Professor Sara Fovargue (she/her)

School of Law

Professor of Law

Director of Academic Staff Development

Deputy Chair of the University Research Ethics Committee

Sara Fovargue new
Profile picture of Sara Fovargue new
s.j.fovargue@sheffield.ac.uk
AF24, Bartolome虂 House

Full contact details

Professor Sara Fovargue
School of Law
AF24
Bartolome虂 House
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
Profile

I joined the School of Law in January 2022, having previously been Professor of Law at Lancaster University. I have also taught at the Universities of Manchester and Newcastle.

I was the first in my family to attend university. Having wanted to be a barrister, since I was about 14, I realised while I was studying at the Inns of Court School of Law that a career at the Bar was not for me. I completed the academic stage to qualify as a barrister and then opted to start work on my PhD rather than to complete a pupillage.

I have been teaching and researching issues relating to health law and ethics, and family law (particularly relating to children) for over 20 years and I am passionate about these subjects. I have also taught Criminal Law, English Legal Systems/Legal Methods, Torts, Gender and the Law, and Land Law.

Qualifications
  • Non-practising barrister, Lincoln's Inn
  • PhD, University of Manchester
  • LLB (Hons) Law, University of Leicester
     
Research interests

Health care law and ethics generally; specifically:

  • Consent and capacity
  • Decision-making for the 'vulnerable'
  • Risk and regulation; research involving human and non-human animals
  • Developing and emerging biotechnologies (such as xenotransplantation)
  • Reproduction and reproductive biotechnologies; organ donation and transplantation
  • Conscientious objection.
  • Family law relating to parents, parenthood and reproductive biotechnologies
  • Children and health
  • Children and childhood.

I have supervised PhDs on a range of topics, including:

  • Individual rights, collective interests and health-related data
  • Children and organ donation
  • The Mental Capacity Act 2005 in hospices
  • Preimplantation genetic testing in Malaysia; and an Islamic perspective on the status of the human fetus.
Publications

Books

  • Fovargue S (2011) . Cambridge University Press.

Edited books

  • (Ed.) () . Routledge.
  • Fovargue S & Mullock A (Ed.) () . Routledge.

Journal articles

  • Fovargue S, Miola J, Clough B, Heywood R, Devaney S, Mullock A & Romanis EC (2025) . Medical Law Review, 33(3).
  • Fovargue S, O'Donovan L, Wilkinson S & Williams NJ (2025) . Human Fertility, 28(1).
  • Redhead C, Frith L, Chiumento A, Fovargue S & Draper H (2024) . BMC Medical Ethics, 25.
  • Chiumento A, Fovargue S, Redhead C, Draper H & Frith L (2024) . Social Science and Medicine, 344.
  • Thom R, Ayres D, Cooper D, Dark J, Fovargue S, Fox M, Gusmano M, Locke J, McGregor C, Parent B , Ravanan R et al (2024) . Journal of Medical Ethics, 50(9), 585-591.
  • Scott HM, Braybrook D, Har冒ard贸ttir D, Ellis-Smith C, Harding R, Anderson AK, Bayly J, Bate L, Bluebond-Langner M, Box D , Bristowe K et al (2023) . Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 21(1).
  • Redhead C, Fovargue S, Frith L, Chiumento A, Draper H & Baines P (2023) . Medical Law Review, 31(1), 83-108.
  • Fovargue S & Neal M (2022) . International Journal of Pharmacy Practice, 30(3), 241-246.
  • Fovargue S (2021) In whose best interests? Childbirth choices and other health decisions. Law Quarterly Review, 137, 604-629.
  • Frith L, Draper H, Fovargue S, Baines P, Redhead C & Chiumento A (2021) . American Journal of Bioethics, 21(8), 34-37.
  • Chiumento A, Baines P, Redhead C, Fovargue S, Draper H & Frith L (2021) . BMJ Open, 11(6).
  • Baines P, Draper H, Chiumento A, Fovargue S & Frith L (2020) . Journal of Medical Ethics, 46(11), 715-716.
  • Fovargue S (2020) . Medical Law Review, 28(4), 781-793.
  • Neal M, Fovargue S & Smith SW (2019) . New Bioethics, 25(3), 203-206.
  • Neal M & Fovargue S (2019) . New Bioethics, 25(3), 221-235.
  • Fovargue S & Hogg LC (2017) . Journal of Trafficking and Human Exploitation, 1(2), 143-160.
  • Neal M & Fovargue S (2016) . Medical Law Review, 24(4), 544-570.
  • Fovargue S & Bennett R (2016) . Medical Law Review, 24(1), 34-58.
  • Fovargue S & Neal M (2015) . Medical Law Review, 23(2), 221-241.
  • Fovargue S, McGuinness S, Mullock A & Smith S (2015) . Medical Law Review, 23(2), 173-176.
  • Fovargue S & Ost S (2013) . Medical Law International, 13(1), 6-31.
  • Fovargue S (2013) Doctrinal incoherence or practical problem? Minor parents consenting to their offspring's medical treatment and involvement in research in England and Wales. Child and Family Law Quarterly, 25(1), 1-18.
  • Fovargue S (2013) . Cambridge Quarterly of Healthcare Ethics, 22(2), 181-191.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2011) . Clinical Ethics, 6(4), 162-166.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2011) . Clinical Ethics, 6(3), 117-121.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2011) . Clinical Ethics, 6(2), 64-67.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2011) . Clinical Ethics, 6(1), 11-14.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2010) . Clinical Ethics, 5(4), 180-183.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2010) . Clinical Ethics, 5(3), 122-124.
  • Fovargue S & Ost S (2010) . Medical Law Review, 18(3), 302-329.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2010) . Journal of Medical Ethics, 36(8), 494-497.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2010) . Clinical Ethics, 5(2), 63-66.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2010) . Clinical Ethics, 5(1), 13-15.
  • Fovargue S & Ost S (2009) . Clinical Ethics, 4(3), 119-124.
  • Newson AJ (2009) . Clinical Ethics, 4(1), 6-11.
  • Fovargue S (2007) . Clinical Ethics, 2(2), 55-55.
  • Fovargue S (2007) . Medical Law Review, 15(2), 176-219.
  • Fovargue S (2006) . Legal Studies, 25(3), 404-429.
  • Fovargue S (2006) . Clinical Ethics, 1(3), 138-138.
  • Brazier M & Fovargue S (2006) . Clinical Ethics, 1(1), 26-32.
  • Fovargue S (2005) . Liverpool Law Review, 26(2), 125-147.
  • Flynn M, Keywood K & Fovargue S (2003) . The Journal of Adult Protection, 5(1), 30-34.
  • Fovargue S (1998) . Journal of Social Welfare and Family Law, 20(4), 427-437.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (1998) . Medical Law Review, 6(3), 265-296.
  • cornell L () Ethics in Xenotransplantation: Report from the AST 2024 Controversies Conference. Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation.
  • Fovargue S () Governance, Regulation and Public Trust in Xenotransplantation. Current Opinion in Organ Transplantation.
  • Fovargue S, Goodwin D, Clarry L & Williams G () . Contemporary Social Science.

Book chapters

  • Fovargue S, Draper H, Redhead C, Chiumento A & Frith L (2026) Responding Proportionately to the COVID-19 Pandemic in UK Long-Stay Inpatient Pediatric Wards In Biller-Andorno N, Julian W M盲rz J, Mouton-Dorey C & Dagron S (Ed.), Proportionality: A Guiding Principle in Public Health Law, Ethics, and Policy (pp. 122-141). Oxford University Press
  • Redhead C, Chiumento A, Fovargue S, Draper H & Frith L (2024) , Governance, democracy and ethics in crisis-decision-making Manchester University Press
  • Fovargue S (2023) In Fovargue S & Purshouse C (Ed.), Leading Works in Health Law and Ethics (pp. 148-163). Routledge
  • Fovargue S & Purshouse C (2023) In Fovargue S & Purshouse C (Ed.), Leading Works in Health Law and Ethics (pp. 1-8). London: Routledge.
  • Fovargue S & Purshouse C (2023) , Leading Works in Health Law and Ethics (pp. 1-8).
  • Fovargue S (2019) Preserving the therapeutic alliance : court intervention and experimental treatment requests In Goold I, Herring J & Auckland C (Ed.), Parental Rights, Best Interests and Significant Harms: Medical Decision-Making on Behalf of Children Post-Great Ormond Street Hospital v Gard (pp. 153-176). Oxford: Hart.
  • Fovargue S (2017) Xenotransplantation In den Exter A (Ed.), European Health Law (pp. 419-441). Maklu-Uitgevers
  • Fovargue S (2017) Ethical Judgment on St George's Healthcare NHS Trust v S [1998] 3 All ER 673 In Smith S, Coggon J, Hobson C, Huxtable R, McGuinness S, Miola J & Neal M (Ed.), Ethical Judgments: Re-writing Medical Law (pp. 235-240). Oxford: Hart.
  • Fovargue S (2017) Judgment 2-St George鈥檚 Healthcare NHS Trust v S [1999] Fam 26, Ethical Judgments Re Writing Medical Law (pp. 235-240).
  • Brazier M & Fovargue S (2016) , Legitimacy of Medical Treatment What Role for the Medical Exception (pp. 12-31).
  • Fovargue S & Mullock A (2016) , Legitimacy of Medical Treatment What Role for the Medical Exception (pp. 1-11).
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2015) In Stanton C, Devaney S, Farrell A-M & Mullock A (Ed.), Pioneering Healthcare Law : Essays in Honour of Margaret Brazier (pp. 243-254). Abingdon: Routledge (Taylor & Francis).
  • Fovargue S & Mullock A (2015) Introduction In Fovargue S & Mullock A (Ed.), The Legitimacy of Medical Treatment: What Role for the Medical Exception? (pp. 1-11). Routledge
  • Fovargue S (2014) Exposing the limits of the law? Biotechnological challenges to global health In Freeman M, Sarah H & Belinda Bennett (Ed.), Law and Global Health (pp. 394-418). Oxford: Oxford University Press.
  • Fovargue S (2012) , Bioethics, Medicine and the Criminal Law (pp. 140-156). Cambridge University Press
  • Fovargue S (2011) La investigaci贸n embrionaria humana en Reino Unido: 驴una isla en Europa? In Garcia San Jose D (Ed.), Marco Jur铆dico Eurpeo Relativo a la Investigaci贸n Biom茅dica en Transferencia Nuclear y Reprogramaci贸n Celular (pp. 157-176). Thomson Reuters
  • Fovargue S & Mullock A () Family Law and Parental Responsibility In Baron T (Ed.), Routledge Handbook of Philosophy and the Family Routledge
  • Fovargue S () , Leading Works in Health Law and Ethics (pp. 148-163). Taylor & Francis
  • Fovargue S & Purshouse C () , Leading Works in Health Law and Ethics (pp. 1-8). Taylor & Francis

Book reviews

  • Fovargue S (2013) . European Journal of Health Law, 20(2), 231-239.
  • Fovargue S (2008) . Medical Law Review, 16(3), 458-464.
  • Fovargue S (2005) . Medical Law Review, 13(1), 131-135.
  • Fovargue S (2002) . The Modern Law Review, 65(2), 290-303.
  • Fovargue S (2001) . Res Publica, 7(2), 183-187.
  • Fovargue S () . Medical Law Review, 14(3), 434-442.

Reports

  • Fovargue S, O'Donovan L, Wilkinson S, Williamson N & Svenning Berg R (2025) In vitro gametogenesis: A review of ethical and policy questions
  • Fovargue S & Neal M (2021) Pharmacists' perception of ethical conflict and professional guidance in light of the revised General Pharmaceutical Council Standards of Conduct, Ethics and Performance
  • Fovargue S & Neal M (2021) Research briefing : Pharmacists' perceptions of ethical conflict and professional guidance

Other

  • Fovargue S, O'Donovan L, Wilkinson S, Williams N & Svenning Berg R (2025) Policy Briefing - In vitro gametogenesis Ethical and policy questions.
  • Devaney S, Mullock A, Romanis EC, Fovargue S, Miola J, Clough B & Heywood R (2025) . Medical Law International, 25(2), 79-87.
  • Clough B, Fovargue S, Heywood R & Miola J (2024) . Medical Law Review, 32(4), 441-443.
  • Clough B, Fovargue S, Heywood R & Miola J (2022) . Medical Law Review, 30(4), 581-583.
  • Fovargue S, Miola J, Clough B & Heywood R (2021) . Medical Law Review, 29(1), 1-2.
  • Biggs H, Ost S, Fovargue S & Miola J (2012) . Medical Law Review, 20(2), 189-190.
  • Biggs H, Ost S, Fovargue S & Miola J (2012) . Medical Law Review, 20(1), 6-7.
  • Fovargue S & Miola J (2010) . Clinical Ethics, 5(1), 1-2.
  • Fovargue S (2007) . Clinical Ethics, 2(1), 22-22.
  • Fovargue S (2006) . Clinical Ethics, 1(2), 85-85.
  • Fovargue S & Brazier M (2006) . Clinical Ethics, 1(1), 21-21.

Preprints

  • Redhead CAB, Frith L, Chiumento A, Fovargue S & Draper H (2023) , Research Square Platform LLC.
Research group

I would be happy to supervise students in the following subjects:

  • Health Law and Ethics
  • Family Law - especially relating to children and health.
Grants

Title/Description: The Future of Human Reproduction: New Agendas and Methods for the Humanities and Social Science

  • Awarding Body: Wellcome
  • People Involved: Professor Stephen Wilkinson (PI, Lancaster University); Dr Kirsty Dunn (CI, Lancaster University); Professor Sharon Rushton (CI, Lancaster University); Professor Elena Semino (CI, Lancaster University); Dr Emmanuel Tsekleves (CI, Lancaster University); Dr Nicola Williams (CI, Lancaster University)
  • Years Funded for: May 2022-August 2025
  • Amount Awarded (拢): 1,019,767

Title/Description: When pandemic and everyday ethics collide: Supporting ethical decision-making in maternity care and paediatrics during the Covid-19 pandemic

  • Awarding Body: UKRI/AHRC Covid-19 Rapid Response funding
  • People Involved: Dr Lucy Frith (PI, University of Manchester); Dr Paul Baines (CI, University of Warwick); Dr Anna Chiumento (CI, University of Liverpool); Professor Heather Draper (CI, University of Warwick)
  • Years Funded for: 2020-2021
  • Amount Awarded (拢): 258,812

Title/Description: Uterus transplantation: Law, ethics, patients and policy

  • Awarding Body: ESRC IAA
  • People Involved: Professor Stephen Wilkinson (Lancaster University); Dr Laura O'Donovan (Lancaster University); Dr Nicola Williams (Lancaster University)
  • Years Funded for: 2021
  • Amount Awarded (拢): 14,180
Teaching interests
  • Health law and ethics
  • Children and the law
     
Teaching activities

The modules I teach are:

Undergraduate 

  • Principles of Health Care Law and Ethics
  • Children and the Law
  • Current Issues in Health, Law and Policy
  • Law Research paper.

Postgraduate 

  • Law, Ethics and Policy in Reproductive Medicine
Professional activities and memberships
  • Member of the Editorial Advisory Board of the Medical Law Review (co-Editor-in-Chief, 2021-2025).
     

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