Medicine, Patients and the Law: Sixth Edition

Embryo research, cloning, assisted conception, neonatal care, saviour siblings, organ transplants, drug trials - modern developments have transformed the field of medicine almost beyond recognition in recent decades and the law struggles to keep up. In this highly acclaimed and very accessible book, now in its sixth edition, Margaret Brazier and Emma Cave provide an incisive survey of the legal situation in areas as diverse as fertility treatment, patient consent, assisted dying, malpractice and medical privacy. The book has been fully revised and updated to cover the latest cases, from assisted dying to informed consent; legislative reform of the NHS, professional regulation and redress; European regulations on data protection and clinical trials; and legislation and policy reforms on organ donation, assisted conception and mental capacity. Essential reading for healthcare professionals, lecturers, medical and law students, this book is of relevance to all whose perusal of the daily news causes wonder, hope and consternation at the advances and limitations of medicine, patients and the law.

Introduction Part I: Medicine, law and society 1. The practice of medicine today 2. Doctors' responsibilities: patient's rights 3. Medicine, moral dilemmas and the law 4. A relationship of trust and confidence Part II: Medical malpractice 5. Agreeing to treatment 6. Capacity, consent and compulsion 7. Clinical negligence 8. Medical litigation 9. Complaints and redress 10. Medical products liability Part III: Matters of life and death 11. Pregnancy 12. Assisted conception 13. Abortion and embryo research 14. Doctors and children 15 Healthcare research 16. Defining death 17. Organ & tissue transplantation 18. Human body and parts 19. End of life Index