Reverse Gillick Campaign

Victoria Gillick started her campaign after receiving a Department of Health and Social Security circular giving contraceptive advice. Gillick was a mother of 10 children and she did not want a doctor prescribing contraceptives to any of her children particularly without her knowledge. She took the issue to the High Court in 1983, and eventually won her case in 1984. However the House of Lords reversed the decision in 1985: Gillick v West Norfolk and Wisbech Area Health Authority and the Department of Health and Social Security and this allowed doctors to give advice and prescribe contraceptives to under 16s, providing certain criteria are met: the Fraser Guidelines. Consequently the term 'Gillick Competence' developed in English medical law that describes the ability of children under 16 to consent to his or her own medical treatment.

NAC fought against the original High Court ruling and started the Reverse Gillick campaign, which was eventually successful. The documents for this campaign include: minutes, petitions, correspondence, publications and press cuttings covering the case.