The Medical Profession and Human Rights: Handbook for a Changing Agenda - Softcover

'This volume promises to be the source of choice for all aspects relating to medicine and human rights. For it seeks - successfully, I believe - to address the broader field of human rights which is, after all, the proper setting for a full understanding of the dilemmas and challenges for doctors confronting official assaults on human dignity. And it not only brings preventive and therapeutic medical values and expertise to the problem of officially-created patients, it also puts them in the context of the highest standards of medical ethics, providing real guidance for what to some doctors must seem like overwhelming moral dilemmas.' - Professor Sir Nigel Rodley KBE, Human Rights Centre, University of Essex, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torture 'For medical practitioners in the developing world, where human rights challenges and ethical dilemmas are often so starkly juxtaposed, the BMA has captured an immensely valuable set of ideas for practical action in its new handbook. Well written, it speaks to health professionals about human rights in a language that bridges legal and public health approaches, and makes clear the links between, civil and political rights and socio-economic rights, and how this pertains to medical practice. Most importantly, it helps us to understand how ethics and human rights are complementary approaches to maximizing the health of vulnerable patients as well as improving social well-being. In doing so, practitioners are exposed to the possibilities of expanding their professional roles to include those of advocate and agent for social justice.' - Professor Leslie London, University of Cape Town 'This is not merely a handbook for adventurous-minded and humane doctors. It is also a valuable reminder to the rest of us who go to the more difficult places of the earth - businessmen, diplomats, journalists - that for many people combatting torture and oppression is a daily struggle. All those who take on the task need our support urgently. Time and again, it is the medics who find out first what is going on, and tell the outside world about it. This book does not merely show them how to go about that; it shows us how we can help them.' - John Simpson, BBC World Affairs Editor 'This book ought to be available in every medical library.' - Inge Genefke, Honorary Secretary General of the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims

Medical ethics and human rights are issues which now command much more attention both within the medical profession and in society generally than they used to. One reason is that the contexts in which doctors and other health personnel interact with the state have become more numerous. Another is that we are more conscious of patient rights in a whole variety of institutional settings. This is why the British Medical Association decided to take a thorough new look at the complex interface between medical practitioners and possible abuses of human rights. This major new BMA Report, the successor to Medicine Betrayed which looked more narrowly at torture and related practices, takes its examples from all over the world -- both the industrialised and the developing countries. It ranges widely across a great variety of issues, including ones which doctors in everyday practice are sooner or later likely to confront. It includes abuse of institutionalised patients, research involving humans, trade in organs, doctors and asylum seekers, prison doctors, forensic doctors, the rehabilitation of torture victims, and medical involvement in armed conflicts and weapons research. Throughout this Report, in whose drafting a large number of experienced doctors and other professionals have played a part, is a constant concern with the practical ethical issues such situations and contexts pose for medical personnel and guidance as to how they might deal with them. The concluding Part examines practical steps to help ensure that doctors and other health personnel are aware of these issues and are supported in their efforts to adhere to the ever higher standards of human rights observance which the modern world expects.