Personal profile

Biography

Dr Nicola Smithers graduated from the University of Northampton in 2004 with BA in Law with Criminology. After working at Shoosmith's Solicitors as a case handler for a year, she decided to pursue a career in academia and went back to university to complete a Master's of Law (LLM) in 2006. She took up a full time position at the University of Northampton as a lectuer in law upon completion of her Masters. 

In 2012, Nicola began her PhD as a part-time student. Her thesis focused on the lived experiences of parents involved in decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment from their criticaly ill baby, and was awarded in July 2019. She is currently in the process of securing publications from her PhD and in addition, is working on a project to extend current understandings of children's experiences of the loss of a sibling or parent.

Nicola is also a member of CHELSIG (Children’s Healthcare Ethics and Law Speciality Interest Group) which is an independent, membership based, organisation closely allied to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Ethics and Law Advisory Committee. It is a multidisciplinary professionals group seeking to explore ethical and legal issues affecting children and their healthcare.

 

Research Interests

Nicola's areas of interest include: Medical negligence. Infertility. Medical ethics, specifically the ethics of withdrawing or withholding medical treatment from critically ill babies and parental and sibling experiences of bereavement.

Teaching Interests

Nicola is the programme Leader for the 3 year LLB.

She is currently the module leader for:

Law2009 - Tort

Law2014 - Consumer Law

Law3007 - Family Law

Law3013 – Medical Law

She is also a module tutor on: LAWM019 - International Organised Crime and LAWM049 Transnational organised Crime. 

External Roles

Nicola is a member of CHELSIG (Children’s Healthcare Ethics and Law Speciality Interest Group) which is an independent, membership based, organisation closely allied to the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health Ethics and Law Advisory Committee. It is a multidisciplinary professionals group seeking to explore ethical and legal issues affecting children and their healthcare.

Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals

In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):

  • SDG 16 - Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions

Education/Academic qualification

PhD, The lived experiences of parents involved in decisions to withhold or withdraw treatment from their critically ill baby, University of Northampton

1 Nov 20121 Jun 2019

Award Date: 23 Jul 2019

Master, LLM International Business Law, University of Northampton

1 Sept 200531 Jul 2006

Award Date: 31 Jul 2006

Bachelor, LLB, University of Northampton

1 Sept 200131 Jul 2004

Award Date: 31 Jul 2004

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