Recommendations
Chapter 8. The van Velzen Years
Recommendations
The following recommendations arise out of the mistakes in the
‘van Velzen Years’ and are essential to avoid their repetition
in the event of the coming of another Professor van Velzen. The
recommendations are evidence-based in the sense that they are straightforward
safeguards based on our analysis of the actual mistakes made by
both Alder Hey and the University. Many of the mistakes are of a
type that must be frequent but do not in the usual course of events
lead to disaster. They are nevertheless better avoided.
Our recommendations are also evidence-based in a different sense.
The themes in the recommendations formed the basis of the actual
questioning during the course of the Inquiry. They have been tested
not just by us in our deliberations but also gauged against the
reaction of witnesses to the potential criticisms raised. Very few
witnesses had any difficulty in seeing the force of the points and
most were comfortable to concede what should have been the tests
governing the behaviour of them and others involved. The difficulty
came not in terms of the concept but when people found on reflection
that they had not lived up to the sentiments expressed. Mutual trust
between universities and hospitals could have avoided the worst
excesses of Professor van Velzen. All witnesses agreed that such
trust is essential for the future.
