ABOUT MEDICINE & LAW

This chapter describes the work of specialists who have gained qualifications in both medicine and law. The medico-legal area of specialty has arisen because of the increasing impact of the legal framework in health on the day-to-day clinical activities of doctors, reflected in particular in the trend towards increased accountability. Employment in the medico-legal field may take various forms, such as acting as a legal advisor for a medical defence organisation, the Health and Disability Commissioner or ACC; acting as a risk manager for a District Health Board; acting as a coroner; or practising as an independent barrister.