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For some time my bed time reading has been the Blackstone's Guide to the Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA) which I have been using to try to inform my thinking, for want of a better word, on the impact of the HRA on both the practice of clinical chemistry and on the disciplinary arrangements of a small learned society of which I am the Honorary Secretary. The main thrust of the HRA is to incorporate the provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights into British Law. Probably this won't have much effect on the practice of clinical chemistry although it may have some effects on our purchasers and the priorities they give to certain clinical services, in particular, fertility services. What did strike me is the likely impact of Article 11, which grants the right to Freedom of Assembly and Association on the current regulations of the Council for the Registration Scientists in Health Care. Currently, persons otherwise qualified to register with this body, who are registered with other registration bodies are excluded. The uncharitable might think that the intention of this regulation is to keep the increasing cadre of very well qualified MLSOs out (to say nothing of the medics). I strongly suspect that once the HRA comes into full effect this regulation could be subject to successful challenge by any scientist who fulfilled the qualifications for registration but was excluded simply because he or she was registered with another registration body. A R W Forrest LLM, FRCP, FRCPath, Professor of Forensic Toxicology University Dept of Forensic Pathology Medico-legal Centre Watery Street SHEFFIELD S3 7ES UK Voice +44 (0)114 2738721 Fax +44 (0)114 279 8942