Professor John Devereux
Professor
TC Beirne School of Law
Affiliate of Australian Centre for Private Law
Australian Centre for Private Law
+61 7 336 52298
W313 Forgan Smith Building, St Lucia campus. Availability by appointment.
Researcher biography
John Devereux is Professor of Common Law.
He is a Barrister of the High Court of Australia and the Supreme Court of Queensland.
A Rhodes Scholar, John has degrees in Arts and Law from the University of Queensland, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Law from Magdalen College, Oxford University.
After an appointment as Lecturer in Law at Keble College Oxford University, John returned to Australia to work as a lawyer in a variety of contexts.
He has worked as a Defence Force Magistrate, a Barrister, as a consultant to a multi-national law firm, a Law Reform Commissioner for Queensland, a legal member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the legal member of the Health Quality and Complaints Commission.
He currently serves as a member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
John is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He serves as Deputy Chair of the Board of Aged and Disabilty Advocacy Australia.
He also serves on the Defence Force Retirement and Death Benefits Review Committee of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, and the Military Superannuation and Benefits Scheme Review Committee of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.
John has previously served on the Specialist Accreditation Board of the Queensland Law Society. Prior to working on the Board, John was a Member of the Personal Injuries Specialist Accredition Committee of the Queensland Law Society.
John has held academic appointments at Universities in Australia, Singapore, the United Kingdom and the United States.
In addition to teaching and research positions, John has worked as Deputy Dean, Head of School and Associate Vice Chancellor.
His work in tort law and medical law is internationally recognised.
John's research has been supported by over a million dollars in research grants.
John's work has been cited by the High Court and by Law Reform Commissions in Australia and abroad.
He is an Honorary Fellow of the Australasian College of Legal Medicine.
John was jointly awarded the Oscar Rivers Schmalzbach Prize by the Australian Academy of Forensic Sciences.
John has served with the Australian Defence Force in the Army (infantry) and in the Air Force.
He has seen active service in Iraq, and twice in Afghanistan.
John was awarded the Bronze Star by the United States of America.
Publications
Books
Farrell, Anne-Maree, Devereux, John, Karpin, Isabel and Weller, Penelope (2017). Health Law: Frameworks and Context. 1st ed. Cambridge, England, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316092675
Devereux, John and Blake, Meredith (2016). Kenny criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia. 9th ed. Chatswood, Australia: Lexis Nexis Butterworths.
Devereux, John, Clarke, Andrew, Werren, Julia, O'Reilly, Jennifer and Greenway, Murray (2014). Torts: A Practical Learning Approach. Sydney, Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Devereux, John A. and Blake, Meredith (2013). Kenny criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia. 8th ed. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Devereux, John (2007). Australian medical law. 3rd ed. Abingdon, Oxon, U.K.: Routledge-Cavendish.
Clarke, Andrew and Devereux, John (2007). Torts: A practical learning approach. Chatswood, N.S.W, Australia: LexisNexis Butterworths.
Devereux, John (2002). Australian medical law. 2nd ed. London, U.K.: Cavendish Press.
John Devereux (1997). Medical Law. 1st ed. London: Cavendish Press.
Book Chapters
Devereux, John (2024). Military Discipline Law. Military Law in Australia. (pp. 113-121) edited by Robin Creyke, Dale Stephens and Peter Sutherland. Alexandria, NSW, Australia: The Federation Press.
Devereux, John and Beran, Roy G. (2022). Medical negligence law in Australia. Medical liability in Asia and Australasia. (pp. 1-12) edited by Vera Lúcia Raposo and Roy G. Beran. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-16-4855-7_1
Devereux, John (2020). The Future of the Law Profession . Careers in Law: A Guide for Students, Graduates and Professionals. (pp. 301-307) edited by Manda Raz, Erwin Loh and John Devereux. Singapore: Springer. doi: 10.1007/978-981-15-3627-4_8
Beran, Roy G., Devereux, John A. and Lafrance, W. Curt (2018). Legal medicine considerations related to nonepileptic seizures. Gates and Rowan's nonepileptic seizures. (pp. 178-182) Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. doi: 10.1017/9781316275450.017
Devereux, John (2017). Medical practitioner liability in negligence. Tensions and traumas in health law. (pp. 586-605) edited by Ian Freckelton and Kerry Peterson. Annandale, NSW Austraila: The Federation Press.
Devereux, J. A. (2013). Providing expert evidence in an Australian court: a lawyer's view. Legal and Forensic Medicine. (pp. 1007-1014) edited by Roy G. Beran. Berlin, Germany: Springer Berlin Heidelberg. doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-32338-6
Devereux, John, Beran, Roy and LaFrance, W. (2010). Legal Medicine Considerations Related to Non-epileptic Seizures. Gates and Rowan's Non Epileptic Seizures. (pp. 157-160) edited by Stephen Schacter and W. Curt LaFrance. New York, United States: Cambridge University Press.
Farmer, J., Middleton, W. and Devereux, J. (2008). Dissociative identity disorder and criminal responsibility. Forensic aspects of dissociative identity disorder. (pp. 79-99) edited by Adrian Sachs and Graeme Galton. London, United Kingdom: Karnac Books.
Devereux, John A., Beran, Roy, McClin, William, Lehman, Cynthia, Falk-Pedersen, Johan, De Boer, Hanneke M. and Finucane, Alexandra (2008). Legal Concerns and Effective Advocacy Strategies. Epilepsy : a comprehensive textbook. (pp. 2277-2282) edited by Jerome Engel and Timothy Pedley. Philadelphia, U.S.A.: Wolters Kluwer/Lippincott Williams and Wilkins.
Devereux, John A. (2008). Convergence in Health Law Systems: Plus Ca Change. Health Capital and Sustainable Socioeconomic Development. (pp. 133-150) edited by Patricia A. Cholekwa and Mitra M. Motlagh. Baton Rouge, Florida: CRC, Taylor and Francis.
Roy Beran and Devereux, John A. (2007). Privacy. Legal Medicine. (pp. 699-704) edited by S. Sandy Sanbar, Marvin H. Firestone, Sal Fiscina, Theodore R. LeBlang, Cyril H. Wecht and Miles J. Zaremski. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier.
Roy Beran and Devereux, John A. (2007). Drivers and the Law. Legal Medicine. (pp. 705-709) edited by S. Sandy Sanbar, Marvin H. Firestone, Sal Fiscina, Theodore L. Le Blang, Cyril H. Wecht and Miles J. Zaremski. Philadelphia: Mosby Elsevier.
Devereux, J A (2006). Continuing Conundrums in Competency. First Do No Harm: Law, Ethics and Healthcare. (pp. 235-253) edited by McLean, S.. London: Ashgate Publishing.
Devereux, John and Parker, Malcolm (2006). Competency issues for young persons and older persons. Disputes and Dilemmas in Health Law. (pp. 54-76) edited by Ian R. Freckelton and Kerry Anne Petersen. Annandale, N.S.W., Australia: Federation Press.
Devereux, J. A. (2005). Supplement to the 2nd edition australian medical law. Australian Medical Law. (pp. not found-not found) edited by x. London: Cavendish.
Devereux, J. (2002). Guardianship and consent. Epilepsy: A question of ethics. (pp. 55-61) edited by Roy G. Beran. Tel Aviv, Israel: Yozmot Publishing.
Devereux, J. (2002). Health Law. Oxford Companion to the High Court of Australia. (pp. xx-xx) edited by Tony Blackshield, Michael Coper and George Williams. South Melbourne, VIC, Australia: Oxford University Press.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Disciplines and boundaries. Health Research. (pp. 232-239) edited by Catherine Anne Berglund. Victoria, Aust: Oxford University Press.
Journal Articles
Muller, Nicholas M., Tan, Samuel X., Soyer, H. Peter, Bradfield, Owen, Devereux, John A. and De Ambrosis, Brian (2024). Medicolegally safe skin cancer care requires improvement of referral mechanisms. Australasian Journal of Dermatology, 65 (8), 665-666. doi: 10.1111/ajd.14379
Beran, Roy G. and Devereux, J. A. (2024). Futile treatment - when is enough, enough?. Australian Health Review, 48 (1), 103-107. doi: 10.1071/AH22277
Parsi, Kurosh, De Maeseneer, Marianne, van Rij, Andre M, Rogan, Christopher, Bonython, Wendy, Devereux, John A, Lekich, Christopher K, Amos, Michael, Bozkurt, Ahmet Kursat, Connor, David E, Davies, Alun H, Gianesini, Sergio, Gibson, Kathleen, Gloviczki, Peter, Grabs, Anthony, Grillo, Lorena, Hafner, Franz, Huber, David, Iafrati, Mark, Jackson, Mark, Jindal, Ravul, Lim, Adrian, Lurie, Fedor, Marks, Lisa, Raymond-Martimbeau, Pauline, Paraskevas, Peter, Ramelet, Albert-Adrien, Rial, Rodrigo, Roberts, Stefania ... Whiteley, Mark S (2024). Guidelines for management of actual or suspected inadvertent intra-arterial injection of sclerosants. Phlebology, 39 (10), 683-719. doi: 10.1177/02683555241260926
Beran, Roy G and Devereux, JA (2023). Analysis of Part 1 of the latest Austroads Guidelines, June 2022. Internal Medicine Journal, 53 (7), 1110-1114. doi: 10.1111/imj.16082
Devereux, John A. (2022). Concussion, CTE and claims arising out of sporting activities - some legal considerations. Medicine and Law, 41 (4), 513-522.
Devereux, John and Clarke, Andrew (2021). Of tall poppies and fat cats: liability for federal corruption. University of Southern Queensland Law Society Law Review, Summer (2021), 8-16.
Devereux, John A. and Beran, Roy G. (2021). Fitness to drive and seizures – Recent medicolegal considerations to tell or not to tell? – THAT IS THE QUESTION!. Epilepsy and Behavior, 116 107744, 107744. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107744
Beran, Roy G., Devereux, John A. and Buchanan, Donal (2020). Some legal aspects of epilepsy. Epilepsy and Behavior, 111 107244, 107244. doi: 10.1016/j.yebeh.2020.107244
Clarke, Andrew and Devereux, John (2020). A Longditudanal Analysis of "Obvious Risk" : The Elucidation of Principle and Process. Tort Law Review , 27 (3), 191-205.
Devereux, J. A. (2019). On not trespassing on trespass: In defence of separate torts of trespass to the person. Tort Law Review, 26 (2), 98-103.
Clarke, Andrew and Devereux, John (2019). Hard cases making bad law: The elusive search for a test for duty of care. Tort Law Review, 26 (3), 177-189.
Curtis, Caitlin, Hereward, James, Mangelsdorf, Marie, Hussey, Karen and Devereux, John (2018). Protecting trust in medical genetics in the new era of forensics. Genetics in Medicine, 21 (7), 1483-1485. doi: 10.1038/s41436-018-0396-7
Beran, Roy G., Sathiyaseelan, Sandiya and Devereux, John (2018). John cunningham virus status and progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy as material risks when treating relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis. Medicine and Law, 37 (4), 609-616.
Beran, Roy G. and Devereux, John A. (2017). Medical certificates attesting fitness to drive. Internal Medicine Journal, 47 (6), 637-639. doi: 10.1111/imj.13445
Devereux, J. A., Cordato, D. J. and Beran, Roy G. (2016). Treating stroke patients with a poor prognosis - what’s law got to do with it?. Medicine and Law, 35 (4), 593-604.
Devereux, J. A., Cordato, D. J. and Beran, R. G. (2016). Legal imperatives in treating severe stroke. International Journal of Stroke, 11 (8), NP86-NP86. doi: 10.1177/1747493016654485
Devereux, John (2014). Collateral Damage: A Patient, a New Procedure, and the Learning Curve. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry, 11 (4), 563-564. doi: 10.1007/s11673-014-9579-3
Devereux, John (2014). Known knowns and known unknowns: the mysteries of intentional torts against the person. Tort Law Review, 22, 134-143.
Morrison, Natalie and Devereux, John (2014). Child saviours: reconceiving the legal dimension. Tort Law Review, 22 (1), 9-21.
Beran, Roy G. and Devereux, John A. (2014). Reconciling medical and legal conceptions of surgery – an exercise in futility?. Tort Law Review, 22 (2), 68-74.
Morrison, Natalie and Devereux, John (2014). Child saviours: reconceiving the ethical dimension. Tort Law Review, 22 (1), 3-8.
Cavanagh, Bryan and Devereux, John A. (2013). Reconsidering summary discipline law. University of Queensland Law Journal, 32 (2), 295-310.
Devereux, J. A. and Dobson, S. N. (2013). Airedale NHS Trust v Bland: 20 years on. Tort Law Review, 21 (3), 151-160.
Devereux, J. A. (2013). When practising fails to make perfect: medical treatment and battery. Tort Law Review, 21 (3), 120-126.
Beran, Roy G., Gerber, Paul and Devereux, John A. (2009). Usefulness of Austroads' fitness-to-drive guidelines: Lessons from the Gillett case. Medical Journal of Australia, 190 (9), 503-505. doi: 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02529.x
Devereux, J. A. (2008). Death investigation and the coroner's inquest. The Australian Law Journal, 82 (2), 139-140.
Devereux, John A. (2008). Review of Death investigation and the coroner’s inquest. By Ian Freckelton and David Ransom. Australian Law Journal, 82 (2), 139-140.
J Devereux (2008). Callinan, the Constitution and Criminal Law : a Decade of Pragmatism. University of Queensland Law Journal, 27 (1), 71-89.
Devereux, J. A. (2007). The road not taken: Lessons to be learnt from the Queen v Gillett. Internal Medicine Journal, 37 (5), 336-339. doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2007.01349.x
Gulam, Hyder and Devereux, John (2007). A brief primer on Good Samaritan law for health care professionals. Australian Health Review, 31 (3), 478-482. doi: 10.1071/AH070478
Devereux, John A. (2007). 'Medical law in New Zealand' by P.D.G. Skegg and R. Paterson. University of Queensland Law Journal, 26 (1), 203-205.
Devereux, J. A. (2005). Book review: 'Law of tort (9th Ed)' by P. S. A. Pillai. Singapore Journal of Legal Studies, 2005, 303-305.
Devereux, J. A. (2005). Actions for wrongful birth. INSAF, 3 (2004), 69-89.
Devereux, J.A. (2005). Law of tort. Singapore Journal of Legal Studies, 2005 (July), 301-303.
Devereux, J. A. (2005). Mental capacity. Australian Health Review, 29 (4), 493-493.
Devereux, John A. (2004). Genetic privacy: a challenge to medico-legal norms. University of Queensland Law Journal, 23 (2), 520-522.
Devereux, John (2004). Discipline abroad: Re Colonel Aird; Ex parte Alpert. University of Queensland Law Journal, 23 (2), 485-492.
Devereux, John (2004). Genetic privacy: A challenge to medico-legal norms. University of Queensland Law Journal, 23 (2), 520-522.
Devereux, J.A. (2004). Informed Consent - Guardianship and Consent. Medicine and Law: An International Journal, 23 (2), 359-366.
Devereux, John (2004). Alexander v Heise. Journal of Law and Medicine, 11 (3), 278-281.
Devereux, J. (2002). Throwing the baby out with the bathwater: An Antipodean perspective on claims for failed sterilisation (Melchior v Cattanach). Oxford University Commonwealth Law Journal, 2 (1), 141-150. doi: 10.1080/14729342.2002.11421408
Devereux, J. A. (2002). Epilepsy - A legal perspective on obligations owed to patients by medical practitioners. Medicine and Law, Epilepsy and Law (4), 753-767.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Melchior v catrtanach (appeal). Journal of Law & Medicine, 9 (2), 165-165.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Tai v hatzistravou. Journal of Law & Medicine, 8 (4), 377-377.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Queensland v nolan. Journal of Law & Medicine, 9 (2), 164-164.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Rosenberg v percival. Journal of Law & Medicine, 9 (1), 23-23.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Re A (children) (cojoined twins : surgical separation). Journal of Law & Medicine, 9 (1), 22-22.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Northridge v Central Sydney Area Health Authority. Journal of Law & Medicine, 8 (4), 377-377.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Wang v central sydney area health service. Journal of Law & Medicine, 8 (4), 378-378.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). McCann v buck. Journal of Law & Medicine, 8 (3), 249-249.
Devereux, J.A. (2001). Melchior v Cattanach. Journal of law & medicine, 8 (3), 248-248.
Devereux, J. A. (2000). B v Marinovich. Journal of Law and Medicine, 7 (3), 249-249.
Devereux, J. A. (2000). BT v Oei. Journal of Law and Medicine, 7 (3), 249-249.
Devereux, J. A. (2000). If problem persists, please consult your guardianship board. The Queensland Lawyer, 20 (4), 170-171.
Devereux, J. A. and Berglund, C. A. (2000). Consent to medical treatment: Children making decisions for others. The Australian Journal of Forensic Sciences, 20 (1), 25-36.
Devereux, J. A. (2000). Privacy & medical confidentiality. Law and Technology, 21, 4.
Devereux, J. A. (1999). Everything old is new again. The Qld Lawyer, 20 (2), 36-36.
Devereux, J. A. (1999). John James Memorial Hospital v Keys. Journal of Law & Medicine, 7 (2), 115-115.
Devereux, J. A. (1999). Cost of regulation. Journal of Law & Medicine, 7 (2), 227-227.
Devereux, John (1997). Codes of ethics and the professions, by M Coady and S Bloch. Journal of Law and Medicine, 4 (3), 299-300.
Devereux, John A. (1997). 'An introduction to criminal law in Queensland and Western Australia', by R. G. Kenny. Journal of Law, Information and Science, 8 (2), 335-336.
Devereux, John A. (1996). Review of Law for the Medical Profession. Law Society Journal, 34
Devereux, J. A. (1993). Doctors, patients and the law. Journal of Medical Ethics, 19 (4), 243-243. doi: 10.1136/jme.19.4.243
Conference Papers
Devereux, John (2023). The legal regime governing medicinal products: a view from the antipodes. Medicinal Products: Property, Regulation and Liability, Naples, Italy, 22-23 June 2023.
Devereux, John (2023). Brittania Waives the Rules: Responding to Emerging Medico-Legal Issues. Medico Legal Society of Queensland March Dinner Meeting, St Lucia, QLD Australia, 15 March 2023.
Devereux, John (2022). Concussion and CTE - some legal considerations. World Congress for Medical Law, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 5-7 December 2022.
Beran, Roy G. and Devereux, John (2022). Futility: When is Enough, Enough?. Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian College of Legal Medicine, Melbourne, VIC Australia, 15 October 2022.
Devereux, John and Sanders, Lauren (2022). The duty to act in armed conflict. Australian and New Zealand Society of International Law, Canberra, ACT Australia, 30 June-2 July 2022.
Devereux, John (2022). Consent: An Application of Newton's Third Law. 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting of the Australasian College of Philology, Sydney, NSW Australia, 20-23 May 2022.
Devereux, John, Tucker-Evans, Mark, Brolan, Claire and Williams, Karen (2022). Medical law panel discussion. Justice and the Law Panel Discussion, Brisbane, QLD Australia, 26 April 2022.
Devereux, Group Captain John (2021). The Australian Military Justice System: Understanding Military Discipline, Judicial Decisions, and Future Issues. The International Military Justice Forum, Paris, France, 18-19 November 2021.
Devereux, John (2021). Fitness to Drive: Some Legal Aspects. Australasian College of Legal Medicine Webinar Series - Legal Reflections, Webinar (located on zoom in Brisbane), 12 April 2021.
John Devereux (2020). PTE R v Cowen - On Jurisdiction. Global Military Justice Reform Town Hall, New York, NY United States, 5 October 2020.
Crowden, Andrew, Devereux, John and Lamont, Julian (2016). Ethical governance of biobanking and genomic research. Australasian Association of Bioethics and Health Law Conference, Melbourne, 24-26 November 2016.
Department Technical Report
Curtis, Caitlin, Mangelsdorf, Marie, Devereux, John, Morrison, David and Hussey, Karen (2019). Identifying the ethical, legal and social implications of genomics in Queensland's health system: a preliminary assessment. Centre for Policy Futures, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Newspaper Article
Curtis, Caitlin, Hereward, James, Devereux, John, Hussey, Karen and Mangelsdorf, Marie (2018, 12 19). Dramatic advances in forensics expose the need for genetic data legislation The Conversation
Seminar Paper
Devereux, John A. (2014). Public Forum. Your Health Future: Genes & Me. Translational Research Institute (TRI).