Medical Ethics, Law and Communication at a Glance

Patrick Davey, consultant cardiologist, has extensive experience in publishing, having edited the best selling 'Medicine at a Glance', as well as 'ECG at a Glance', and is currently editing a major new textbook for Oxford University Press on diagnosis and treatment in internal medicine.Anna Rathmell works in the pharmaceutical industry, has recently completed an MA in medical law and ethics at Manchester University. She teaches on the undergraduate course in medical ethics and law at Oxford University. She has contributed chapters on medical ethics to 'Medicine at a Glance'.

"Overall, this is a good overview. Although this book alone will not make the reader a complete doctor, it will be a good stepping stone toward that end. If readers are looking for an overview of communication skills in addition to medical ethics and law, this book is the only option because there are no books that cover all three topics." (Doody Enterprises 17/03/2017)"Medical Ethics, Law and Communication follows along the same lines as Medical School At A Glance, with Davey and co-editors providing a no-nonsense overview of how to avoid potential minefields in the profession...Medical Ethics features a well-honed narrative – telling the reader what they need to know, opening doors into subjects that should naturally motivate further independent research. In sum, no prospective or practicing health care provider can afford to be without this resource." (The Electric Review, 23/03/2017)

• Editors viiContributors viiPreface ixPart I Medical ethics and law 11 What is medical ethics? 22 Ethical theories and principles 43 Ethical reasoning 74 What is medical law? 105 The English legal system 136 Relationship between ethics, law and professionalism 167 Ethical decisions in practice 188 Negligence 209 Battery and assault 2410 Confidentiality 2611 Consent 2812 Reproduction 3413 Termination of pregnancy 3714 Organ donation and transplantation 4015 Mental health 4316 Safeguarding children and adults 4617 Public health 4818 Allocation of resources 5019 Clinical genetics 5320 Human research 5621 Care of older adults 5822 End of life care 6123 Health management 6524 Primary care 68Part II Communication 7125 The importance of good communication 7226 The patient-centred consultation 7427 Building the relationship 7528 Listening and questioning 7629 Explanations 7830 Explaining procedures 8031 The computer in the consultation 8132 Shared decision making 8233 Communication of risk 8434 Talking about lifestyle changes 8635 Breaking bad news 8836 Bad news: patients’ reactions 9037 Dealing with anger and aggression 9238 Talking about sex 9439 Communicating across cultures 9640 Communicating with people with disabilities 9841 Communicating with colleagues 10042 Professionalism 10243 Feedback 10444 Looking after yourself 10645 Kindness 108Index 109