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PhD (University of Queensland)
Dr Sam Boyle is a senior lecturer in the School of Law at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). He teaches and researches in the areas of medical law and mental health law. Sam is particularly interested the following research areas:
- how the law determines legal capacity,
- involuntary treatment for mental illness, and
- consent for medical treatment.
Sam's PhD was on capacity to refuse medical treatment in the case of Anorexia Nervosa. Sam has previously lectured at the University of Queensland, and the University of Kent, Canterbury UK. He is admitted as a solicitor in Queensland, and previously worked at LawRight (formerly QPILCH), a community legal centre.
Additional information
- Boyle, S., McCreanor, V., Howe, E., Vorsina, M., Mathews, B., Zardo, P., Prince, S. & Cockshaw, W. (2025). Improving Health to Reduce Risk of Youth Reoffending: Results of a Nurse Navigator Program for People Involved in the Youth Justice System. International Journal for Crime, Justice and Social Democracy. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/255255
- Boyle, S., Cockburn, E. & Mandeville, B. (2024). Do compulsory mental health patients have a right to receive a second opinion on their treatment under Australian mental health legislation? Australian and New Zealand Journal of Psychiatry, 58(11), 927–929. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/251371
- Boyle, S., McGee, A. & Wood, F. (2025). How to determine the capacity of a person with depression who requests voluntary assisted dying. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 32(2). https://eprints.qut.edu.au/247485
- Jager, F., Boyle, S. & Peron, A. (2024). Professional Values and Mental Health Tribunals: How Healthcare Professionals' and Lawyers' Views Are Shaped by Values, and How This Might Impede Reform. Issues in Mental Health Nursing, 45(7), 695–705. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/248912
- Duffy, J., Boyle, S. & Del Villar, K. (2023). What Does 'Least Restrictive' or 'Less Restrictive' Mean in Mental Health Law?: Contradictions and Confusion in the Case of Queensland, Australia. American Journal of Law and Medicine, 49(2-3), 286–300. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/245405
- Boyle, S., Walsh, T. & Nelson, L. (2021). A Study into the Operation of the Queensland Mental Health Review Tribunal. Medical Law Review, 29(1), 106–127. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209667
- Boyle, S. & Walsh, T. (2021). Procedural fairness in mental health review tribunals: The views of patient advocates. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 28(2), 163–184. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/200983
- Boyle, S. & Stepanov, N. (2021). Providing emergency medical care without consent: How the 'emergency principle' in Australian law protects against claims of trespass. EMA - Emergency Medicine Australasia, 33(3), 575–579. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/209668
- Boyle, S., (2020). Is the wisdom of a person's decision relevant to their capacity to make that decision? Monash University Law Review, 46(1), 39–57. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/205622
- Boyle, S., (2019). How should the law determine capacity to refuse treatment for anorexia? International Journal of Law and Psychiatry, 64, 250–259. https://eprints.qut.edu.au/129517