Law touches more and more upon the daily practice of medical professionals. This trend continues as modern medicine delivers more therapies, and modern society demands increased rights for individuals and increased accountability for medical professionals. This handbook is written by a practising physician and qualified lawyer to provide an accessible text that allows medical professionals to grasp the legal rules that impact on their daily practice quickly and clearly. The handbook format and clear numbered paragraphs aid speed of use, and legal references are matched to short case summaries and legal statute summaries throughout to provide a solid evidence base. The work enables practitioners to clarify legal questions in all key areas in moments. It concisely and comprehensively covers the core topics including confidentiality, consent, and negligence, and clarifies particularly complex issues such as abortion, assisted reproduction, surrogacy, human tissue and the end of life. This book is an essential reference for medical professionals at every level and in every setting, from students to consultants. 'The purpose of this book is to provide an accessible resource for busy medical professionals. The text assumes no knowledge of law. The medical factual details that are often frustratingly missing from legal textbooks are retained. The point is to locate the cases not just on the legal maps but also upon the medical maps.' Raj Mohindra in the Introduction

Confidentiality. Consent - general.Consent - Adults. Consent - children. Consent and information. Best interests. Negligence - introduction. Negligence - the duty of care. Negligence - breach of the duty of care. Causation. Legal status of the fetus. Negligence before giving birth. Abortion. Assisted reproduction. Surrogacy. Human tissue. The Human tissue act 2004. End of life.