Medical law is a relatively new area of law. It draws on, and overlaps with, many other areas of law such as tort, family law, human rights and criminal law. Apart from this hybrid legal basis, it is also informed by bioethical theory. This book draws those elements together to form a comprehensible and succinct overview. The cases - and other relevant material - will be linked by short comments that help to explain their legal relevance. A brief introduction to the ethical principles that govern the provision of health care will provide a framework for considering the issues that arise in the cases. This will include discussion of the principles of autonomy, beneficence, non-maleficence, justice and veracity. Following this, relevant cases and important judicial dicta will illustrate the legal rules and principles of each key area of health care law. Relevant statutory material will be included, as will appropriate extracts from professional bodies' codes of practice. Interspersed with the cases and materials, 'think points' will be used to test the student's understanding and act as a guide towards the important and contentious issues.