Churchill’s Guide to UK Medicolegal Essentials

2nd Edition - July 28, 2023
Author: Vanessa Machin
Language: English
Paperback ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 3 4 4 3 - 5
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 3 5 1 1 - 1
eBook ISBN:
9 7 8 - 0 - 3 2 3 - 9 3 5 1 2 - 8

Churchill’s Guide to UK Medicolegal Essentials provides a no-nonsense guide to managing those everyday clinical scenarios that have potential or obvious legal implications. With a… Read more

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Churchill’s Guide to UK Medicolegal Essentials provides a no-nonsense guide to managing those everyday clinical scenarios that have potential or obvious legal implications. With a clear, practical and easy-to-read style, it takes you through everything that you need to know including the UK legal systems, complaints handling, clinical governance and risk management, disciplinary procedures, and how the law relates to alcohol, drugs, mental health and end of life.

This is an ideal book for medical, nursing, dental and paramedic students preparing for exams or interviews, all grades of healthcare professionals, police staff, and anyone needing a brief overview of the legal intricacies of medical practice.

Cover image
Title page
Instructions for Online Access
Table of Contents
Any screen, Any time, Anywhere
Copyright
Introduction
Chapter 1. British Legal Systems
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Categories of Law
Sources of Law
Juries
The Legal System of England and Wales
The Legal System of Scotland
The Legal System of Northern Ireland
Summary
Useful websites
Chapter 2. Legal Procedure and Appearing in Court
Chapter Outline
Introduction
The Legal Profession
Proceedings at an Inquest or Fatal Accident Inquiry
Civil Litigation
Criminal Proceedings
Appearing in Court
Summary
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 3. Preparing a Police Statement
Chapter Outline
The Purpose of a Statement
Writing a Statement
Content
Description of Injuries
Summary
Case Scenarios
Note
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 4. Forensic Samples
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Uses of Samples
Problems with Taking Samples
Continuity of evidence
Intimate Searches
Summary
Case Scenarios
Note
Useful websites
Chapter 5. Consent
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Types of Consent
Obtaining Consent
Disclosure Of Risk
Assessment of Capacity
Limits of Consent
Consent and the Unconscious Patient
Consent and Impaired Intellectual Ability
Consent and the Mentally Ill
Consent and Minors
Consent in Special Cases
Refusal to Consent
Situations where Consent is not Required
Summary
Case Scenarios
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 6. Confidentiality and Disclosure
Chapter Outline
Introduction
General Data Protection Regulation
Caldicott Principles
Exceptions to the Rules of Confidentiality
Statutory Duties
Remedies for Breach of Confidentiality
Specialised Doctors
Summary
Case Scenarios
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 7. Clinical Governance and Risk Management
Chapter Outline
What is Clinical Governance?
What is Risk Management?
Principles of Risk Management
Why do we Need Risk Management?
CNST and CNSGP
CNSC
RM Standards
NHS Resolution
Funding for Claims in Wales
Funding for Claims in Scotland and Northern Ireland
Claims Reporting
Liabilities
Incident Reporting
Care Quality Commission (CQC)
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 8. Handling Complaints
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Stage 1: Local Resolution
Stage 2: Parliamentary Health Service Ombudsman
NHS Complaints Procedure in Scotland
NHS Complaints Procedure in Wales
NHS Complaints Procedure in Northern Ireland
Why Patients Complain
Responding to a Complaint
Duty of Candour
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 9. Clinical Negligence
Chapter Outline
Definition of Clinical Negligence
Duty of Care
Breach of Duty of Care
Actionable Harm or Damage
Causation
The Legal Process
Cost of Clinical Negligence
No Fault Compensation
The Role of the Medical Expert Witness
Criminal Negligence
Summary
Notes
Useful websites
Chapter 10. Disciplinary Bodies and Procedures
Chapter Outline
Introduction
The General Medical Council (GMC)
The Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service
The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC)
Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
Hospital Disciplinary Procedures
Disciplinary Procedures in General Practice
Dealing with a Colleague who is Underperforming
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 11. Death and the Healthcare Professional
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Confirmation of Death
Deaths Out of Hospital
Deaths in Hospital
Estimation of Time of Death
Death Certification in England and Wales
Medical Examiners
The Coroner System
Death Certification in Scotland
Death Certification in Northern Ireland
Post Mortems and Removal of Tissue
Disposal Arrangements
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 12. Brain Stem Death and Organ Donation
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Definition of Death
Making the Diagnosis of BSD
BSD Tests
Management of BSD
Donation After Cardiorespiratory Arrest (DCD)
Management of Potential Organ and Tissue Donors
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT)
Retrieval of Organs and Tissue
Organ Supply and Demand
Donating a Body to be Used for Teaching Purposes
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 13. Euthanasia, Withdrawing Treatment and Advance Decisions
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Euthanasia
Withdrawal of Treatment
Advance Statements and Decisions
Summary
Case Scenarios
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 14. Child Abuse and the Children Acts
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Legal Aspects
Types of Child Abuse
Diagnosis of Child Abuse
Types of Injuries
Mistaken Diagnoses
The Children Act 1989
Children (Scotland) Act 1995
Child Protection Register
Making the Diagnosis
The Children Act in Practice
Summary
Case Scenarios
Note
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 15. The Sexual Offences Acts and Child Sexual Abuse
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Significant Dates
Nonconsensual Offences
Offences Against Children
Offences Against Persons with Mental Disorder
The Sexual Offences (Scotland) Act 2009
The Sexual Offences (Northern Ireland) Order 2008
Child Sexual Abuse
Summary
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 16. The Law Relating to Mental Health
Chapter Outline
Introduction
The Mental Health Act (MHA) 1983
The MHA 2007
The MHA and Clinical Practice
The MHA and Forensic Practice
The MHA and Consent
Mental Health Tribunals
Mental Health (Care and Treatment) (Scotland) Act 2003
When to Apply the MHA
The Mental Capacity Act 2005
The Adults with Incapacity Act (SCOTLAND) 2000
Summary
Case Scenarios
Notes
Further reading
Chapter 17. The Law Relating to Alcohol and Driving
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Metabolism of Alcohol
The Acute Effects of Alcohol
The Chronic Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol and the Healthcare Professional
Alcohol and Driving
Medical Aspects of Fitness to Drive
Summary
Case Scenarios
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Chapter 18. The Law Relating to Drugs
Chapter Outline
Introduction
Prescribing
Dispensing
Administration
Medication Errors
Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency
Addiction and Drug Dependence
Legislation
Handling Illegal Drugs
Summary
Notes
Further reading
Useful websites
Answers to Case Scenarios
Chapter 3—Preparing a Police Statement
Chapter 4—Forensic Samples
Chapter 5—Consent
Chapter 6—Confidentiality and Disclosure
Chapter 13—Euthanasia, Withdrawing Treatment and Advance Decisions
Chapter 14—Child Abuse and the Children Acts
Chapter 16—The Law Relating to Mental Health
Chapter 17—The Law Relating to Alcohol and Driving
Legislation Covering Legal Aspects of Medicine
Glossary
Index

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Churchill’s Guide to UK Medicolegal Essentials

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Vanessa Machin