Oxford Handbook of Medical Ethics and Law (Oxford Medical Handbooks)

The Oxford Handbook of Medical Ethics and law provides a practical and accessible guide to the legal and ethical issues which a medical professional might face. It explains the major ethical theories - consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics and principlism -and presents a method for moral decision-making, based on the application of theory and critical reasoning. The books sets out the key legal principles governing medical practice including the obtaining of consent; the law of negligence; the principles of confidentiality; the law on organ donation; and the legal regulation of end of life. The book goes on to present a number of ‘real life’ situations in which the ethical and legal principles are applied in a concrete and clear way. The book also contains extracts from the key legislation governing the practice of medicine. Cover Half Title Series Title Copyright Dedication Foreword Acknowledgements Contents Symbols and abbreviations Part 1 Ethics 1 Introduction to ethics 2 The virtuous doctor 3 Consequentialism 4 Deontology 5 The four principles 6 Care ethics 7 Moral relativism and subjectivism 8 Critical reasoning Part 2 Law 9 Introduction to the legal system 10 Key articles of law 11 Court 12 Law within medical practice 13 Negligence 14 Other issues of liability Part 3 Generic legal and ethical issues 15 Resource allocation 16 Candour and confidentiality 17 Issues in the doctor–​patient relationship 18 Issues in death and dying 19 Doctors and the General Medical Council (GMC) 20 Medical research 21 Medical education Part 4 Ethico-​legal issues by medical specialism 22 Ethico-​legal issues by medical specialism A–​M 23 Ethico-​legal issues by medical specialism N–​V Part 5 Statutory provisions 24 Abortion Act 1967 25 Female Genital Mutilation Act 2003 26 Gender Recognition Act 2004 27 Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 28 Human Rights Act 1998 (European Convention on Human Rights) 29 Human Tissue Act 2004 30 Mental Capacity Act 2005 31 Mental Health Act 1983 32 Suicide Act 1961 33 Surrogacy Arrangements Act 1985 Index "Doctors have been concerned with ethics since the earliest days of medical practice. Traditionally, medical practitioners have been expected to be motivated by a desire to help their patients. Ethical codes and systems, such as the Hippocratic Oath, have emphasised this. During the latter half of the 20th century, advances in medical science, in conjunction with social and political changes, meant that the accepted conventions of the doctor/patient relationship were increasingly being questioned. After the Nuremberg Trials, in which the crimes of Nazi doctors, among others, were exposed, it became clear that doctors cannot be assumed to be good simply by virtue of their profession. Not only this, but doctors who transgress moral boundaries can harm people in the most appalling ways"-- Provided by publisher This handbook provides a practical and accessible guide to the legal and ethical issues which a medical professional might face. It explains the major ethical theories - consequentialism, deontology, virtue ethics and principlism - and presents a method for moral decision-making, based on the application of theory and critical reasoning. The text sets out the key legal principles governing medical practice including the obtaining of consent; the law of negligence; the principles of confidentiality; the law on organ donation; and the legal regulation of end of life. The book goes on to present a number of 'real life' situations in which the ethical and legal principles are applied in a concrete and clear way. The book also contains extracts from the key legislation governing the practice of medicine The Oxford Handbook of Medical Ethics and Law is the definitive guide to the legal and ethical issues around medical and surgical practice. It is written with the busy clinician in mind who will not have time to read lengthy and complex legal or philosophical documents but requires the key information presented without technical jargon in a handy quick-reference style. The handbook also includes a substantial number of examples taken from a wide variety of specialties with the relevant legal and ethical issues clearly explained, so that the reader can see how these principles play out in day-to-day patient care. Both medical students and current professionals will find this an essential practical resource.