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Journal of Clinical Nursing 2003; 12: 151–153Book reviews
Law and Ethics for Clinicians by Jacqulyn Kay Hall. 2002. Client Profiles in Nursing: Child Health by Ruth Sadik & Gill
Jackhal Books, Amarillo, USA. ISBN 188885 600 9. 394 pp. price: Campbell (eds). 2001. Greenwich Medical Media Ltd, London.
$34.95 plus $5 shipping (US). ISBN 184110-013-7. 256 pp. £16.95.
This is an interesting book that is easy to read and contains a wealth This book presents a series of 28 scenarios written for those involved
of logical and easily understood information on law and ethics. It is in the nursing care of infants, children and/or adolescents. It is
written in a uniquely informal style for such a serious topic. Most particularly targeted at preregistration students of nursing, health
books on clinical law and ethics present the material in the form of care support workers at National Vocational Qualification level
debates or thought experiments, so that the reader has to apply a three, and those who support the learning process. Fourteen authors
series of academic arguments to reality. In short, traditional text have contributed to the text, including four academics in child
could be accused of presenting more questions than answers. health, with the majority of contributors representing a range of
Jacqulyn Kay Hall, on the other hand, has written this book in a National Health Service facilities for children and their families in
chatty, straightforward conversational style. It is almost as if she is the South of England.
sitting on the edge of her desk talking to you, drawing upon her Each scenario is presented in a chapter of its own in an easy-to-
many years’ experience to answer your questions and give her read style that befits a study text such as this. All the scenarios
opinions. consist of a background summary of a child with a specific health
Although it originates from the USA, efforts have been made to need (for example, arising from head injury) followed by a series of
make the text relevant to international audiences. For example, questions for the reader to tackle. There is also a time allocation for
some points are illustrated by clinical examples from the UK. On readers to complete their answers to the questions, a reference list
the back of the book, in common with most textbooks, there are a and, in most cases, further reading and other information sources.
number of statements designed to give potential readers and/or The listed sources offer up-to-date evidence and research for
purchasers a flavour of the book’s content and how the various follow-up study. To complete each scenario, comprehensive an-
issues are dealt with. Some of these statements serve to identify the swers to the questions are provided and, where appropriate, the
differences between UK and US priorities in law and ethics, and answers are supported by tables and figures.
highlight the US preoccupation with defensive medicine. For The majority of scenarios tackle nursing issues within hospital
example, one statement advises potential readers to Ôuse this guide to settings and about specific aspects of care. There is detailed
find a shortcut past the courthouse every timeÕ. This is a major clinical information that will help readers to acquire a knowledge
theme in the first part of the book and one with which I take issue. of a range of health problems that confront children, and how the
On page 13 readers are assured that legal problems will not occur if latter react both physically and psychologically, depending on their
one practises ethically, as the law is the lowest level of behaviour. developmental maturity. They are not intended as complete case
Although, in the majority of cases, this may be true, I have difficulty studies or a complete range of possible health care problems, and
with this simple statement and would argue that it is possible to be so should not be used by students as a guide to meeting all the
legal but unethical and the reverse, illegal but ethical. Ethics does needs of children with the health problems outlined. For example,
not have the consistency of law, as the boundaries of ethical practice one of the scenarios relates to an infant with a cyanotic heart
are context and value dependent. There may be occasions when lesion, with a focus on resuscitation. Although some information is
legal behaviour protects the professional but is not in the client’s or provided about the infant’s background and family, the questions
society’s best interest. The rest of the book also challenges this about the case are devoted to related physiology, pathology,
statement, as major ethical theories are presented in a no-nonsense, pharmacology and physical care needs. There is no follow-up for
easily understood, pragmatic fashion to guide ethical professional other aspects of care that the infant/family in this case might
behaviour. As practitioners and citizens we should engage in need.
discussion and review, and challenge ethics and law. Ethical debate By focusing on specific aspects of care, however, the scenarios in
should inform and shape professional good practice and law. this text act as excellent study guides for students to learn about real
Busy clinicians may find this book useful as it clarifies and clinical issues such as resuscitation. They can serve as an important
simplifies many complex issues. Students of health care ethics may resource for both students and their educators to support the more
find it limited as a main text but may wish to consult it to demystify enquiry-led approaches to learning that are in use, such as problem-
the more esoteric literature. based learning. The scenarios can also be used as a starting point for
further learning about child health care needs, to explore other
BRIAN PATEMAN nursing-related issues that have not been included in the questions
Lecturer in Nursing, posed.
University of Manchester, This book will be especially useful for supporting beginning and
Manchester, UK early intermediate parts of undergraduate programmes in children’s
Ó 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 151
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