header-logo header-logo

Book Reviews

01 May 2008 / Peter Gooderham
Issue: 7319 / Categories: Features , Legal services , Procedure & practice , Profession
printer mail-detail

Medical

Elements of Medical Law 2nd ed 2007

Charles Foster/ Claerhout / £30

This slim volume has a refreshingly simple approach, with an early declaration that “medical law is nothing like as difficult as practitioners in the field…pretend that is”. In a market probably over-endowed with recent texts of medical law, this looks promising.

Throughout, the writing style is commendably readable, using short, clear sentences which tell us what we need to know. The author's opinion is expressed abundantly and often amusingly, which makes the book as a whole hugely enjoyable to read.

A text with a stated agenda of simplification may sometimes overdo it. Foster has overwhelmingly avoided that danger. Exceptions arise in his chapter on The Law of Death, which includes too brief a consideration of gross negligence manslaughter, and somewhat oversimplified treatment of the complex issues of palliative care and euthanasia (in contrast to withholding treatment).

However, most subjects covered are dealt with well, and some very well. Those in the Department of Health responsible for the

If you are not a subscriber, subscribe now to read this content
If you are already a subscriber sign in
...or Register for two weeks' free access to subscriber content

MOVERS & SHAKERS

DWF—19 appointments

DWF—19 appointments

Belfast team bolstered by three senior hires and 16 further appointments

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Cadwalader—Andro Atlaga

Firm strengthens leveraged finance team with London partner hire

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Knights—Ella Dodgson & Rebecca Laffan

Double hire marks launch of family team in Leeds

NEWS
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve reports on Haynes v Thomson, the first judicial application of the Supreme Court’s For Women Scotland ruling in a discrimination claim, in this week's NLJ
Charlie Mercer and Astrid Gillam of Stewarts crunch the numbers on civil fraud claims in the English courts, in this week's NLJ. New data shows civil fraud claims rising steadily since 2014, with the King’s Bench Division overtaking the Commercial Court as the forum of choice for lower-value disputes
The Supreme Court issued a landmark judgment in July that overturned the convictions of Tom Hayes and Carlo Palombo, once poster boys of the Libor and Euribor scandal. In NLJ this week, Neil Swift of Peters & Peters considers what the ruling means for financial law enforcement
Small law firms want to embrace technology but feel lost in a maze of jargon, costs and compliance fears, writes Aisling O’Connell of the Solicitors Regulation Authority in this week's NLJ
Artificial intelligence may be revolutionising the law, but its misuse could wreck cases and careers, warns Clare Arthurs of Penningtons Manches Cooper in this week's NLJ
back-to-top-scroll