Law for Doctors - Softcover

This work covers the major areas of legal issues which doctors and other health professionals may encounter. Issues of purely theoretical interest are avoided. It illustrates basic principles using case studies familiar to its target readership, focusing only on areas relevant to them, and highlighting practical issues and good practice. Complex legal terms are avoided and legal references are kept to a minimum.

With increasing public expectations of the health service, medical litigation and complaints about the health service have been on the increase. For example, the NHS structural reforms in recent years have produced important changes for health professionals as employees and there have been significant developments in the law concerning treatment of the mentally ill, patients' access to their medical information and confidentiality. These issues affect all doctors and health professionals.

A unique book, Law for Doctors meets a real need for concise, up-to-the-minute information on law that is relevant both to the doctor and related health professional. It is a practical guide which approaches its subject with the use of realistic scenarios throughout. These relevant case histories are used as a basis for discussion and explanation of the legal implications of a doctor's actions. Guidelines for best practice are given.

This is not a theoretical book. Its overriding aim is to provide an understanding of the way in which the health professional may be legally challenged, and how to minimise the risk of this happening. Unlike many law books, Law for Doctors assumes little or no knowledge of law and legal terms.