Lay involvement and legitimacy: The construction of expertise and participation within HEART UK

In 2002, the Family Heart Association (FHA), a U.K. patient-focused charity working in the area of inherited high cholesterol conditions, merged with the professional organization in this field to form HEART UK. This article explores how this merger might be understood in the context of current scholarly interest in patient organizations that has focused on the emergence of novel forms of lay-expert relations and knowledge production. The article argues that the merger does not signal radical shifts concerning the relationship between credentialed biomedical experts and lay people. Instead, the merger can be understood as a strategic move concerned with reinforcing legitimacy with policy makers and potential funders. In view of the range of claims being made in relation to lay health groups, this study suggests that one must remain attentive to the circumstances under which novel lay-expert collaborations emerge.