Medical Ethics, Law and Communication at a Glance (eBook)

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'.

Editors vii

Contributors vii

Preface ix

Part I Medical ethics and law 1

1 What is medical ethics? 2

2 Ethical theories and principles 4

3 Ethical reasoning 7

4 What is medical law? 10

5 The English legal system 13

6 Relationship between ethics, law and professionalism 16

7 Ethical decisions in practice 18

8 Negligence 20

9 Battery and assault 24

10 Confidentiality 26

11 Consent 28

12 Reproduction 34

13 Termination of pregnancy 37

14 Organ donation and transplantation 40

15 Mental health 43

16 Safeguarding children and adults 46

17 Public health 48

18 Allocation of resources 50

19 Clinical genetics 53

20 Human research 56

21 Care of older adults 58

22 End of life care 61

23 Health management 65

24 Primary care 68

Part II Communication 71

25 The importance of good communication 72

26 The patient-centred consultation 74

27 Building the relationship 75

28 Listening and questioning 76

29 Explanations 78

30 Explaining procedures 80

31 The computer in the consultation 81

32 Shared decision making 82

33 Communication of risk 84

34 Talking about lifestyle changes 86

35 Breaking bad news 88

36 Bad news: patients' reactions 90

37 Dealing with anger and aggression 92

38 Talking about sex 94

39 Communicating across cultures 96

40 Communicating with people with disabilities 98

41 Communicating with colleagues 100

42 Professionalism 102

43 Feedback 104

44 Looking after yourself 106

45 Kindness 108

Index 109

"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)