Medical Law: A Very Short Introduction

Description

Very Short Introductions have proven to be extremely popular with general readers, as well as undergraduates and their lecturers.

Everyone has an opinion about the core issues of medical law; from clinical negligence and organ transplantation to abortion, confidentiality, and euthanasia. Using case studies to explore the key principles, Charles Foster presents a fascinating Very Short Introduction to Medical Law.

Medical law is concerned with our bodies, and what happens to them during and after our lives. When things go wrong with our bodies, we want to know what our rights are, and what governs the conduct of the clinicians into whose hands we put our lives and limbs. Dealing with matters of life and death, it can therefore have a fundamental impact on medical practice.

Headlines in the media often involve the core issues of medical law – organ transplantation, abortion, withdrawal of treatment, euthanasia, confidentiality, research on humans – these are topics that affect us all. Headlines can misrepresent, however. In order to fully understand the issues and their relevance, we have to delve into the cases and into the principles behind them.

In this highly readable Very Short Introduction, Charles Foster explores different examples to illustrate the key problems and principles of medical law.

Key Features

• An engaging and accessible account of the main principles of medical law
• Examines a wide range of areas from abortion to the availability of IVF, and the withdrawal of medical treatment
• Uses case studies from international jurisdictions to fully understand the main principles
• Assumes no previous knowledge of the subject
• Part of the bestselling Very Short Introductions series – over five million copies sold worldwide

Table of Contents

1. Acknowledgements
2. Origins and legacies
3. The enforcement of medical law
4. Before birth
5. Confidentiality and privacy
6. Consent
7. Clinical negligence
8. Research on human subjects
9. Resource allocation
10. The end of life
11. Organ donation and the ownership of body parts
12. The future of medical law
13. References: Cases discussed
14. Further reading

About the Series

Oxford’s Very Short Introductions series offers concise and original introductions to a wide range of subjects – from Public Health to Buddhist Ethics, Soft Matter to Classics, and Art History to Globalization. Each volume provides an authoritative and engaging assessment of a concept, field, or body of work, drawing out the central ideas, themes, and approaches. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, new insights, and enthusiasm to make often challenging topics highly readable to develop your core knowledge. With over 700 titles and many more in development, as well as regularly updated new editions, the series is constantly evolving to reflect a contemporary readership. Whatever your area of study, whatever the topic that fascinates you, the series is an indispensable and accessible guide that will enrich your understanding.

Reviews

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Author Biography

Charles Foster, Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, and a barrister practising from Outer Temple Chambers, London

Charles Foster is a Fellow of Green Templeton College, University of Oxford, a tutor in medical law and ethics at the University of Oxford, and a barrister (practising in medical law) at Outer Temple Chambers, London. He read law and veterinary medicine at the University of Cambridge.