Dr Rebekah (Bek) McWhirter is a senior lecturer in health and medical law in the College of Law. Her research uses empirical and theoretical methods to address legal and ethical aspects of health, and aims to identify how law can support health. Her work focuses on the regulation of genomic research, particularly in relation to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health, and research ethics governance. She maintains an interest in the history of health law, building upon her doctoral research into legislative responses to smallpox vaccination. Her work is supported by funding from the NHMRC, MRFF and ARC.

Bek is a director of Women's Health Tasmania and has eight years' experience on human research ethics committees, including two as deputy chair. She is co-chair of the Education, Ethics and Social Issues Committee for the Human Genetics Society of Australasia, and a member of the executive of the Australasian Association for Bioethics and Health Law, holding the role of treasurer.

Health and medical law

Ethical, legal and social issues in genomics

Regulation of research and research ethics governance

Regulation of emerging health technologies

Risk and public trust in health

History of health law

BA(Hons), PhD, MSc(Public Health Research), JD, GCHELT