Moral and Ethical Advisory Group

The Moral and Ethical Advisory Group (MEAG) provided independent advice to the UK government on moral, ethical and faith considerations on health and social care related issues.

This group has closed

The Moral and Ethical Advisory Group closed in October 2022. The group provided advice to requests from government on moral and ethical aspects of the coronavirus (COVID-19) response.

The MEAG adopted the existing ethical framework for pandemic flu.

The group’s input was used in the development of the ethical framework for adult social care, and in the guidance for managing a funeral during the coronavirus pandemic.

Terms of reference

Moral and Ethical Advisory Group (MEAG): terms of reference

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Membership

Current members are:

  • Professor Jonathan Montgomery (Co-Chair) – Chair of the Oxford University Hospitals NHSFT, Professor at UCL
  • Jasvir Singh (Co-Chair) – Faiths Forum for London, Chair of City Sikhs and family law barrister
  • Rabbi Dr Moshe Freedman (Deputy Co-Chair) – providing insight as to Jewish views and perspectives, Rabbi of the New West End Synagogue
  • Professor Vivienne Nathanson (Deputy Co-Chair) – Chair of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Ethical Committee
  • Reverend Dr Paul Goodliff – providing insight as to Christian views and perspectives, General Secretary of Churches Together in England
  • Gurmel Singh – providing insight as to Sikh views and perspectives, former Secretary General of the Sikh Council UK
  • Andrew Copson – providing insight as to Humanist views and perspectives, Chief Executive of Humanists UK
  • Dr Desmond Biddulph – providing insight as to Buddhist views and perspectives, President of The Buddhist Society
  • Rajnish Kashyap – providing insight as to Hindu views and perspectives, General Secretary of Hindu Council UK
  • Mohamed Omer – providing insight as to Muslim views and perspectives, board member for External Affairs, Gardens of Peace
  • Wendy Irwin – Diversity and Equalities Co-ordinator, Royal College of Nursing,
  • Wendy Preston – Head of Nursing Practice, Royal College of Nursing
  • Dr Julian Johnston – Medical Adviser to Northern Ireland’s Chief Medical Officer
  • Dr Heather Payne – Consultant Paediatrician, Senior Medical Officer Welsh Government, member of National Screening Committee Ethics Subgroup
  • Veronica English – Head of Ethics and Human Rights, British Medical Association
  • Fionnula Flannery – Head of Strategy and Planning, Standards and Ethics, General Medical Council
  • Professor Therese Murphy – professor, School of Law, Queen’s University Belfast, member of International Advisory Board ODUBSA
  • Professor John Saunders – University of Swansea, University of Cardiff
  • Professor Michael Parker – Professor of Bioethics, Director of Wellcome Centre for Ethics and Humanities
  • Professor Robert Dingwall – Professor of Sociology at Nottingham Trent University
  • Professor Sheila McLean – University of Glasgow

Meeting summaries

Read MEAG meeting summaries

Contact details

MEAG@dhsc.gov.uk