The Law and Liability

This book is designed to provide nurses with an introduction to legal issues they are likely to encounter on the job. Using the case-study method, it outlines the legal principles surrounding a range of issues and provides case histories to illustrate how the law has been applied. The approach clarifies general legal principles while showing how specific facts involving each case determine their application. A broad range of topics is covered, including criminal actions, contracts, and wills. Particular attention is paid to the current and pressing issue of malpractice. This edition offers a balanced treatment of cases involving nurses from every state, and includes dozens of new cases involving issues of law previously addressed as well as newly evolving ethical questions and issues such as AIDS, the living will, and termination of treatment. Also included is a new chapter addressing nurses by speciality.