Reasonable Care: Legal Perspectives on the Doctor-Patient Relationship

Though more and more medical disputes are reaching the courts, English law still essentially allows doctors to set their own standards. Too often, the belief is that "doctor knows best." This book offers a sustained treatment of this issue, primarily as it arises in the hospital setting, but looking too at a range of therapies in different contexts. It argues for patient involvement in medical decision-making about their treatment, and critically examines approaches based on the assertion of patients' legal rights. As such, it provides a valuable analysis of the central areas of medical law written in a fashion that will appeal to anyone with an interest in medicine, health care, and the law.