UK Covid-19 Inquiry Announces Ethics Advisory Group for Every Story Matters (Listening Exercise)

The UK Covid-19 Inquiry has announced the creation of an independent Ethics Advisory Group for its UK-wide listening exercise, Every Story Matters.

The Group, with expertise in social research ethics and practice, will provide an independent review of the design and approach of Every Story Matters and will be chaired by David Archard, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy at Queen’s University Belfast. David Archard is also Chair of the Nuffield Council on Bioethics and Honorary Vice-President of the Society for Applied Philosophy. ​

Every Story Matters is the Inquiry’s designated approach to engaging with people across the UK to hear their experiences of the pandemic. Those experiences will then be submitted into evidence and considered by the Inquiry Chair, Baroness Hallett where it is hoped they will contribute to learning lessons for the future.

The Group will review the proposed approach for the Inquiry’s listening exercise and provide advice on emerging issues.

The Ethics Advisory Group comprises of the Chair, Professor David Archard, and four independent members:

• Daniel Butcher, Head of Research Ethics and Governance, King’s College London.
• Emma Cave, Professor of Healthcare Law, Durham University.
• Josie Dixon, Assistant Professorial Research Fellow, London School of Economics and Political Science.
• Dr Mehrunisha Suleman, Director of Medical Ethics and Law Education, Ethox Centre, Oxford Population Health (University of Oxford).

Professor David Archard, said: “The Inquiry is an extremely important investigation of the ways in which the pandemic impacted on the lives of everyone in the UK, and it is critical that its Listening Exercise is conducted in an ethically robust manner and lessons are learnt for the future. I look forward to ensuring that this is so.”

Inquiry Secretary, Ben Connah said: “People are at the heart of the Inquiry’s work and through Every Story Matters we will keep human experiences front and centre. Our approach must be independently evaluated as ethically sound. Our new Group Chair, Professor David Archard and the other members of the Ethics Advisory Group are experts in their field. I look forward to working with them as the Inquiry documents the human cost of the pandemic to strengthen its findings and benefit the UK now and in future generations.”