Practical Ethics for General Practice

There are several features of general practice which, taken together, make it a unique branch of medicine. General practitioners provide primary care which is comprehensive in nature; they are committed to seeing patients presenting with any kind of query, symptom or problem. The care they provide is ongoing, providing the opportunity to gather a large amount of information about their patients, and to develop personal relationships over time. These features affect the nature of ethical issues presenting in general practice in a number of ways, and raise ethical dilemmas not present in secondary and tertiary medical care. This book provides an accessible account of ethics in general practice, addressing concerns identified by practitioners. It is based on examples from general practice, and uses a contents list developed through discussions with GPs, trainers and GP registrars. In this clear and well-written book, the authors dispel the common perception that ethical analysis is too abstract or esoteric to be useful in the real world of complex problems and difficult decisions. Readers will gain practical insights into how to identify and analyse the ethical issues they encounter on a daily basis. The book shows how moral concepts and arguments can provide a way forward, or clarify practical responses in everyday general practice.

Table of Contents:
Foreword ; Introduction ; 1. General Practice and ethics ; 2. Trust and the doctor-patient relationship ; 3. Confidentiality in general practice ; 4. Beneficence, or does the doctor know best? ; 5. Justice and resource allocation in general practice ; 6. Making decisions: patient autonomy in general practice ; 7. Ethical issues at the beginning of life ; 8. Ethical issues at the end of life ; 9. Role conflicts in general practice ; 10. On being a good doctor: virtues in general practice ; General reading and resources for medical ethics

Review :
This book is a welcome addition to the specialist field of ethics in general practice. It contributes much to a wide range of topics by providing thoughtful and insightful discussion. The authors demonstrate a sound understanding of the special relationship that primary care affords with patients, and the unique ethical dilemmas this can produce. They provide a real insight into how useful the discipline of ethics can be for practitioners specializing in this field. This book is engaging and extremely practical. It will be useful to all GPs who wish to reflect on the ethical domain of their practise. It will also be useful for junior doctors preparing for their exams, and will be very useful to those GPs involved in teaching. The case studies can be used to generate fruitful discussions, and the references and further reading at the end of each chapter will enable specific topics to be pursued. The choice of further reading is particularly thoughtful. Family Practice This book is a gem - a highly practical, commonsense introduction to the labyrinthine implications of working in a caring profession, where the health and wellbeing of patients is our paramount responsibility ... The book does not rely on jargon and theories, instead it draws upon common sense and moral obligation. I am sure my practice nurse colleagues will be borrowing my copy. Practice Nurse