title: English law for the surgeon I: consent, capacity and competence.
abstract: Traditionally, in the United Kingdom and Europe the surgeon was generally not troubled by litigation from patients presenting as elective as well as emergency cases, but this aspect of custom has changed. Litigation by patients now significantly affects surgical practice and vicarious liability often affects hospitals. We discuss some fundamental legal definitions, a must to know for a surgeon, and highlight some interesting cases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust, Leeds, UK. waseem_wk1@yahoo.co.uk
authors.forename: Waseem
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jerjes
authors.forename: Jaspal
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mahil
authors.forename: Tahwinder
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Upile
mesh_terms: D005060:Europe; D013502:General Surgery / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D007258:Informed Consent / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D008318:Malpractice / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D010820:Physicians / Q000941:ethics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006113:United Kingdom