, Malcolm (2016). The role of law in decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment from adults who lack capacity: a cross-sectional study. Journal of Medical Ethics, 43 (5), 327-333. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103543

The role of law in decisions to withhold and withdraw life-sustaining treatment from adults who lack capacity: a cross-sectional study

2016

Journal Article

Reasons doctors provide futile treatment at the end of life: a qualitative study

Willmot, Lindy, White, Benjamin, Gallois, Cindy, Parker, Malcolm, Graves, Nicholas, Winch, Sarah, Callaway, Leonie Kaye, Shepherd, Nicole and Close, Eliana (2016). Reasons doctors provide futile treatment at the end of life: a qualitative study. Journal of Medical Ethics, 42 (8), 496-503. doi: 10.1136/medethics-2016-103370

Reasons doctors provide futile treatment at the end of life: a qualitative study

Past funding

  • 2012 - 2015
    GAMSAT - beyond predictive validity: an exploration of political validity, acceptability, and educational impact
    Deakin University
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Futile treatment at the end of life: legal, policy, sociological and economic perspectives (ARC Linkage Project administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2014
    UMAT: A definition and exploration of fitness for purpose
    Monash University
    Open grant
  • 2011 - 2014
    Extending GAMSAT: Enhancing the scope and validity
    University of Melbourne
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2012
    Withholding and withdrawing life-sustaining treatment from adults lacking capacity: Enhancing medical decision-making through doctors' compliance with the law (ARC Linkage administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2010
    Addressing cultural diversity in health ethics education
    ALTC Competitive Grants
    Open grant
  • 2002 - 2005
    Medical End of Life Decisions: Attitudes and Practices in Six European Countries
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 1996
    Patient self-determination in terminal care: Phase 2 - Development and evaluation of advance directive resources
    Department Health & Family Services - RADGAC
    Open grant
  • 1995 - 1996
    GP and patient knowledge, attitudes and congruence in end-of-life decision-making
    Department Health & Family Services - GPEP
    Open grant

Availability

Emeritus Professor Malcolm Parker is:
Available for supervision

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Supervision history

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Emeritus Professor Malcolm Parker directly for media enquiries about:

  • Bioethics
  • Biology and ethics
  • Doctors - professional development
  • Education - medicine
  • Ethics - biology
  • Ethics - medical
  • Ethics and biology
  • Health law
  • History of medicine
  • Law - health
  • Law - medical
  • Medical education
  • Medical ethics
  • Medical history
  • Medical law
  • Medicine - philosophy of
  • Philosophy and medicine
  • Professional development - medicine

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