Book excerpt: Understanding the legal and ethical rights of any patient in their care is essential to good clinical practice. Patients' Rights, Law and Ethics for Nurses: A Practical Guide is a comprehensive pocket-size book for nurses, midwives and allied health professionals that integrates health care law and ethics in relation to patient rights and in the context of every day nursing and allied health practice Accessible yet challenging, the book examines confidentiality, informed consent, cases of abuse, the rights of the disabled, and end of life decisions. Pertinent quotes enliven the text throughout, while thinking points encourage reflection. Each chapter provides easy-to-follow guidance to this complex area. A companion website provides regular updates in an areas where legislation is constantly changing. Focusing on principles of law and including clear outlines of the essential legal precedent, the author lays a solid foundation that will serve readers requiring an introduction to law, ethics, and the rights of the patient throughout their training and beyond.