Law and Medicine

Law and Medicine, the third volume in the Current Legal issues series, is a comprehensive and provocative treatment of an area that will stimulate and enlighten anyone interested in law and medicine. This volume considers the many areas where medicine intersects with the law. Advances in medical research, reproductive science and genetic research give rise to ethical and legal issues that are well known. These are reflected in chapters on cloning, organ donation, choosing genetic characteristics and the use of Viagra. At the same time changes in health care funding call into question the rights of patients, whilst a rise in medical negligence litigation calls into question the doctor's duty of care. What rights will patients have in a privately funded health service and what room is there for the patient's right to choose or refuse treatment in such a system? The changing structure of health care is in the government's hands comes whilst the supply of technology and drugs flows unregulated by market forces. In the future clashes between what can be done and what ought to be done will be increasingly referred to the courts. All of these important and changing facets of law and medicine are reflected in this collection.