Second Opinion : Doctors, Diseases And Decisions In Modern Medicine

Richard Horton, for many years editor of The Lancet, examines the history of the relationship between doctor and patient, from ancient times to present day.

The essays cover subjects including: the impact of modern warfare on health services; the debate over euthanasia; controversies over HIV and Aids; the human genome project; and the debate over the gay gene.

Horton's introduction explores the significance of the Hippocratic oath, with particular reference to the Harold Shipman murders.