This overview of medical law and ethics is written in straightforward language for non-lawyer healthcare professionals who must be able to cope with multiple legal and ethical issues they encounter while working in a variety of settings--e.g., the medical office, hospitals, clinics, and skilled nursing facilities. It is designed to help them better understand their ethical obligation to themselves, their patients, and their employer. New to this edition Changes in Contract Law; Hiring Practices such as personnel policy manual, interview process, legal implications, sexual harassment, discrimination issues relating to selecting employees, incompetent and dishonest colleagues; Expanded coverage of Privacy Law and confidentiality - to cover more on confidentiality, HIPAA and other laws affecting the disclosure of personal information; Expanded coverage of Consent - to include more about informed and uninformed consent, problems when implementing consent, the right to refuse treatment.