Law for Doctors -Principles and Practicalities

It remains the most commonly performed gynaecological procedure in the United Kingdom and is still normally carried out under general anaesthetic. There appears to be little reason why the majority can't be performed under local anaesthetic-the subject of this book. The three authors are well known and published in the field of hysteroscopic surgery. The book however has a highly practical side and contains a large number of colour photographs amongst its 141 pages. The book is well written with chapters on how to set up an outpatient hysteroscopy service including advice on providing a business case for those interested in developing a service in their local hospital. Further chapters are provided on performing operative hysteroscopy under local anaesthetic, the accuracy of hysteroscopy using evidence based approach and risk management. In keeping with modern educational practice each chapter contains multiple-choice questions and a table of key points listed. A personal quibble is that the book contains little information on the use of transvaginal ultrasonography to determine which women require a hysteroscopy. In conclusion, this book would be of great benefit to experienced clinicians aiming to set up a new ambulatory hysteroscopy service and to year three to five Specialist Registrars undergoing the RCOG special skills module in hysteroscopic surgery. The book is probably less relevant to trainees prior to the part II MRCOG examination. Law for Doctors is a small volume of just over ninety pages. However, encompassed within its ten short chapters is almost all the information required by today's doctors in dealing with medico-legal events, whether writing a medical report for legal procedures or taking on the role of expert medical witness. It is easy reading, and at the conclusion of each section references are cited and appropriate cases are listed for further study if required. Probably all the sections are of equal value but the reviewer would highlight the following chapters: " Principles of Negligence, Duty and Standard of Care " , " Consent: Minors and the Mentally Incapacitated; Research; Training " and " Doctors and the Coroner's Court " as being particularly informative. This book is a gem. It should be read by every doctor regardless of speciality. It also should be available in every hospital department and in all health centres. The reviewer wishes that it had been available twenty years ago! The first thing to say about this book is that I love the …