Covers the whole field of modern ethical medical practice, making the book suitable for use on all undergraduate and postgraduate medical law courses
Clearly sets out both sides of the argument in ethical debates, and offers the authors' own perspectives, encouraging students to explore and form their own opinions
Includes medical as well as legal facts, setting it apart from other legal textbooks in the field
Takes account of the influence of international jurisdictions, particularly in the EU, over the development of UK law
New to this edition

Matters considered in greater detail or new discussion: Formation of Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service; Mitochondrial disease; Abortion statistics 2011; Terminal sedation; The statutory establishment of the new Health Research Authority (2011); The abolition of the National Patient Safety Agency and the National Information Governance Board; Assisted dying in the light of the DPP's recommendation
New Acts or Bills: Health and Social Care Act 2012; Patient Rights (Scotland) Act 2011;Draft Care and Support Bill 2012; Coroners and Justice Act 2009; Protection of Freedoms Act 2012
Instructions or professional advice: - Department of Health Enabling Excellence: Autonomy and accountability for healthcare workers and social care workers (2011) - GMC Leadership and management for all doctors (2012) - GMC Raising and acting on concerns about patient safety (2012) - HFEA Code of Practice (8th ed., 2009 - RCOG Termination of pregnancy for fetal abnormality 2010 - Department of Health Reforming the Law for Adult Care and Support Cm 8379 (2012) - Department of Health Prioritising need in the context of Putting People First: A whole system approach to eligibility for social care (2010) - Nuffield Council on Bioethics Human Bodies:Donation for medicine and research (2011) - British Medical Association Building on Progress: Where next for organ donation policy in the UK? ( 2012) - DPP Policy for Prosecutors in Respect of Encouraging Assisted Suicide 2010 - GMC Treatment and care at the end of life: Good practice in deci
New cases: Southall v GMC (2010); Brennan v Health Professions Council (2011); A and B ( by C, their mother and next friend) v A (Health and Social Services Trust) 2011 Re X and Y (Children: foreign surrogacy) 2012 A Local Authority v A (capacity:contraception) 2011 A, B and C v Ireland 2010 McDonald v Kensington and Chelsea Royal London BC 2011 Nicklinson v Ministry of Justice, QBD 2012 Haas v Switzerland (2011) NHS Trust v Baby X( (2012) R (on the application of Purdy) v DPP 2009 R v Inglis 2011 Rabone v Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust (2012) Wright v Cambridge Medical Group (2011) Re M and An NHS Trust v D (2012) Walker-Smith v GMC (2012) W v M (An Adult Patient) (2012)
This classic textbook has provided students of medical law and ethics with a framework for exploring this fascinating subject for over 25 years. Providing coverage of all of the topics found on medical law courses, it gives an overview of the inter-relationship between ethical medical practice and the law. The authors, both hugely experienced and influential in the field, offer their own opinions on current debates and controversies, and thereby encourage readers to formulate their own views and arguments.

As a still-developing discipline, medical law is significantly shaped by the courts, and as such this book provides extensive coverage of recent judicial decisions as well as statutory developments. This edition continues to take a comparative approach, with particular importance attached to the shift in influence from transatlantic jurisdictions to those of the EU.

This book has continually evolved to reflect changes in the law and shifting ethical opinions - this ninth edition continues to fulfil this remit and is essential reading for any serious medical law student or practitioner, as well as being of interest to all those involved in the delivery and control of modern healthcare.

1: Medical ethics and medical practice
2: Public Health and the state/patient relationship
3: Health rights and obligations in the European Union
4: Consent to treatment
5: Liability for medical injury
6: Medical confidentiality
7: Genetic information and the law
8: The management of infertility and childlessness
9: The control of fertility
10: Civil and criminal liability in reproductive medicine
11: Health resources and dilemmas in treatment
12: Treatment of the aged
13: Mental health and human rights
14: The body as property
15: Medical futility
16: The diagnosis of death
17: The donation of organs and transplantation
18: Euthanasia and assistance in dying
19: Biomedical human research and experimentation
20: Research on children, fetuses and embryos