The Jurisdiction of Medical Law

This book offers a critical analysis of some of the guiding principles and assumptions that have been central to the development and identity of medical law. Focusing on several key cases in the field - including the 'Dianne Pretty' and 'Conjoined Twins' cases - the book scrutinises the notions of autonomy and human rights and explores the relationship between medical law and moral conflict. It also asks what role, if any, the courts might play in stimulating public debate about the ethics of controversial developments in medicine and biomedical science. A distinguishing feature of the book is its advancement of a novel methodological approach to these issues. Rather than concentrating on the ethical rights and wrongs of medical law(s), there is a focus on the role that institutional features of law play in determining how courts respond to their increasing jurisdiction in this area.