I first learned about the Very Short Introduction series a few months ago through a piece of freelance work. They are small, attractive volumes of between 100 and 150 pages, aiming to offer "a stimulating and accessible way into a new subject". Many are written by academics but are aimed at an intelligent general reader, assuming no previous knowledge. According to the cover blurb, Charles Foster is a practising barrister with London chambers, and also has an academic background. He has written, edited or contributed to over 35 books – I assumed these would all be law textbooks but they cover a range of subjects – lots of travel writing as well as law.

This Very Short Introduction is not intended as a textbook though, so while Foster discusses some of the issues and provides examples of the cases which have determined and changed medical law, it is also quite a lively, entertaining read, with quite a bit of humour and plenty of the author’s own opinion thrown in.
The issues discussed include abortion rights, birth, life, death, negligence, consent and confidentiality.

There are a few illustrations, a list of legal cases discussed, an index and 4 pages of suggested further reading.

This was a useful and lively introduction to medical law. ( )