The reorganization of general practice and the NHS mean that GPs now face many new and distinctive ethical dilemmas in their practice. With pressure on resources and an increasing concern to evaluate the outcomes of health care, GPs have additional responsibilities that could conflict with the primary objective of caring for the individual patient. This work explores the ethical issues that are encountered by GPs in their everyday practice, addressing two central themes: the uncertainty of outcomes and effectiveness in general practice; and the changing pattern of general practitioners'...

Is there an epidemic of depression sweeping the world, or are we radically altering our interpretation of normal human experiences? Do we need a dose of medication or a renewed sense of meaning? In this second edition of Beyond Depression, Christopher Dowrick--an academic and general practitioner--takes a critical insider's look at commonly held views about the diagnosis and managmenet of depression. He argues that our belief in depression as a medical condition is based on commercial, professional, organizational, and cultural factors which combine to sustain the popularity of depression as...