Medical Ethics Today: The BMAs Handbook of Ethics and Law

THE authoritative guide to medical ethics

Medical Ethics Today is an established and authoritative reference, written by members of the BMA′s Medical Ethics Department, under the direction of the BMA′s Medical Ethics Committee and reviewed by leading medical ethicists and lawyers. It provides practical advice and guidance that draws upon the large volume of enquiries received by the BMA′s Medical Ethics Department. Its comprehensive coverage of ethical issues in medicine ranges from children and consent through to end of life care and provides health professionals with guidance on the legal and ethical issues they will encounter in day–to–day clinical practice.

Throughout the book practical and relevant case studies and examples of best practice in real world situations illustrate common ethical and legal problems and how they can be best managed.

This new edition includes:

Full coverage of the provisions of the Mental Capacity Act Guidance on the Human Tissue Act and tissue donation for training, research or therapy and post–mortem examinations. Recent developments in the spheres of genetics and reproductive medicine, including changes to the Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act Updated practical guidance on high profile topics such as child protection and pandemic flu and emerging issues such as testing blood donors for vCJD Discussion of all relevant recent legal cases affecting healthcare, including Burke v GMC, baby MB, and Charlotte Wyatt.

Medical Ethics Today: The BMA′s Handbook of Ethics and Law, 3rd Edition is a practical and easy to use guide to the ethical and legal issues in medicine faced by all healthcare professionals. This book will enable doctors, medical students and nurses, healthcare administrators, teachers of medical ethics and law, medical lawyers, policy makers and solicitors to respond effectively.

List of statues and regulations.

List of cases.

Where to find legal cases online.

Medical Ethics Committee.

Acknowledgements.

Preface to the third edition.

Introduction: Bridging the gap between theory and practice: the BMA s approach to medical ethics.

1: The doctor–patient relationship.

2: Consent, choice and refusal: adults with capacity.

3: Treating adults who lack capacity.

4: Children and young people.

5: Confidentiality.

6: Health records.

7: Contraception, abortion, and birth.

8: Assisted reproduction.

9: Genetics.

10: Caring for patients at the end of life.

11: Euthanasia and physician assisted suicide.

12: Responsibilities after a patient s death.

13: Prescribing and administering medication.

Chapter 14: Research and innovative treatment.

15: Emergency situations.

16: Doctors with dual obligations.

17: Providing treatment and care in detention settings.

18: Education and training.

19: Teamwork, referral, delegation and shared care.

20: Public health dimensions of medical practice.

21: Reducing risk, clinical error, and poor performance.

AppendixA: Hippocratic Oath.

Appendix B: Declaration of Geneva.

Appendix C: Declaration of a new doctor, as devised by Imperial College School of Medicine graduating year of 2001.

Index.

British Medical Association Medical Ethics Department, London, UK