Main description:

Now in its seventh edition, Bridgit Dimond's Legal Aspects of Nursing is the definitive guide to the essential law that nurses and healthcare professionals need to know. Written in an engaging style, the book shows the application of the law to everyday nursing situations showing the relevance and importance of legal considerations to nursing practice. The book covers the legal system and legal issues relating to medicine in general, before examining more specific areas, such as children and the elderly.

Contents:

Guided tour

Table of cases

Table of statutes

Abbreviations

Foreword to first edition

Foreword to seventh edition

Preface to first edition

Preface to seventh edition

Acknowledgements

Part I

General principles affecting all nurses

1 Introduction: four arenas of accountability, the legal system and human rights

Accountability

Criminal liability

Professional liability

Civil liability

Accountability to employer

Relationship between the four arenas of accountability

Sources of law

Differences between civil and criminal law

Civil actions

Judicial Review

Legal personnel and legal complaints

Legal language

Human Rights Act 1998

Freedom of Information Act 2000

Devolved law-making powers

Conclusions

Reflection questions

Further exercises

References

2 Actions in the criminal courts and defences to criminal charges

Initial stages of arrest and prosecution

Magistrates' courts

Plea and Case Management Hearing

Crown Court proceedings

Elements of a crime

Case of Dr Nigel Cox

Case of Dr Adomako

Case of Dr Shipman

Case of Beverley Allitt

Case of Kevin Cobb

Administration of drug by epidural instead of intravenous injection

Defences

Criminal injuries compensation

Conclusions

Reflection questions

Further exercises

References

3 Liability in a civil court case for negligence

Duty of care

Standard of care

Causation

Liable for what?

Harm

Conclusions

Reflection questions

Further exercises

References

4 Specific problem areas in civil liability: personal liability of the nurse, vicarious liability of the employer and managerial issues

Negligence in communication

Inexperience

Team liability and apportionment of responsibility

Taking instructions: refusal to obey

Nurse as manager

Vicarious liability of employer

In the course of employment

Liability for negligence of volunteers

Duty of care liability for independent contractors

Direct liability of employer

Indemnity from the employee at fault

Pressure from inadequate resources

Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 and whistleblowing

Conclusions

Reflection questions

Further exercises

References

5 Statutory functions and management of the NHS

National Health Service

White Paper Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS

Enforcement of statutory duties

The National Health Service Commissioning Board (NHS England)

Clinical Commissioning Groups

The Mandate

NHS foundation trusts

Monitor

National Health Service Trust Development Authority

Clinical governance

Duty of quality

Care Quality Commission (replacing the Commission for Health Audit and Inspection (CHAI) (Healthcare Commission))

National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)

National Service Frameworks (NSFs)

NHS 111 and walk-in clinics

NHS inquiries