Analyzing the level of claims for clinical negligence in the light of the most recent trends and discovering whether there is indeed a litigation crisis in healthcare, this book is a topical and compelling exploration of healthcare and doctor-patient relationships.

The author:

• identifies and analyzes the growing pressures on doctors in modern society, placing their role in context
• explores some of the myths surrounding media claims about malpractice
• considers the practice of ‘defensive medicine’ and the difference between defensive practices and sensible risk management
• examines external pressures, such as political interference with clinical practice in the form of target-setting and what might be described as a culture of creeping privatization of healthcare.

Covering the topics of medicine and the media and the causes of occupational stress among doctors, this volume is a must read for all students of medical law and medical ethics.