The Human Rights Act
The 1998 Human Rights Act applies in Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland. It incorporates the rights and freedoms guaranteed under the European Convention on Human Rights (the Convention) into domestic law. A public authority must not act in a way which is incompatible with a Convention right unless it cannot do otherwise as a result of a provision of primary legislation. Article 8 of the European Convention is perhaps most directly relevant to research ethics, in guaranteeing the right to respect for private and family life, home and correspondence.
As with all the legislation described in this section, seek specific legal advice (through your organisation’s research office) where necessary.
