Mason’s Forensic Medicine is an introductory guide to forensic medicine for legal practitioners. It is also designed to guide medical experts through the various UK legal and court systems, dealing with definitions of offences, the investigation of sudden deaths and key duties of the expert who gives evidence in court.

This is the leading work on forensic medicine and the law in the UK. Written by a team of leading legal practitioners, pathologists and other experts, this Seventh Edition has been fully revised to bring it up to date with the latest legal, medical and scientific developments. It is the only book directed at both the legal practitioner and the expert medical witness. It provides unique commentary on the law in all three UK jurisdictions: England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. It guides experts on their role and duties to the courts and highlights areas of current scientific and legal controversy with additional reference sources. In addition to two new chapters on forensic psychiatry and forensic science, the Seventh Edition includes updates and new material on: - Introduction to medicine, the systems of the body and autopsy procedure - Forensic medicine covering assaults, firearms, head injuries, road traffic collisions, falls, asphyxia, drowning, hypothermia, and heat and electricity - Sexual offences, deaths in detention, forensic odontology and toxicology - Guidance for the expert medical witness on giving evidence in the UK courts, covering the UK’s criminal justice systems, coroners’ courts and fatal accident inquiries This title is included in Bloomsbury Professional's Personal Injury Law online service.

"When originally published the book was groundbreaking. It … has remained the pre-eminent forensic medicine textbook for generations of lawyers. This latest edition maintains the high standards of clarity and insight … As updated, it simply cannot be bettered as a rich source of invaluable guidance for lawyers in the sometimes complex area of forensic medicine." - Journal of the Law Society of Scotland

"Mason's Forensic Medicine for Lawyers remains a most valuable addition to the practitioner's law library, whether for a criminal trial; or for a civil personal injury claim..." - The Criminal Lawyer

"...a welcome, and welcoming, guide to medicine and medical issues presented by the interaction between law and what is a daunting and complex topic...The book navigates practitioners through complex issues with reference to clearly drawn diagrams and simple explanations, seemingly neither patronising nor inappropriately assuming knowledge...packs a lot in for a relatively modest price. It is a useful addition to every chambers or firm." - UK Criminal Law Blog