Kevin Power provides an overview of the Act and, as its implications have yet to be tested in the courts, some examples of how it might work in practice

The Human Rights Act 1998 came into effect on October 2, 2000, and was the first time a law in the UK set forth the rights of individual citizens. This law enables individuals who feel that their rights, as outlined in the Act, have been infringed or abused to seek redress in the British courts. The Act has particular implications for public bodies such as the National Health Service and children’s nurses, as agents of the NHS, need to be aware of the potential implications of the Act for their practice and the provision of child health services. This is particularly the case in the light of the public outcry over the Bristol children’s cardiac services and the Alder Hey inquiry. Indeed, these cases have increased the public’s awareness of rights in health care and may lead to an increase in litigation.