Advances in our understanding of the brain and rapid advances in the medical practice of neurology are creating questions and concerns from an ethical and legal perspective. "Ethical and Legal Issues in Neurology" provides a detailed review of various general aspects of neuroethics, and contains chapters dealing with a vast array of specific issues such as the role of religion, the ethics of invasive neuroscience research, and the impact of potential misconduct in neurologic practice. The book focuses particular attention on problems related to palliative care, euthanasia, dementia, and neurogenetic disorders, and concludes with examinations of consciousness, personal identity, and the definition of death.

This volume focuses on practices not only in North America but also in Europe and the developing world. It is a useful resource for all neuroscience and neurology professionals, researchers, students, scholars, practicing clinical neurologists, mental health professionals, and psychiatrists.
A comprehensive introduction and reference on neuroethicsIncludes coverage of how best to understand the ethics and legal aspects of dementia, palliative care, euthanasia and neurogenetic disordersBrings clarity to issues regarding ethics and legal responsibilities in the age of rapidly evolving brain science and related clinical practice

Patients with degenerative neurological disorders are among the most handicapped patients in medicine. Many of these diseases are incurable. Expert palliative care is the duty of every neurologist: however, to date, this has not been a standard feature of neurological practice or training. This book helps define a new field, namely palliative care in neurology. It brings together all necessary information for neurologists caring for a patient with advance disease. Palliative care is an approach to the management of patients with life-threatening illness that attempts to enhance comfort, relieve psychosocial and spiritual distress, assure respect for decision making, provide support for the family, and prepare the patient and family for the end of life. This unique book covers each of the many dimensions of palliative care as they relate to patients with advanced neurological disorders. Basic principles of palliative care and specific ethical issues (such as euthanasia, food and hydration and advance directives) are covered. The needs of populations with specific neurological disorders are described and the management of symptoms that are common to all is explored in detail. Each chapter introduces its topic using a case report which may be used directly for teaching purposes. The authors have put together an invaluable resource, which lays the foundation for further research in the field.

Despite the best efforts of medical ethicists over the past quarter century, the ethical challenges surrounding dying and death in the clinical setting remain largely unresolved, and little sustained attention has been paid to how thinking about death relates to and affects clinical practice. The reality is that people die, and that dying patients are not people for whom nothing can be done. Death in the Clinic provides medical students, residents, and educators a framework within which to explore and address this reality, while existential and philosophical questions about death will recommend the book to chaplains, social workers, palliative care clinicians, nurses, and clinical ethicists. Death in the Clinic fills a gap in contemporary medical education by explicitly addressing the concrete clinical realities about death with which practitioners, patients, and their families continue to wrestle.

Despite the best efforts of medical ethicists over the past quarter century, the ethical challenges surrounding dying and death in the clinical setting remain largely unresolved, and little sustained attention has been paid to how thinking about death relates to and affects clinical practice. The reality is that people die, and that dying patients are not people for whom nothing can be done. Death in the Clinic provides medical students, residents, and educators a framework within which to explore and address this reality, while existential and philosophical questions about death will recommend the book to chaplains, social workers, palliative care clinicians, nurses, and clinical ethicists. Death in the Clinic fills a gap in contemporary medical education by explicitly addressing the concrete clinical realities about death with which practitioners, patients, and their families continue to wrestle.