This new edition provides a readable, comprehensive and accessible account of the law governing health care in England and Wales. In contrast to other texts, it examines the full range of health care and not merely its medical context. The narrative is clear and succinct with full references to legal sources to meet the needs of law students and practitioners. However, excessive use of legal jargon is avoided ensuring that the law is also accessible to health care professionals. The text sets out the law on public health, the NHS, the health professions, clinical negligence litigation, patients' rights, and research and health care ethics. Legislation changes and structural reforms since the previous edition have led to substantial revisions throughout the book including the workings of the General Medical Council, regulations on clinical trials and proposed reformation of the NHS complaints procedures. Online Resource Centre DT Legislative updates DT Useful links

1. The Scope and Sources of Health Care Law Part I: Health and the Law 2. Public Health Law 3. Rights to National Health Service Care 4. The Structure of the NHS 5. National Health Service Complaints Part II: Health Care Practice and the Law 6. Professional Regulation 7. Malpractice Litigation I: The Law 8. Malpractice Litigation II: In Practice 9. Medicines and the Law Part III: The Position of the Patient 10. Consent to Treatment 11. Confidentiality and Data Protection 12. Care for Children 13. Mental Health 14. Research Part IV: Health Care Law and Ethics 15. Abortion 16. Fertility 17. Maternity Care 18. Selective Treatment of the Newborn 19. Transplantation 20. Terminal Care and Euthanasia 21. Regulating Health Care Ethics

Jonathan Montgomery , Professor of Health Care Law at the University of Southampton

`Review from previous edition It is refreshing to find a text that states the law clearly, comprehensively, and accurately in a form that is easily digested by educated non-lawyers. Jonathan Montgomery's book achieves his stated aim of providing those who work in the health service with a detailed survey of the legal context of their work...the book is an excellent and wide-ranging review of medical law that should prove invaluable for members of the medical professions.'' British Medical Journal September 1997