The book explores the notion of a treatment, practice, or procedure being proper medical treatment, and considers the diverse factors which might influence the acceptance of a particular procedure as appropriate in the medical context.

1. Introduction, Sara Fovargue and Alexandra Mullock 2. Transforming wrong into right: What is "proper medical treatment"?, Margaret Brazier and Sara Fovargue 3. What do we mean by "proper" medical treatment?, Lucy Frith 4. Papist potions and electric sex: A historical perspective on "proper medical treatment", Barry Lyons 5. Moralising medicine: "Proper medical treatment" and the role of ethics and law in medical decision-making, José Miola 6. Family perspectives on proper medical treatment for people in prolonged vegetative and minimally conscious states, Celia Kitzinger and Jenny Kitzinger 7. The medical exception and cosmetic surgery: Culpable doctors and harmful enhancement?, Danielle Griffiths and Alexandra Mullock 8. Locating lawful abortion on the spectrum of "proper medical treatment", Mary Neal 9. Death on demand: Proper medical treatment?, Richard Huxtable 10. Doctors orders? Analysing appropriate medical treatment in mental health law, Judy Laing 11. The economics of "proper medical treatment", Cam Donaldson, Rachel Baker and Neil McHugh 12. Rationing, resource allocation, and appropriate medical treatment, Keith Syrett 13. Comments and reflections on "proper medical treatment": A case for coherent inconsistency, John Coggon

Sara Fovargue is Reader in Law, at Lancester University, and Co-Director of the Lancaster Centre for Bioethics and Medical Law.

Alexandra Mullock is a Lecturer in Medical Law at the University of Manchester, and a member of the Centre for Social Ethics and Policy at the University.