An overview of those legal issues most relevant to individuals working in the healthcare professions.This book aims to provide an overview of those legal issues most relevant to individuals working in the healthcare professions. This book looks at those areas where law and medicine commonly meet. A vast number of subjects are covered; from controversial issues such as euthanasia to issues such as confidentiality.This book aims to provide an overview of those legal issues most relevant to individuals working in the healthcare professions. This book looks at those areas where law and medicine commonly meet. A vast number of subjects are covered; from controversial issues such as euthanasia to issues such as confidentiality.A basic knowledge of the legal framework in which healthcare is, and the role that law and the judiciary play in the working lives of all professionals has become an intrinsic part in the training of students of medicine, nursing, pharmacy and the allied professions. This is partly due to the increasing frequency and controversy of items of medicolegal significance in the media, and partly due to the wide and freely available range of specialist medical information available to the public against which to judge medical treatment. This book looks at those areas where law and medicine commonly meet. The chapters are written by a multidisciplinary group of practitioners with special interest or experience in their subjects. A vast number of subjects are covered; from controversial issues such as euthanasia to issues such as confidentiality, all of which will be interest to students of medicine and healthcare providers alike.Contributors; Editors' notes; Foreword; Table of statutes; Table of cases; 1. Legal institutions and the legal process Ian Wall and Jason Payne-James; 2. Human rights and healthcare professionals Michael Peel; 3. Medical ethics and the forensic physician Michael Wilks; 4. Confidentiality Peter Sch?tte; 5. Consent to medical treatmenl.