Manchester University Press - Medicine, patients and the law

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.

Reviews

'In this book the authors provide an incisive survey of the legal situation surrounding the areas of fertility treatment, patient consent, assisted dying, malpractice and medical privacy. This 6th Edition 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.'
The Lamp, March 2017

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

Authors

Margaret Brazier is Professor in the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy in the School of Law at the University of Manchester

Emma Cave is a Reader in Law at Durham Law School at the University of Durham