Professor Roy Beran - Griffith University

Site Degrees

MBBS, FRACGP, FRACP, FRCP, MD, FAFPHM, FACLM, MHL, B Leg.S.

Professor

Biography

Professor Beran is a consultant neurologist with a long history of involvement in epilepsy related research. He has been on the executive of the Epilepsy Society of Australia, Commissions from the International League Against Epilepsy and the International Bureau for Epilepsy.

Since 2002, he has been a Conjoint Associate Professor in the South Western Sydney Clinical School of the University of New South Wales and is a senior visiting neurologist to the Department of Neurology at the Liverpool Hospital, in Sydney, as well as other hospitals. Most of his research was conducted in the clinical setting of private neurological practice.

He wears many hats, being the President of the Australian College of Legal Medicine, on the Board of the Australian Institute of Health Law and Ethics, an accredited sleep physician and a Fellow of the Australian Faculty of Public Heath Medicine. He has been involved with levetiracetam since its introduction to trials in Australia and continues to trial it in epilepsy and other conditions.

Research interests

Health law & ethics
Drug trials
Public health
Legal medicine
Legal medicine education
Neurological conditions & new therapies
Rehabilitation
Sleep disorders
Neurological advances in Asia and developing countries

Current research projects

Clinical Trial on MS
Clinical Trial on Epilepsy
Clinical Trial on Lennox Gastaut Syndrome
Clinical Trial on Post Herpetic Neuralgia

Publications

Books

Beran RG. (Editor) (2004) Epilepsy: and the Law of Therapeutics. Yozmot, Tel-Aviv
Beran RG. (Editor) (2002) Epilepsy: A Question of Ethics. Yozmot, Tel-Aviv
Beran RG. (Editor) (2000) Epilepsy: Duty of Care. Yozmot, Tel-Aviv
Pachlatko Ch., Beran RG. (Editors) (1999) Economic Aspects of Epilepsy: An Overview Epilepsia. 40, Supplement 8, ILAE/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, New York
Beran RG. (Editor) (1999) Epilepsy and Driving. Yozmot, Tel-Aviv
Beran RG. (Editor) (1997) Epilepsy and Law. Yozmot, Tel-Aviv
Beran RG. (1997) Epilepsy: Facts About Fits. MacLennan and Petty, Sydney
Beaumont M. (1988) Epilepsy in Education : A Manual for Teachers Project Reference Committee - Buchanan N, Gourley R, Hopkins I, Beran R, Wellings J, Eppinger J, Marshall Fell K, Haskell S, Munro J, Representative (Ministry of Education, Melbourne), National Epilepsy Association of Australia, Melbourne
Beaumont M. (1987) Epilepsy and Learning Project Reference Committee-Buchanan N, Hopkins I, Beran R, Wellings J, Gourley R. National Epilepsy Association of Australia, Melbourne
Beran RG. (1983) Epidemiological Studies of Epilepsy in Sydney, Australia. Federal Department of Health, Canberra
Beran RG. (1982) Learning about Epilepsy. Medical Education Services Ltd, Oxford

Book chapters

Beran RG. (2010) Privacy within the First Decade of the 21st Century (p75-80) in Principles of Addictions and the Law (ed) N Miller. Academic Press. Oxford, UK
Beran RG, Devereux JA, Lafrance Jr W C. (2009) Legal medicine considerations related to non-epileptic seizures Gates and Rowan's Non-epileptic Seizures (3rd ed) (p157-160) Steven C Schachter & W Curt LaFrance Jr, Cambridge University Press
Beran RG. (2009) Ethics of Clinical Research in Drug Trials (Chpt 24.1 p1099-1110) in Clinical Trials Handbook Editor Shayne Cox Gad, John Wiley & Sons Inc. Publication, New Jersey, USA
Beran RG. (2009) Epilepsy, Driving and Law (p 97-107) in Social Epileptology: Understanding Social Aspects of Epilepsy (ed) J Pinikahana and C Walker Nova Science Publishers, New York, USA

Refereed journal articles

Beran RG. (2009) Doctors and the Pharmaceutical Industry. Medicine and Law 28(3):541-555
Beran RG. (2009) Conflict of interest - criticising the critics. Medicine and Law 28:557-563
Cordato DJ, Thomas PR, Ghia D, Taneja S, Worthington JM, McDougall AJ, Hodgkinson SJ, Hanna IY, Griffith NC, Cappelen-Smith C, Beran RG. (2009) Decreasing presentations of seizures to emergency departments in a large Australian population. Epilepsy & Behavior. 16(3):475-478
Gander P, Bruck D, Baulk S, Beran RG, Horne R, Howard M, Rogers N. (2009) Strategies for Developing Sleep Research. Sleep and Biological Rhythms. 7:260-263
Gander P, Bruck D, Baulk S, Beran RG, Horne R, Howard M, Rogers N (on behalf of the Australasian Sleep Association). (2009) Strategies for Developing Sleep Research. Sleep and Biological Rhythms. 7:260-263
Ghia D, Thomas P, Epstein D, Worthington J M, Cordato D, Hodgkinson S J, Beran RG. (2009) ABCD2 Stroke Risk Scores in a Large Transient Ischaemic Attack (TIA) Cohort. Neuroepidemiology. 33:131-223
Ghia D, Thomas P, Worthington JM, Cordato D, Hodgkinson S J, Beran RG. (2009) Validation of Emergency and Final Diagnosis Coding in Transient Ischaemic Attack. Neuroepidemiology. 33:131-223
Beran RG and Beran JR. (2009) The law(s) of the rings: boxing and the law. Journal of Law and Medicine 16(4): 684-695
Beran RG, Gerber P, and Devereux JA. (2009) Usefulness of Austroads' fitness-to-drive guidelines: lessons from the Gillett case. Medical Journal of Australia 190(9): 503-505
Lin M, Smith T, and Beran R. (2009) Crossed cerebellar hyperperfusion on ictal FDB PET in astrocytoma. Journal of Clinical Neuroscience 16(4): 603-604
Beran RG. (2008) Medical aspects of fitness to drive. What do public hospital doctors know and think. International Medical Journal 38(2): 149
Kehdi EE, Cordato DJ, Thomas PR, Beran RG, Cappelen-Smith C, Hana IY, McDougall AJ, Worthington JM, and Hodgkinson SJ. (2008) Outcomes of patients with transient ischaemic attack after hospital admission or discharge from the emergency department. Medical Journal of Australia 189(1): 9-12
Chan K and Beran RG. (2008) Value of therapeutic drug level monitoring and unbound (free) levels. Seizure - European Journal of Epilepsy 17: 572-575
Beran RG. (2008) Analysis - What is legal medicine? Journal Forensic Legal Medical 15 (3): 158-162
Beran RG. (2008) An alternative perspective on the management of status epilepticus. Epilepsy and Behaviour 12, 349-353
Beran RG. (2008) Epilepsy and Law. Epilepsy and Behaviour 12 (4): 644-651
Huynh W, Lahoria R, Beran RG, and Cordato D. (2007) Meningococcal meningitis and a negative CSF: a case report and its medico-legal implications. Emergency Medicine Australasia 19: 553-555
Pokorny CS and Beran RG. (2007) Association between ulcerative colitis and multiple sclerosis. International Medical Journal 37 (10): 721-724
Beran RG. (2007) The Teaching of Legal Medicine in Australasia. Journal Forensic & Legal Medicine 14 (5): 284-288
Beran RG and Devereux JA. (2007) Road Not Taken - Lessons to be Learned from Queen v Gillett. International Medical Journal 37: 336-339
Beran RG and Docking J. (2007) Travelling with Medications - Some Lessons Learned. Australian Family Physician 36 (5): 349-350
Beran RG. (2007) Legal Implications of Public Health Guidelines MedLaw 26: 69-74
Beran RG, Ainley LAE and Beran ME. (2007) Opinions, Attitudes and Practices of Australian Neurologists with regards to epilepsy and driving. International Medical Journal 37 (4): 251-257
Beran RG. (2006) The Ethics of Excluding Women Who Become Pregnant While Participating in Clinical Trials of Anti-epileptic Medications. Seizure 15: 563-570
Beran RG and Beran ME. (2006) Ethics in clinical drug trial research in private practice. MedLaw 25: 503-512
Beran RG, Ainley LAE and Beran ME. (2005) A novel method for the conduct of pharmaceutical company funded clinical drug trials which ensures the independence of the investigators. International Journal of Pharm. Med 19 (5-6): 309-316
Beran RG. (2005) Considering medico-legal issues in Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy: A Global Conversation Chapman D, Moss B, Panelli R, Pollard R (eds); Epilepsy Australia Ltd & Epilepsy Bereaved (UK), Pegasus Printing, Australia, 55-57
Beran RG. (2005) Ethical considerations within clinical research with special focus upon clinical drug trials. MedLaw 24: 411-436
Beran RG, Berkovic SF, Black AB, Danta G, Schapel GJ, Vajda FJE and Hiersemenzel R. (2005) Efficacy and Safety of levetiracetam 1,000 to 3,000 mg/day in patients with refractory partial seizures: A multicentre, open-label single arm study. Ep Res. 63: 1-9
Weber S and Beran RG. (2004) A pilot study of compassionate use of levetiracetam in patient with generalised epilepsy. Journal Clinical Neuroscience 11 (7): 728-731
Beran RG, Weber S, Sungaran R, Venn N and Hung A. (2004) Review of the legal obligations of the doctor to discuss Sudden Unexplained Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP) - A cohort controlled comparative cross-matched study in an outpatient epilepsy clinic. Seizure 13 (7): 523-528
Beran RG. (2003) Application of Amendments to the Privacy Act (Cth) as They Affect Private Clinical Practice. MedLaw 22 (4): 599-612
Spira JP and Beran RG. (2003) Gabapentin in the Prophylaxis of Chronic Daily Headache: A Randomized Placebo-controlled Study. Neurology 61 (12): 1753-1759
Berry DJ, Beran RG, Plunkett M, Clarke LA and Hung WT. (2003) The Absorption of Gabapentin Following High Dose Escalation. Seizure 12: 28-36
Beran RG. (2002) A treatise of a case study in Epilepsy: A Question of Ethics Beran RG,(ed) Yozmot, Tel-Aviv 235-247
Beran RG. (2002) The Doctor/Patient Relationship, Confidentiality and Public Responsibility. MedLaw 21: 617-637
Beran RG. (2002) Automatism: Comparison of Common Law and Civil Law Approaches - A Search for the Optimal. Journal Law Med 10 (1): 61-68
Beran RG, Berkovic S, Black A, Danta G, Dunne J, Frasca J, Grainger K, Kilpatrick C, McKenzie R, McLaughlin D, Schapel G, and Somerville E. (2001) AUStralian Study of Titration to Effect Profile of Safety (AUS-STEPS): High-dose gabapentin (Neurontin ®) in partial seizures. Epilepsia 42 (10):1335-1339
Beran RG. (2001) Ethical Dilemmas of Potential Adverse Events. Med Law 20: 385-391
Beran RG. (2001) Adverse Events in Medical Management - Vigabatrin as a Paradigm of Forensic Responsibility with Novel Therapy. MedLaw 20: 329-335
Chan DKY, Dunne M, Wong A, Hu E, Hung WT, and Beran RG. (2001) Pilot Study of Prevalence of Parkinson's Disease in Australia. Neuroepidemiology 20: 112-117
Beran RG. (2000) The ethics of clinical research and the conduct of clinical drug trials: international comparisons and codes of conduct. Med Law 19 (3): 501-521
Beran RG. (2000) Informed consent, A legal requirement in the management of patients with epilepsy in Epilepsy: Duty of Care. Beran RG, (ed), Yozmot, Tel-Aviv, 25-55
Beran RG and Beran ME. (2000) Conduct of Trials in Private Clinical Practice. Epilepsia 41 (7): 875-879
Chan DKY, Hung WT, Wong A, Hu E, and Beran RG. (2000) Validating a screening questionnaire for Parkinsonism in Australia. Journal Neurol. Neurosurg. Psychiat. 69: 117-120
Beran RG and Beran ME. (2000) A Review of the Application of Laws to Epilepsy and Driving. Journal Law Medicine 7(3): 281-285

Non-refereed journal articles

Beran RG. (2010) The Neurology of Sleep - Part 1. Medical Observations 5 February: 23-25
Beran RG. (2010) The Neurology of Sleep - Part 2. Medical Observations 12 February: 25-27
Beran RG. (2010) What is Legal Medicine - Are Legal and Forensic Medicine the Same? Journal of Forensic Legal Medicine. 17(3): 137-139
Beran RG. (2009) Vertigo. Medical Observations. 10 April: 23-25
Beran RG. (2009) Peripheral Neuropathy - Part 1. Medical Observations. 19 June: 25-27
Beran RG. (2009) Peripheral Neuropathy - Part 2. Medical Observations. 26 June: 25-27
Beran RG. (2009) The role of the expert witness in the adversarial legal system. Journal of Law Medicine. 17: 133-137
Beran RG. (2009) Multiple Sclerosis - Part 1. Medical Observations. 30 October: 21-23
Beran RG. (2009) Multiple Sclerosis - Part 2. Medical Observations. 6 November: 21-23

Non-refereed conference papers

Kehdi EE, Cordato DJ, Thomas PR, Beran RG, Cappelen-Smith C, Griffith NC, Hanna IY, McDougall AJ, Worthington JM, Hodgkinson SJ. (2007) Outcomes of TIA patients following admission to hospital or discharge from ED (Increased risk of TIA or stroke following TIA). ASM Stroke Society of Australasia Meeting, Perth, Western Australia
Kehdi EE, Huynh W, Kim, SD, and Beran RG. (2007) Non-epileptic seizures in Parkinson's Disease. ESA 22nd Annual Scientific Meeting, Adelaide, Australia
Beran RG. (2007) Sleep Apnoea, Epilepsy, Driving and the Law 5th Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies, Cairns, Australia
Beran RG, Ainsley L, and Holland G. (2007) Fatigue and Sleepiness in Multiple Sclerosis, Pilot Study 5th Congress of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies, Cairns, Australia
Bulluss K, Murphy M, Beran RG, and Cook M. (2007) Cost of Epilepsy Surgery in Australia. 27th International Epilepsy Congress, Singapore
Chan K and Beran RG. (2007) Clinical Usefulness of EEGs 27th International Epilepsy Congress, Singapore
Beran RG. (2007) Appropriate Management of Women Who Become Pregnant While Participating in Clinical Trials of Anti-Epileptic Medications. 27th International Epilepsy Congress, Singapore
Beran RG. (2006) Liability and Reliability in Assessing Fitness to Drive 20th World Congress, International Traffic Medicine Association, Melbourne, Australia
Beran RG. (2006) The Role of the Expert First Australian Expert Witness Institute Conference. Expert Witness Institute of Australia & Sydney University Law Reform Commission re Expert Witness, Sydney, Australia
Chan K, McDougall A, and Beran RG. (2006) Electroencephalographies (EEG) in Improving Patient Care. 2nd Forum for the Inquizzitive Mind (FOTIM) International Quality. Assurance Conference, Melbourne, Australia
Beran RG. (2006) Ethics in Clinical Drug Trials or Clinical Research in Private Practice. 16th World Congress on Medical Law, Toulouse, France
Beran RG. (2006) The Teaching of Legal Medicine in Australasia 16th World Congress on Medical Law, Toulouse, France
Chan K and Beran RG. (2006) Do Electroencephalographs (EEGs) Improve Patient Care? AAN-ASM, Canberra, Australia
Beran RG. (2006) Expert Witness Training. 18th ISFS, ANZFSS, Perth, Australia
Beran RG. (2006) Surviving as an Expert Witness within the Court Room. 18th ISFS, ANZFSS, Perth, Australia
Beran RG. (2006) The Development of Legal Medicine as a discipline in Australasia 18th International Symposium of the Forensic Sciences (ISFS), Australian & New Zealand Forensic Sciences Society, Perth
Beran RG. (2006) Continued Trial New AEMS 5th Conferencia de Neurologia, Santiago de Cuba
Beran RG, Ainley LAE, and Holland G. (2005) Fatigue and Sleepiness in Multiple Sclerosis: Pilot Study. 18th World Congress of Neurology, Sydney, Australia
Beran RG, Ainley LAE, and Beran ME. (2005) Opinions, Attitudes and Practices of Australian Neurologists with regards to epilepsy and driving 18th World Congress of Neurology, Sydney, Australia
Beran RG. (2005) Neurology for the Uninitiated and Legal Medicine. Defence Force Recruiting Medical Officer's Conference, Melbourne, Australia
Beran RG. (2005) Hot Topics in Sleep Medicine - Commercial Interests in Sleep Medicine. 18th Annual Scientific Meeting - Australasian Sleep Association. Surfers Paradise, Australia
Beran RG and Beran ME. (2005) Ethics in Clinical Research in a Private Practice involved in Clinical Drug Trials 1st International Congress on Medical Law. Seoul, Korea
Beran RG. (2005) Public Health Considerations regarding Expert Opinion of Fitness to Drive and its Legal Ramifications. 1st World Conference of Public Health Law & Ethics, Seoul, Korea
Beran RG. (2005) Acceptance of Public Health Guidelines within Legal Considerations. 1st World Conference of Public Health Law & Ethics, Seoul, Korea
Beran RG and Devereux JA. (2005) Public Health Law in Australia 1st World Conference of Public Health Law & Ethics, Seoul, Korea
Beran RG, Ainley LA, and Holland G. (2005) Pilot study: Fatigue, sleep and multiple sclerosis 57th ASM - AAN Miami Beach, United States of America