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Introduction to ethical and legal issues

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This tutorial reviews the main ethical and legal problems faced by a working obstetrician or gynaecologist in relation to consent, confidentiality, patients under 16 years of age and vulnerable adults. Various topics relating to medical certification will be addressed and we will also touch on how medical negligence is handled in the various parts of the UK.

Learning objectives

When you have completed this tutorial you will:

  • understand the principles and legal issues surrounding informed consent
  • be able to seek valid consent from patients and know how to deal with under 16s and vulnerable adults
  • be aware of the importance of maintaining confidentiality and when it can be broken
  • understand the issues of the Sexual Offences Act (and its equivalent in Scotland) and know when to involve social services and the police
  • be able to complete a death certificate and know when to refer to the coroner or the procurator fiscal
  • understand the abortion certificates for England and Scotland and the legal issues affecting inidividuals who will not participate in abortion services for moral and religious reasons
  • understand the importance of the NHS insurance criteria in all the different countries in the UK
  • understand the four principle approaches to medical ethics

Last updated: 10/06/10 (tutoral was revised and updated by Mr A A Hollingworth)

17/07/08 (information added on consent, based on new guidelines).

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