Download the 2016 awards ceremony programme

BMA Medical Book
Awards 2016
Programme and Awards Winners
Wednesday 7 September 2016
BMA House, London
British Medical Association
bma.org.uk
Programme and Award Winners
1
BMA president Professor Pali Hungin
Education and career
Born and brought up in Kenya, Pali Hungin graduated from Newcastle upon Tyne Medical School and
undertook general practice training in NE England and at the University of Western Ontario, Canada.
He became a GP in Eaglescliffe, Stockton on Tees, whilst maintaining a specialist interest in gastroenterology
as a Hospital Practitioner. He came to academic life relatively late completing his MD, on dyspepsia, in
1995 and was appointed Professor of General Practice and Primary Care at Durham University in 1998.
He became their Foundation Dean of Medicine and the Head of School in 2002, building a department that
encompassed undergraduate medicine, pharmacy, the medical humanities, and health policy and health
services research.
Research and positions
Pali was responsible for initiating the research support networking movement in the UK, initially in primary
care, and led the NHS Research and Development Forum (England) to 2006 following in the footsteps of the
BMA’s outgoing President, Sir Al Aynsley-Green. His research interests are centred on the earlier diagnosis of
long term conditions and barriers to evidence-based implementation.
He has over 150 peer reviewed publications and has served in a number of privileged positions such as
with the Italian Medicines Agency, the Central Research Ethics Advisory Group of Unilever plc, the NIHR,
MHRA and the Scientific Board and Council of the United European Gastroenterology Federation. He was a
founding member of the UK and European Primary Care Societies for Gastroenterology and is a trustee and
the treasurer of the Royal Medical Benevolent Fund.
Awards
Pali, an early recipient of the Royal College of General Practitioners’ Research Fellowship, has been
recognized with several awards including the North American Primary Care Research Group Practitioner
Award and the John Fry and Pickles medals of the College. In 2000 he was made OBE for services to research
and in 2008 DL for County Durham.
2
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Programme and Award Winners
3
Welcome and introduction of the Guest of Honour
BMA council chair Dr Mark Porter
Presentation of Awards
Announced by
BMA librarian Miss Jacky Berry
Presented by
BMA president Professor Pali Hungin
Presentation of the category awards for the Book Awards
Presentation of the BMA Medical Book Awards special prizes
BMA Illustrated Book Award
BMA Student Textbook Award
BMA Young Author’s Award
BMA President’s Choice Award
Presentation of the BMA Medical Book Reviewer of the Year Award
Presentation of the BMA Medical Book of the Year Award
Address by
BMA president Professor Pali Hungin
Closing address
BMA treasurer Dr Andrew Dearden
The ceremony will be followed by a buffet reception in the Lutyens Suite on the ground floor.
4
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Anaesthesia – the winner of this category will be
announced from this shortlist
Basic Physiology for Anaesthetists.
Anesthesia for Congenital Heart Disease 3rd ed.
David Chambers, Christopher Huang and Gareth
Matthews – Cambridge University Press, 2016
ISBN: 9781107637825 £45
Dean B Andropoulos, Stephen A Stayer, Emad
B Mossad and Wanda C Miller Hance – WileyBlackwell, 2015 ISBN: 9781118768259 £167
Trainees in anaesthesia
Anaesthetists and cardiologists specialising in
paediatric patients
The recognised gold-standard reference in this
field, offers a major update and expansion of the
textbook to reflect the development of the practice
of paediatric and congenital cardiac anaesthesia
and the burgeoning knowledge base in this exciting
field. This edition includes two new chapters
addressing important areas; anaesthetic and
sedative neurotoxicity in the patient with congenital
heart disease, and anaesthesia in the patient with
pulmonary hypertension. Now in full colour, with
over 200 illustrations and photographs and includes
multiple-choice questions for each chapter covering
the most crucial learning points to optimise the
learning experience for readers at all levels.
“I believe this a comprehensive textbook that
would be valuable to anyone with an interest
in anaesthetics in CHD. It spans patients of all
ages and is therefore relevant to both adult and
paediatric practitioners. It is an excellent thorough
textbook detailing the background, complexities and
interventional management of all the congenital
lesions. In particular I enjoyed the historical
background. I think it will encourage the reader to
develop perioperative care plans with thought. It
emphasises the importance of the multidisciplinary
team. It also discusses training processes to include
mentorship and role models. Useful information
is supplied on curriculum and useful societies,
cardiovascular embryology, nomenclature in CHD
and sequential segmental analysis. Myocardial
signalling are comprehensively covered.
Occasionally, important nuggets of information are
buried in the text and may benefit from relocating
to a different part of the text, or highlighted in
a text box. However, overall this is an excellent
textbook for reference that I would recommend.
The section about anaesthetic agents and inotropic
considerations are very informative. Tabulated
format enables easy reading.”
Physiology comprises one third of the knowledge
required for the basic science exams taken by
every anaesthesia trainee in Europe, North America
and Australasia. Whilst a thorough grounding
is acquired in medical school, its application to
clinical practice can be challenging. This book is a
highly illustrated manual, providing the information
trainees need to practice with confidence and
pass their exams. This comprehensively illustrated
textbook bridges the gap between medical
school and reference scientific texts. It covers
the physiology requirements of the Primary FRCA
examination syllabus. Chapters are organised by
organ system, with particular emphasis given to the
respiratory, cardiovascular and nervous systems.
The practical question-and-answer format helps
the reader prepare for the oral examination, while
‘clinical relevance’ boxes translate the physiological
concepts to clinical practice. The authors include
two medical physiologists and a specialty registrar
in anaesthesia, and thereby bring a unique blend of
expertise. This ensures that the book is up-to-date,
accessible, and pitched appropriately for the trainee
anaesthetist. Packed with easily understood, up-todate and clinically relevant material, this convenient
volume provides an essential ‘one-stop’ resource in
physiology for junior anaesthetists.
“I am going to use this for the next lot of candidates
of the exam. I will be using it for Viva Voce practice
with them. I think it is an excellent text for what
it purports to be. This is a good book presenting
basic science clearly and constructively for junior
anaesthetists preparing for specialty examinations
(FRCA). It is unashamedly basic in its presentation
and it needs to be in order to get fundamental
principles across to the reader so that they can be
understood and reproduced and applied in both
clinical and examination arenas.”
Programme and Award Winners
5
Oxford Handbook of Anaesthesia 4th ed.
Keith Allman, Iain Wilson and Aidan O’Donnell
– Oxford University Press, 2015 ISBN:
9780198719410 £34.99
Junior and consultant anaesthetists, registrars in
anaesthesia, critical care and pain management and
those sitting the FRCA examinations
Written by experts in the field, this is a pocket
guide to anaesthesia. It provides rapid access
to up-to-date, practical advice on a range of
surgical situations. It covers everything from
preoperative issues affecting the administration of
anaesthesia, to the impact of medical disease on
anaesthesia, and practical anaesthetic techniques.
There are separate sections on paediatric and
obstetric anaesthesia, emergencies, information
on uncommon conditions and also an extensive
drug formulary.
“I would not recommend this as a first anaesthesia
book to a novice–it is too detailed and they
would probably not know where to start and
might feel overwhelmed by it. I would, however,
definitely recommend it as a reference text to any
anaesthetist who has completed their initial test of
anaesthetic competency. This is a great reference
text with succinct information that can give you
a very good overview of a topic in a very short
space of time. It covers a huge range of topics but
offers concise information that doesn’t take too
long to read. Excellent emergencies section which
again doesn’t have too much information and also
includes very practical information. This is a great
reference text with succinct information that can
give you a very good overview of a topic in a very
short space of time.”
Paediatric Anaesthetic Emergency Data Manual
James Armstrong and Hannah King – Cambridge
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781107429338 £38
Trainee anaesthetists and non-specialist
anaesthetists who come into contact with paediatric
patients; trainees in intensive care and emergency
medicine
Based on a handbook written for anaesthetic
trainees at Nottingham University Hospitals,
Paediatric Anaesthetic Emergency Data Manual is
intended as an easily accessible quick reference
to national and international guidelines for
management of paediatric emergencies.
This compact book contains colour coded sections
of checklists and flow charts for the immediate
management of a wide range of paediatric
situations including resuscitation, trauma,
anaesthetic and medical emergencies. The ‘age-bypage’ section consists of tables of commonly used
anaesthetic and resuscitation drugs, pre-calculated
for a specific weight within the WHO weight
range, for that specific age. Each page includes
medication doses, airway equipment including
size of endotracheal tubes, laryngeal masks and
airway adjuncts, resuscitation fluids including blood
products and mannitol and stabilisation infusions
such as sedatives and inotropes for management of
the patient. In addition to the emergency guideline
sections, the anaesthetic management of 50
common syndromes and congenital conditions
are included and the drug formulary provides
a convenient reference section of doses and
indications of common paediatric medications.
“I think for junior anaesthetists starting out and
during on-calls it is a very useful quick reference
guide, which is very transportable and easy to
use. Its strengths are its use as a quick reference
guide and colour coordination as well as the
inclusion of algorithms and normal physiological
ranges/weights etc.”
Physical Diagnosis of Pain: An Atlas of Signs and
Symptoms 3rd ed.
Steven D Waldman – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9780323377485 £122
Pain medicine physicians in practice and in training
Still the only atlas available devoted to the physical
diagnosis of pain, this highly practical guide mirrors
the clinician’s approach to pain evaluation: focusing
on ‘what is it’ rather than ‘where is it.’ Through
concise text, high-quality illustrations, and real-time
videos, internationally recognised pain expert Dr
Steven Waldman provides clear, how-to methods
for evaluating and diagnosing more than 240 painrelated conditions through their physical signs.
Comprehensive and lavishly illustrated, this essential
atlas is a must-have resource for all practitioners
and trainees that encounter patients with pain.
“This is a useful addition to enable practitioners to
learn techniques to differentiate causes of pain,
and is relevant for both novices and experienced
practitioners. This book provides clear accurate
guidance for examination techniques to identify
causes of pain. It is clear in its remit and provides
up-to-date information on the topics. This is done
with clarity of text and of use of photographs and
access to video information. It is accessible from
the web and also on mobile devices, so can easily
be accessed in practice. It does not stray from its
remit, so does not provide guidance on mechanisms
to treat pain, but that is not within the remit so it’s
not a problem. It is a useful addition to the literature
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
in this area. This is an excellent atlas, which delivers
on its objectives. It fills a niche in the market,
and is suitable for both novice and experienced
practitioners. It has clarity both in text and in use of
illustrations and digital resources.”
Basic and clinical sciences – the winner of
this category will be announced from this
shortlist
Principles of Critical Care 4th ed.
Jesse B Hall, Gregory A Schmidt and John
P Kress – McGraw-Hill Education, 2015
ISBN: 9780071738811 £195.99
Critical care medicine, pulmonary medicine,
internal medicine, anaesthesiologists, surgeons and
hospitalists
The book contains a comprehensive, authoritative
discussion of every aspect of critical care medicine
essential to successful clinical practice, ranging
from basic principles to the latest technologies. The
fourth edition has been completely updated and
revised to reflect recent advances in technology
including a new chapter on the use of ultrasound
in critical care. This edition is also enhanced by the
addition of more than 600 figures and an increased
number of diagnostic and treatment algorithms
appearing in clinical chapters. New clinical chapters
include Pulmonary Hypertension and Alcohol
Withdrawal. Considered the field’s definitive
text, Principles of Critical Care offers unmatched
coverage of the diagnosis and treatment of the
most common problems encountered in the
practice of critical care. Written by expert critical
care physicians who are also experienced teachers,
the book features an organisation, thoroughness,
and clarity not found in any other reference on the
topic.
“A comprehensive textbook on critical care in an
updated edition. Despite multiple authorship it is
highly readable. The presentation is of quality and
very reader-friendly. A good compromise between
size, weight and size of print has been reached.
Good chapters on non-technical aspects have been
included.”
Atlas of the Human Brain 4th ed.
Jürgen K Mai, Milan Majtanik and George
Paxinos – Elsevier/Academic Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780128028001 £131.75
Advanced students and basic researchers in
neuroscience, neurology, radiology, neurosurgery,
anatomy, psychology and psychiatry
The fourth edition of Atlas of the Human Brain
presents the anatomy of the brain at macroscopic
and microscopic levels, featuring different aspects
of brain morphology and topography. This greatly
enlarged new edition provides the most detailed and
accurate delineations of brain structure available.
It includes features which assist in the new fields
of neuroscience – functional imaging, resting state
imaging and tractography. Atlas of the Human Brain
aims to be an essential guide to those working with
human brain imaging or attempting to relate their
observations on experimental animals to humans.
Totally new in this edition is the inclusion of Nissl
plates with delineation of cortical areas (Brodmann’s
areas), the first time that these areas have been
presented in serial histological sections. The
contents of the atlas has been extensively expanded
from 143 pages, showing 69 levels through the
hemisphere, to 314 pages representing 99 levels.
In addition to the fibre-stained (myelin) plates, the
authors now provide fifty new (Nissl) plates covering
cytoarchitecture. These are interdigitated within
the existing myelin plates of the stereotaxic atlas.
The number of diagrams has increased to 99 – they
were generated from the 3D reconstruction of
the hemisphere registered to the MNI-stereotaxic
space. They can be used for immediate comparison
between our atlas and experimental and clinical
imaging results.
“This is a well-presented atlas with beautiful
illustrations which will appeal to its intended
readership. It is a comprehensive and very wellillustrated macroscopic and microscopic atlas of
human brain.”
The BMA’s ethics department
provides a wide range of dedicated
services and products designed
to support doctors in their
professional lives.
The BMA’s ethics and human rights
department provides a wide range
of dedicated services and products
designed to support doctors in their
professional lives. These include the
following.
Ethics advice service
We offer a dedicated individual
ethical advice service for doctors,
responding via the BMA’s telephone
advice service (First Point of Contact)
or directly. We receive enquiries on
a wide and varied range of topics,
including confidentiality, consent,
child protection and the provision
of treatment to patients lacking
the capacity to consent to specific
interventions.
Publishing advice and guidance
The advice service is supported by
written advice and guidance covering
all areas of ethics in medicine. In
addition to our main ethics handbook,
Medical Ethics Today, we produce a
number of short tool kits on specific
issues such as the Mental Capacity
Act and consent. All of our website
resources are publicly accessible.
Providing training
We also seek to promote good practice
by giving talks and training sessions
to groups of doctors and medical
students. The topic and format of
these sessions depend on the needs
of the audience and the wishes of
the organisers but most are on core
topics, such as confidentiality, mental
capacity and consent and many involve
facilitated case-based discussions.
Monitoring and influencing
medical law
In order to provide accurate and
up-to-date advice to doctors, we
monitor developments in medical law,
both statute and case (judge-made)
law across the UK. We also seek to
influence the development of statutory
law to ensure it reflects the highest
standards of medical professionalism.
Campaigning for changes in public
policy
We seek to influence public policy,
through a combination of published
reports, talks, lobbying, media work and
liaison with other organisations.
Human rights
We defend and speak out about human
rights. We conduct letter-writing
campaigns in response to evidence of
abuses of health-related human rights
such as breaches of medical neutrality.
We respond to cases where doctors
are involved, whether as perpetrators
or victims of human rights abuses.
We participate in the World Medical
Association and in the drafting of WMA
statements relevant to human rights,
and produce reports addressing healthrelated human rights.
8
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Basic Sciences for Core Medical Training and
the MRCP
Genetics of Psychological Wellbeing: The Role of
Heritability and Genetics in Positive Psychology
Neil Herring and Robert Wilkins – Oxford
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780199599677
£37.99
Michael Pluess – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780199686674 £34.99
Candidates preparing for the MRCP Part 1
examination
Specifically aimed at candidates preparing for
the MRCP, this book provides a clear explanation
of the relevant medical science behind the
individual medical specialties. Topics include
genetics, cellular, molecular and membrane
biology, and biochemistry. Important tables of
differential diagnosis and pharmacology reinforce
understanding of how basic science aids clinical
practice. 10 multiple choice questions at the end of
each chapter help candidates to test themselves.
This book aims to help exam candidates thoroughly
prepare for the MRCP through effective revision,
learning, and self-assessment. It does this through
being directly linked to the exam and after the same
systems-based approach as the syllabus. Content is
presented in an illustrated and easy-to-read format,
ensuring that the basic science for each medical
specialty is more approachable and accessible.
Multiple choice questions help candidates
consolidate learning and test themselves. Coverage
of common examination errors and areas of
misunderstanding help candidates avoid common
pitfalls. While other textbooks on this subject are
available for purchase, our title is more user-friendly
and accessible. Other textbooks are often arranged
around the basic medical sciences rather than
around the clinical specialties themselves, which is
more helpful for exam candidates. In addition, our
title is specifically targeted at concepts and topics
that are frequently examined in the MRCP and
contains multiple choice questions.
“I think the strength of this book is bringing all this
information into one volume specifically targeted
at revising for the MRCP part 1. The text content
appears to be up-to-date with current guidelines in
each specialty. This is a useful text for a very specific
group of medics and I would recommend it as
revision notes to someone sitting MRCP part 1.”
Students and researchers in neuroscience and
psychology
This landmark book summarises the state of
knowledge regarding heritability and molecular
genetics in positive psychology. It aims to bring
together research from two disciplines, typically
miles apart – positive psychology and genetics. The
first book to investigate the genetics factors that
influence wellbeing. No other book has brought
this research together: it provides a state of the art
summary of the field.
“This book provides a comprehensive explanation
of the complex field and definitions of psychological
wellbeing which have been a challenge to study the
genetics of and how this may progress in the future.
It starts by looking at the different components of
psychological wellbeing and a clear explanation
of basic genetics techniques. It then reviews the
evidence for heritability of various components of
psychological wellbeing and moves on to the more
challenging molecular genetics. It acknowledges
that there are a lot of questions left and a lot more
work to be done – this is a difficult field. As such
it has been a mammoth task to try to review an
enormous number of quite distinct studies with very
variable methodology so to bring this all together
should be praised. This book will be an incredibly
useful resource to those in the field to see what has
been done and where gaps and opportunities lie.”
Gray’s Anatomy: The Anatomical Basis of
Clinical Practice 41st ed.
Susan Standring – Elsevier Ltd, 2015
ISBN: 9780702052309 £149.99
All clinicians who require an accurate, in-depth
knowledge of anatomy – in particular surgeons
in all specialties, anaesthesiologists, radiologists,
dentists, physical therapists, anatomists
neuroanatomists, neurobiologists, radiographers,
podiatrists, chiropodists, embryologists, histologists.
Also physiologists, occupational therapists and
chiropractics
In 1858, Drs Henry Gray and Henry Vandyke Carter
created a book for their surgical colleagues that
established an enduring standard among anatomical
texts. After more than 150 years of continuous
publication, Gray’s Anatomy remains the definitive,
comprehensive reference on the subject, offering
ready access to the information clinicians need to
Programme and Award Winners
9
ensure safe, effective practice. This 41st edition has
been meticulously revised and updated throughout,
reflecting the very latest understanding of clinical
anatomy from field leaders around the world. The
book’s traditional lavish art programme and clear
text has been further honed and enhanced, while
major advances in imaging techniques and the
new insights they bring are fully captured in new
state of the art X-ray, CT, MR and ultrasonic images.
The completely reconfigured accompanying
eBook version is richly enhanced with additional
content and media, covering all the body regions,
cell biology and embryogenesis. This unlocks a
whole new level of related information, interactivity
and understanding, in keeping with the spirit of
innovation that has characterised Gray’s Anatomy
since its inception. No other publication offers such
comprehensive and trusted coverage of human
anatomy, as it relates to modern clinical practice.
Each chapter has been crafted by experts in their
field, ensuring access to the very latest evidencebased information on that topic.
“This book is an ideal reference text to either learn
from or to go to for deep understanding. Clearly, it
tries to cover a big field from development to gross
anatomy, imaging and molecular concepts but does
this remarkably well. If there is a weakness, it is the
sheer size and weight of the book and inevitably
its cost will deter some. However, this must not
prevent consultation. The text is, as in the past, an
exceptional reference book meeting the needs of
a student to a practitioner, whether medical, parahealth or in other disciplines. I feel it cannot be
bettered as such but one should also be aware of
sheer size of the product, which weighs a great deal!
However, the editor in chief has recognised this and
has allowed the construction of an ebook which
supplements the paper text, with clear signage in
the text to guide the reader to further data.”
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology
13th ed.
John E Hall – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9781455770052 £83
The market for medical physiology texts is large and
varied. In addition to medical school courses, these
textbooks also sell to undergraduate and graduate
level physiology courses with a human disease
approach, as well as to a variety of allied health
professional courses (dental, pharmacy, etc). Clinical
professionals looking for a physiology refresher/
reference
The 13th edition of Guyton and Hall Textbook of
Medical Physiology continues this bestselling title’s
long tradition as the world’s foremost medical
physiology textbook. Unlike other textbooks on
this topic, this clear and comprehensive guide
has a consistent, single-author voice and focuses
on the content most relevant to clinical and
pre-clinical students. The detailed but lucid text
is complemented by didactic illustrations that
summarise important concepts in physiology and
pathophysiology. Rapidly increasing knowledge
of physiology continues to unravel new mysteries
of body functions. Advances in molecular and
cellular physiology have made it possible to explain
many physiology principles in the terminology
of molecular and physical sciences rather than
in merely a series of separate and unexplained
biological phenomena. The Textbook of Medical
Physiology, however, is not a reference book
that attempts to provide a compendium of the
most recent advances in physiology. This is a
book that continues the tradition of being written
for students. It focuses on the basic principles
of physiology needed to begin a career in the
healthcare professions, such as medicine, dentistry
and nursing, as well as graduate studies in the
biological and health sciences. It should also be
useful to physicians and healthcare professionals
who wish to review the basic principles needed
for understanding the pathophysiology of human
disease.
“This textbook contains a vast amount of
information covering all aspects of human
physiology. Thus, for healthcare professionals
wishing to increase and develop their knowledge
base as to how the body works, this textbook
would be highly recommended. This might include
clinicians wishing to specialise in different aspects
of the subject, nurses aiming to work in dedicated
areas such as in intensive care units as well as other
ancillary staff working with patients who extend
their knowledge. It is also clear that for science
students undertaking Masters or PhD degrees by
research, information contained in this book would
be a resource of basic knowledge from which to
begin their projects. The strengths of the 13th
Edition are that the latest concepts and ideas
current in different areas have been incorporated
into the textbook. This theme is reinforced by
the updating of the reference sections which
give the reader access to the latest reviews on a
particular subject. A further important strength is
that the text is clearly written with ideas expressed
in a relatively simple and straightforward fashion.
Diagrams are comprehensively used and these
are clearly and accurately drawn to allow easier
insight into the mechanisms being explained. There
are a few weaknesses that can be identified. The
students would gain benefit from the inclusion of
a more extensive set of questions at tests which
would give them guidance as to whether they were
understanding the principles being discussed and
considered. In a similar vein, the digital material
could also be developed to greater effect although
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
this might be considered only an adjunct to the
main text. However, developing a more extensive
range of video materials and an increased number
of multiple-choice questionnaires would enhance
the learning experience afforded to the students.
Previous editions of this text book have ensured that
Guyton and Hall’s Textbook of Medical Physiology
is a premier and recommended text throughout
the world. This latest edition, the 13th, continues
the tradition of excellence in terms of providing an
up-to-date description of physiological processes
allowing access to knowledge and understanding
not only to undergraduate medical students but
also to those clinicians who wish to extend their
appreciation of basic physiology. Moreover, the
book offers insight into pathophysiological states
and gives a direction and pathway as to how
diseases may develop and progress. As with any
textbook, there may be greater detail and emphasis
in some areas compared with others, but overall this
edition stands out against other comparable texts
now available.”
“The basic sciences are presented well with tables,
pictures and detailed test, but in addition it has
excellent clinical advice and the additional boxes
which highlighted areas such as a reflection on living
with a child with a genetic disorder are insightful and
very clever. As well as keeping students interested
with the basic principles behind medical genetics, it
also has higher level learning such as lessons learnt
with clinical commentary and boxes with stories
such as bringing up a child with a genetic disease
and the limitations of commercial testing among
others. A really satisfying read. This fifth edition has
made good use of modern technology and is now
also supplied with an ebook version. It is original
in providing stories among the text that are very
engaging, and it is good to know how the theory
applies to real life. This book is fantastic. The basic
theories are well-written and illustrated, but it is the
clinical parts that are outstanding, even including
pieces written as patients.”
Neuroscience: Exploring the Brain 4th ed.
Medical Genetics 5th ed.
Lynn B Jorde, John C Carey and Michael J
Bamshad – Elsevier, 2015 ISBN: 9780323188357
£49
Medical students, biomedical students, science
students, allied health students, and nursing
students
Popular for its highly visual, clinical approach,
Medical Genetics delivers an accessible yet
thorough understanding of this active and fastchanging field. Important updates in this new
edition cover the latest developments which are
integrated with clinical practice to emphasise the
central principles and how they apply to practice.
Photographs, illustrations, and tables, along with
boxes containing patient/family vignettes show
clinical relevance and enhance visual impact of the
material for easier and more effective learning and
retention. This book covers the central principles
of genetics and the clinical application of those
principles. Clinical commentary boxes throughout
emphasise the clinical focus of the book. Also,
nearly every page contains summary sentences,
written in gold font, to help readers comprehend
what was just discussed. The latest knowledge and
research on gene identification, cancer genetics,
gene testing and gene therapy, common disorders,
ethical and social issues, and much more so you can
keep up with current developments in genetics. This
book covers the central principles of genetics and
the clinical application of those principles.
Mark F Bear, Barry W Connors and Michael
A Paradiso – Wolters Kluwer, 2015
ISBN: 9781451109542 £38
Students
Acclaimed for its clear, friendly style, excellent
illustrations, leading author team, and compelling
theme of exploration, Neuroscience: Exploring
the Brain, takes a fresh, contemporary approach
to the study of neuroscience, emphasizing the
biological basis of behaviour. The authors’ passion
for the dynamic field of neuroscience is evident on
every page, engaging students and helping them
master the material. In just a few years, the field of
neuroscience has been transformed by exciting new
technologies and an explosion of knowledge about
the brain. The human genome has been sequenced,
sophisticated new methods have been developed for
genetic engineering, and new methods have been
introduced to enable visualisation and stimulation of
specific types of nerve cells and connections in the
brain. The new Fourth Edition has been fully updated
to reflect these and other rapid advances in the field,
while honouring its commitment to be studentfriendly with striking new illustrations, additional
animations, and an unparalleled array of online
resources.
“This book is ideal for undergraduate students
studying neuroscience. It does not assume prior
understanding and instead builds upon foundations
to more in depth and advanced topics. Without
reservations this textbook is highly welcome. The
writing style and tone of the book is one of the
advantages of this book that allows it to outshine
Programme and Award Winners
11
other similar book on the market. The easy-toread prose and tone allow a book which gives
readers a textbook which can be easily read and the
information followed and built upon. As opposed
to a block of text and objective facts to rote learn,
this textbook offers a wonderfully illuminating
textbook. A certain benefit of this textbook is the
copious coloured images, photographs, graphs
and data images. This is certainly a colourful book
which added to the ease to which this textbook can
be read. Images appear on the majority of pages, if
not almost every page. This gives a welcome break
to concrete blocks of text. In addition it enables
students with differing learning styles to follow the
text. This excellent book is certainly one of the best
textbooks for undergraduate neuroscience students.
The easy to follow prose and text has created a
unique textbook which offers readers a detailed
understanding of neuroscience at the undergraduate
level. This book stands out in this field.”
New Clinical Genetics 3rd ed.
Andrew Read and Dian Donnai – Scion
Publishing Ltd, 2015 ISBN: 9781907904677
£35.99
The primary audience is medical students and
people doing masters courses in clinical genomics
or genetic counselling. However, the authors also
had in mind the many qualified people – clinicians
and others – who are not enrolled on formal courses
but need an up-to-date source of answers to all the
questions they never dared ask. There is especially a
need for this in genetics.
The book covers the science and practice of clinical
genetics: the range of genetic problems people face,
the range of variants in DNA (including epigenetic
variants) that can have clinical consequences, how
these are investigated and what can be done about
them. There are a number of other textbooks of
clinical genetics for medical students, and all must
cover much the same basic science. Apart from
being very up-to-date because Scion Publishing
have a highly efficient production process, the
book can boast nothing special in terms of the
science covered. However, New Clinical Genetics
stands out for two reasons. The emphasis on the
reality of clinical genetics service is a distinguishing
feature. For example, other textbooks may have a
section near the end on ethics. But ethics is not a
separate aspect of clinical genetics. So discussion
of ethical issues is an integral part of each of the
book’s scenarios, right from Chapter 1 where the
implications of a family history of Huntington
disease are considered (rather than simply setting
out autosomal dominant inheritance). A second
distinguishing feature is the way the authors try to
enter the mind of a student seeking to learn about
genetics. Thus, rather than have chapters headed
‘Molecular pathology’ or ‘Population genetics’ there
are chapters headed ‘What do mutations do?’ and
‘Why are some conditions common and others
rare?’. The whole innovative structure of the book is
designed to help this. Each chapter starts with one
or more case studies, fictional but closely based on
Dian Donnai’s unrivalled experience; next, a ‘Science
toolkit’ section provides just that; ‘Investigations
of patients’ then applies the tools to the current
cases and often also to ones running through from
earlier chapters, illustrating the detective story
aspect; finally a ‘Going deeper’ section expands the
science beyond the particular issues immediately
relevant to the cases. The book can be used in
either a case-based or a topic-based approach, but
the combination offered here is powerful, realistic
and possibly unique. Finally, at the end of each
chapter are the usual self-assessment questions,
but answers are not provided in the book; instead,
the authors provide hints for a selection of the
questions, so that students can’t take the easy way
out. A detailed set of answers is available from the
publishers on application, together with teaching
support material for lecturers.
“Excellent book for medical students and should
definitely be on their list of recommended reading.
Would probably inspire a few to think about clinical
genetics as a specialty. I think this is overall an
excellent book for medical students since it has
just the right balance for them of clinical and also
the molecular aspects of genetics, all laid-out so
that the basic science parts and molecular genetics
parts are in the correct clinical context to make
everything tie together logically and sensibly. It
is well-laid-out and sensibly organised with good
clear explanations throughout and nice, simple,
easy to understand, good quality accompanying
illustrations.”
The Epigenome and Developmental Origins of
Health and Disease
Cheryl S Rosenfeld – Elsevier/Academic Press,
2015 ISBN: 9780128013830 £ 64.60
The audience for this book includes students, both
undergraduate and graduate-level, of epigenetics,
genetics, reproductive biology, genomic medicine
and toxicology
The Epigenome and Developmental Origins
of Health and Disease synthesises the existing
knowledge of how the in utero environment could
be the most important environment in shaping
later risk for various diseases or conversely promote
the health of the offspring. This book mines the
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
existing literature from a variety of disciplines from
toxicology to nutrition to epigenetics to reveal how
contrasting maternal in utero environmental changes
might be leading to epigenetic convergence and
resulting deleterious phenotypic and physiological
effects in our offspring. It is increasingly becoming
apparent that even subtle changes in the mother’s
diet, stress and exposure to low concentrations of
toxic chemicals at levels deemed safe by the EPA and
FDA, such as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDC),
can dramatically impact the health of her children,
possibly leading to metabolic, cardiovascular,
immunological and neurobehavioral disorders, and
increased risk for cancer to list but a few examples.
Importantly, the common thread of how in utero and
postnatal environmental changes may lead to DOHaD
effects is through various epigenetic changes.
case, providing advice on how to deal with the
emotive issues that occur when practising medicine
and guidance on appropriate behaviour. Making
speedy and appropriate decisions, and choosing the
best course of action to take as a result, is one of the
most important and challenging parts of training to
become a doctor. These true-to-life cases will teach
students and junior doctors to recognise ethical
and legal dilemmas as they arise, and to respond
appropriately.
“This is an important field, developing rapidly with
a need for a sourcebook book of this sort. I was
fascinated by this book and appreciate what it aimed
to do. It certainly helped me to understand this
important field of research and alert me to where
it is going and the profound implications it might
have for social thinking. The strength is in bringing
together authoritative papers by leaders in the field
illustrating progress but not hiding the debate that is
going on. This is an important book which I am happy
to see receive a high grading with the possibility of a
prize. There is great heterogeneity in the individual
components that makes it somewhat of a specialist
book.”
Basis of medicine – the winner of this
category will be announced from this
shortlist
“I would highly recommend this book to a medical
student or junior doctor practising in England or
Wales, as an excellent introduction to medical ethics
in clinical practice. The focus is strongly on practical
guidance and the development of moral reasoning,
rather than a theoretical and abstract discussion of
ethics. The book’s strengths are its consideration of
a wide range of ethical and moral issues that may
arise inpatient care, its focus on practical guidance
and moral reasoning and its easily digestible content
and style. The book is well-targeted at its intended
readership of medical students and junior doctors.
It considers a wide range of ethical and moral issues
that may arise inpatient care, using a case-based
approach. Its focus is on practical guidance and moral
reasoning.”
A is for Arsenic: The Poisons of Agatha Christie
Kathryn Harkup – Bloomsbury Sigma, 2015 ISBN:
9781472911308 £16.99
A is for Arsenic appeals to the legions of fans of
Agatha Christie’s novels and the popular science
market, as well as those with a penchant for poisons
and the macabre
100 Cases in Clinical Ethics and Law 2nd ed.
Carolyn Johnston and Penelope Bradbury – CRC
Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781498739337 £23
Medical students and junior doctors; allied health
students; medico-legal professionals; ethicists;
practising clinicians and other healthcare
professionals
100 Cases in Clinical Ethics and Law explores legal
and ethical dilemmas through 100 clinical scenarios
typical of those encountered by medical students
and junior doctors in the emergency or outpatient
department, on the ward or in the community
setting. Covering issues such as consent, capacity,
withdrawal of treatment, confidentiality and whistleblowing, each scenario has a practical problemsolving element, encouraging readers to explore their
own beliefs and values including those that arise as a
result of differing cultural and religious backgrounds.
Answer pages highlight important points in each
Agatha Christie’s detailed plotting is what makes
her books so compelling. Christie used poison to kill
her characters more often than any other murder
method, with the poison itself being a central part
of the novel, and her choice of deadly substances
was far from random; the chemical and physiological
characteristics of each poison provide vital clues
to discovery of the murderer. With gunshots or
stabbings the cause of death is obvious, but not
so with poisons. How is it that some compounds
prove so deadly, and in such tiny amounts? Christie
demonstrated her extensive chemical knowledge
(much of it gleaned from her working in a chemists
during both world wars) in many of her novels,
but this is rarely appreciated by the reader. A is for
Arsenic celebrates the use of science in Christie’s
work. Written by Christie fan and research chemist
Kathryn Harkup, each chapter takes a different novel
and investigates the poison (or poisons) the murderer
used. A is for Arsenic looks at why certain chemicals
kill, how they interact with the
Programme and Award Winners
13
body, and the feasibility of obtaining, administering
and detecting these poisons, both at the time the
novel was written and today.
“In this case, the subject matter of the book is fairly
specific: the poisons used in Agatha Christie novels.
If this is an area in which you are interested then the
book is definitely a worthwhile read, as it describes in
detail those poisons used as well as how realistic this
was in terms of procurement, effect on the body and
detection. It also considers whether these methods
would work today. It is also worth mentioning,
however, that this book can teach people much
more than just Agatha Christie poisonings. The topics
spanned include biographical detail of Agatha Christie
herself, the writing of crime fiction, poisoning in real
life in the 1800s and 1900s, society in those same
eras, as well as some chemistry, pharmacology and
physiology. Furthermore, there are an extensive
number of citations used, and so the enthusiastic
reader can refer to other sources for an even greater
level of detail on specifics set out in the book.
The level of detail contained in the book is wellbalanced against the need to make it popular to a
wider audience, and overall I have no hesitation in
recommending it. The main strength of this book is
its surprisingly wide-ranging subject matter. Although
a book based on poisons used by Agatha Christie
sounds specific and even niche, in reality, this is an
engaging read for anyone interested in crime, crime
fiction, pharmacology or murder. A huge amount
of research has gone into its writing, and even in
ignoring the footnotes you still get a really good
understanding of the subject matters at hand. An
excellent read overall, one possible weakness is in
the descriptions of the poisons, their underlying
chemistry and physiological effects. It could be
argued that there is too much detail provided here
for non-scientists to really enjoy, and perhaps greater
use of illustrations or figures would have provided
a more accessible alternative. Overall though, I was
surprised at just how enjoyable this book was, and it
has encouraged me not only to read more Agatha
Christie, but also to follow the work of the author.
I was very pleasantly surprised by this and have
recommended it to a wide range of friends.”
Adventures in Human Being
Gavin Francis – Profile Books, 2015
ISBN: 9781781253410 £14.99
This is a book for a general audience, similar to that
for Henry Marsh’s Do No Harm or Atul Gawande’s
Being Mortal. We’d expect them to have a general
interest in medicine, literature and culture, but not
necessarily any technical or specific knowledge
of medicine
Adventures in Human Being is a journey round
the human body, exploring its organs and parts
in the context of art, philosophy and literature as
well as physiology and medicine. It also contains
anonymised case studies through which the author
sheds light on the experience of sickness and
health. The chapter on the breast, for example,
also includes a discussion of the poet Katherine
Jamie’s work about her own breast cancer. This
is a book that aims to engage, inform and inspire
general readers with an interest in medicine, and
to make them think about their bodies as part of
a cultural and intellectual work as well as simply
in terms of a the physical. This is a highly original
book that synthesises serious medical knowledge
and experience with cultural criticism. Gavin is
both a practicing GP and a critic who reviews books
and writes feature articles for the LRB and many
other media outlets, which makes his voice and
perspective unique.
“This is a beautifully written book, equally
entertaining to the lay reader and expert. It is full
of human interest stories; the narratives illustrate
the journey around the human body in health and
disease.”
Clinical Communication in Medicine
Jo Brown, Lorraine M Noble, Alexia Papageorgiou
and Jane Kidd – Wiley-Blackwell, 2016
ISBN: 9781118728246 £34.99
All medical professionals who are involved with the
education of students and postgraduate trainees
Clinical Communication in Medicine brings
together the theories, models and evidence that
underpin effective healthcare communication in
one accessible volume. Endorsed and developed
by members of the UK Council of Clinical
Communication in Undergraduate Medical
Education, it traces the subject to its primary
disciplinary origins, looking at how it is practised,
taught and learned today, as well as considering
future directions. Focusing on three important areas
– the doctor-patient relationship, core components
of clinical communication, and effective teaching
and assessment – Clinical Communication in
Medicine enhances the understanding of effective
communication. It links theory to teaching, so
principles and practice are clearly understood.
Clinical Communication in Medicine is a new and
definitive guide for professionals involved in the
education of medical undergraduate students and
postgraduate trainees, as well as experienced and
junior clinicians, researchers, teachers, students,
and policy makers.
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
“Students and clinicians are increasing (and rightly)
expected to show a patient-centred approach
to practicing medicine, irrespective of their
grade and area of specialisation. This is the ideal
handbook for achieving the aim, through its clarity
of thought, comprehensive compilation of up-todate references and suggestions for research into
different aspects requiring further clarification and
confirmation. The book does very well to emphasise
the need for a self-directed assessment-seeking
approach in order to nurture effective learning,
instead of a pure self-assessment approach. Multisource feedback is ideally combined with other
interventions including educational programmes,
guidelines and updates, in order to become a
master-learner. An indispensable text for students,
trainers and teaching institutions alike. It is wellwritten, clear and comprehensive.”
society, culture and politics get things wrong (and
sometimes very right).
“An interesting read on this subject which addresses
the subject from several viewpoints. I very much like
the historical examples used to support the main
text. In addition there are data from clinical studies,
clinical case studies and information from historical
and political documentation making for a wellrounded and interesting read. I very much enjoyed
reading the text; the style and tone were relaxed and
made for enjoyable reading but at the same time
very informative. The book is not overly heavy with
data and facts, but these are used appropriately to
support the prose. Its strengths are use of wide range
of primary and secondary data to support arguments
and explain reasoning. No heavy use of jargon which
is so good for general readership. It has helped me
understand more broadly about the subject.”
Have Bacteria Won?
Hugh Pennington – Polity, 2015
ISBN: 9780745690803 £9.99
General readers with an interest in medicine and
political issues relating to healthcare, and students
of medicine and health policy
Today, we are far less likely to die from infection
than at any other time in history, but still we
worry about epidemics, the menace of antibiotic
resistance and modern plagues’ like Ebola. In this
timely new book, eminent bacteriologist Hugh
Pennington explores why these fears remain and
why they are unfounded. He reports on outright
victories (such as smallpox), battles where the
enemy is on its last stand (polio), surprise attacks
from vegetarian bats (Ebola, SARS) and demented
cows (BSE). Qualified optimism, he argues, is the
message for the future but the battles will go on
forever. The book seeks to communicate to a
general audience (as well as those studying the
relationship between medical science and social
issues) the state of play as regards our ‘battle’
against bacteria and infection – or, rather, to
interrogate why infection is such a big fear, open
to lots of misreporting and misrepresentation,
whilst at the same time inadequately addressed by
policy and governments. The author shows where
science succeeds and where human response
fails in keeping infectious disease at bay. Many
books for general or non-specialist audiences are
sensationalist or tell a particular doom and gloom
story in relation to the threat of infectious diseases
and anti-biotic resistance. Hugh Pennington draws
on his expertise and his own experience to tell
the real story of why outbreaks happen – while
drawing on and introducing the science of infection,
he comes to this from the perspective of why
Ill Composed: Sickness, Gender, and Belief in
Early Modern England
Olivia Weisser – Yale University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780300200706 £60
Medical professionals, students, teachers, and lay
readers interested in the history of illness, patients,
and the body
This book invites readers into the lives and
imaginations of ordinary people and their
experiences of illness in early modern England.
The book explores a very different way of thinking
about health and the body than our own--one in
which congested fluids were thought to cause
illness and seeing a loved one walk through the
door could cure it. The author enters the sickrooms
of men and women of the past, from the famous
diarist Samuel Pepys to a struggling wigmaker
living and working in Manchester. The portrait of
illness that emerges offers unprecedented insight
into what it was like to live, suffer, and inhabit a
body more than three centuries ago. Drawing on
first-hand accounts in diaries and letters, as well
as medical texts, case notes, devotional literature,
petitions, and recipes, this is the first book to show
how early modern individuals understood and
experienced illness in gendered ways. Detailed
and vivid stories of sickness uncover how men and
women perceived bodily processes both similarly
and differently. Ill Composed embeds this intimate
realm of medicine and the body within the texture
of daily life, revealing not only the influences of
gender, but also the impact of prevailing religious
practices, medical knowledge, writing conventions,
and daily work on bodily perceptions and health
management. Resulting stories of sickness have
much to teach us about the ways we understand
Programme and Award Winners
15
and perceive illness today. This is one of the first
monographs on early modern patients written
since the 1990s. It uses new analytic methods to
develop a history of the patient grounded in close
analysis of sufferers’ stories. The book bridges the
history of the patient and gender history. In short,
neither field has fully acknowledged the other.
While gender is not a new category of analysis, it
is ground-breaking for understanding the history
of the patient in early modern Europe. No one has
ever compared men’s and women’s accounts to
examine how gender shaped patients’ perceptions.
Most studies on patients focus on a few individuals.
This book draws on a substantial core of firsthand accounts, including more than 50 caches of
correspondence and more than 40 diaries written
between1630-1730. Virtually no other study of the
period has offered such an in-depth examination of
so many patients.
“This does seem a very good book from which to
learn more about the subject as it explores many
interesting angles; such as gender differences
in perception of illness. Also the role of emotion
regarding an illness in that era, which seemed to be
a frighteningly immediate reaction at times. Such as,
for example, a wife could be so affected by finding
her husband to be ill that she straight away took to
her bed and the servants had to nurse both of them!
This of course also shows another aspect, how the
rich were able to respond differently to the poor.
The rich had much more chance to play the ‘Sick
Role’ with all its social and religious connotations.
The main strength of this book is that it looks at
matters from the perspective of the sufferers.
From many aspects, including gender, social class,
religion etc. It takes us into a world where there is a
patient driven system of medical care. The patient
shared an understanding of medicine and their
bodies with practitioners. They often knew as much
as the doctor. It also gives fascinating insights into
differences now and then. For example ‘colds’ were
not respiratory viral illnesses but symptoms caused
by a cold wind or drinking a cold beer. This they
thought resulted in prevention of elimination of
wastes, leading to blocked pores and skin lesions. All
tied up of course with the ‘humours’, the different
proportions of which made women cold, moist and
emotional, and men warm dry and reasonable! A
small inevitable weakness is that a portion of the
evidence is very subjective, physicians tend to
magnify their own cures and point out the failures of
others. Yet which of us couldn’t think of a few good
examples of that in the 21st century! This seems
an exceptionally well-researched book and gives
fascinating insights into not just illness, but how it
impinged on everyday life, in the 15th/16th century.
I would certainly recommend it being shortlisted.”
Life’s Greatest Secret: The Race to Crack the
Genetic Code
Matthew Cobb – Profile Books, 2015
ISBN: 9781781251409 £25
General readership with an interest in history of
science and genetics
Life’s Greatest Secret interweaves science,
biography and anecdote in a book that mixes
remarkable insights, theoretical dead-ends and
ingenious experiments with the pace of a thriller.
This account of the race to crack the genetic code
reveals the cooperation and competition among
some of the twentieth-century’s most outstanding
and eccentric minds, as well as moving between
biology, physics and chemistry, and showing the
part played by computing and cybernetics. This
book aims to inform readers about the discovery of
DNA in a compelling and engaging way, making the
pace of the narrative as exciting as the implications
of the discovery were for scientists across the globe.
The author is both a Professor of Zoology and a
historian, giving him a unusual ability to combine
both fields in this book. There are very few, if any,
overview histories of the race to crack the genetic
code, so this supplies readers with a comprehensive
and readable account.
“I would recommend this book to others as I believe
the book is a fantastic resource that someone could
learn a great deal of information from. This book’s
main strengths are its comprehensive look along a
timeline into the field of genetics and varying ideas
on the DNA code sequence. On the whole I feel
the book has made me learn a lot about the field
of genetics and the DNA code and has improved
my understanding which was fairly limited before.
This book has been a pleasure to read and I have
thoroughly enjoyed it.”
The Diet Myth: The Real Science Behind
What We Eat
Tim Spector – Weidenfeld & Nicolson, May 2015
ISBN: 9780297609193 £14.99
General market
This book is a popular science title about why
some diets work for some people and not others,
why most diets fail or are not good for us, and how
our gut microbiome has a surprising influence
over these different reactions. It busts the biggest
food myths the diet industry peddle and, using a
combination of case studies and Prof. Spector’s own
pioneering twin research, reveals how a healthy
body begins with a healthy gut.
The BMA Patient Liaison Group
The PLG (Patient Liaison Group)
was established in 2004 to ensure
patients are represented within the
BMA. The PLG provides the BMA
with an informed patient view on
matters of interest to the medical
profession. It works to inform BMA
policy by ensuring that patient views
are represented, and also highlights
areas of patient concern to the BMA.
PLG members come from a range
of backgrounds and draw on their
knowledge and experience as patients,
carers, advocates and professionals
working in a range of health-related
fields. The group has seats for 11 lay
members and five doctor members
who work on a voluntary basis.
For the past 12 years, PLG has provided
the patient perspective on a number
of issues ranging from seven day
services to raising concerns and patient
safety. It has produced patient-focused
resources on topics ranging from selfcare to toolkits for doctors on patient
involvement. PLG has also organised
themed events and workshops
on quality care, self-care, five year
forward view, patient-centred care and
healthcare devolution.
The group works alongside BMA
committees on behalf of patients, with
representation on key committees
including BMA council. PLG is
also active in contributing to BMA
consultation responses on matters
requiring a patient perspective.
Amanda Cool, PLG chair, participates
in the final judging panel for the BMA
Patient Information Awards and will
present the BMA Patient Information
Resource of the Year 2016.
The full mission statement and links
to the PLG resources can be found at:
bma.org.uk/plg
Programme and Award Winners
17
“A fascinating and original look at the impact of food
on our bodies underpinned by research. Anyone
who has struggled with diets in the past would be
wise to read this. It is a compelling read, new insight
to the diet myth, entertaining, convincing. I enjoyed
this book and will certainly be taking more notice of
what I eat in the future.”
Why Torture Doesn’t Work: The Neuroscience
of Interrogation
Shane O’Mara – Harvard University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780674743908 $29.95
Academic audience but also accessible to the
general reader; readers interest in human rights
issues, political science, public policy, and health
professionals
Torture is banned because it is cruel and inhumane.
But as Shane O’Mara writes in this account of
the human brain under stress, another reason
torture should never be condoned is because it
does not work the way torturers assume it does. In
countless films and TV shows such as Homeland
and 24, torture is portrayed as a harsh necessity.
If cruelty can extract secrets that will save lives, so
be it. CIA officers and others conducted torture
using precisely this justification. But does torture
accomplish what its defenders say it does? For
ethical reasons, there are no scientific studies of
torture. But neuroscientists know a lot about how
the brain reacts to fear, extreme temperatures,
starvation, thirst, sleep deprivation, and immersion
in freezing water, all tools of the torturer’s trade.
These stressors create problems for memory,
mood, and thinking, and sufferers predictably
produce information that is deeply unreliable and,
for intelligence purposes, even counterproductive.
As O’Mara guides us through the neuroscience of
suffering, he reveals the brain to be much more
complex than the brute calculations of torturers
have allowed, and he points the way to a humane
approach to interrogation, founded in the science
of brain and behaviour. Torture may be effective in
forcing confessions, as in Stalin’s Russia. But if we
want information that we can depend on to save
lives, O’Mara writes, our model should be Napoleon:
‘It has always been recognised that this way of
interrogating men, by putting them to torture,
produces nothing worthwhile.’
“This is one of the most comprehensive and
well-researched books I have ever read. Through
neuroscience it explores the effect of many
types of torture on the brain and in particular
whether torture actually works in persuading
those tortured to give up their secret knowledge.
It shows that torture does not work, that the
information obtained is inaccurate and often false
and misleading. The author suggests better ways of
seeking to obtain information. He also explores the
long-lasting consequences of torture on those who
actually administer the torture. He explains how this
can be devastating and long-lasting. One torturer
describes persistent dreams in which ‘I can still hear
him scream....will it ever stop?’ It may even lead
to former torturers resorting to drug and alcohol
abuse. The strengths of this book in relation to the
academic world and also the more general readers
are: 1. the comprehensive and widespread approach
to the effects of torture, especially on the various
functions of the brain 2. the very comprehensive
reference index 3. the conclusions as to why torture
does not work 4. Its exploration into the effect on
those who administer torture 5 the suggestion that
in the majority of cases there are better and more
humane methods of obtaining information. It has
certainly helped me to understand the problem
better and to want to explore it further.”
Cardiology – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
Eureka Cardiovascular Medicine
Authors: Paul Morris, David Warriner and Allison
Morton; Series Editors: Janine Henderson, David
Oliveira and Stephen Parker – JP Medical Ltd,
2015 ISBN: 9781907816826 £22.95
First to final year medical students
Eureka Cardiovascular Medicine includes all the
core science and clinical information that students
need for the cardiovascular module of their course,
conveniently brought together in one book. Its
integrated approach teaches students how to apply
biomedical principles to everyday practice across
primary, acute and emergency care settings. The
content has been carefully planned to provide an
authoritative reference for use during the degree
course and an ideal revision aid in the run up to
exams. With the ground-breaking new Eureka series,
authors and publisher set out not simply to give
students all the content they need to succeed in
their course, on the wards and in their exams; the
goal was also to present the material in a fresh,
innovative manner, using novel learning aids
(described below) to deliver the content in the most
engaging, relevant and accessible way. By meeting
these two objectives, Eureka Cardiovascular
Medicine serves as both a concise textbook and a
revision aid. The book’s dual utility is further assured
thanks to carefully planned content that reflects the
teaching and curriculum design of today’s courses
by: While the primary goal of providing students
with a text that integrates core science and clinical
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
medicine is far from unique, there can be few other
publications that provide students with all the core
cardiovascular science and clinical content they
need, in one book, in full colour and using such
innovative learning features as Eureka Cardiovascular
Medicine. As with all titles in the Eureka series, the
learning tools included in Eureka Cardiovascular
Medicine set the book apart from more traditional
undergraduate texts: Cases. Many textbooks feature
clinical scenarios, but too often these are token
cases inserted to break the main text and do not
help students to learn. In contrast, I’s insightful long
form cases, which introduce the disease-based
chapters, are written in a uniquely engaging narrative
style that carefully steps the reader through clinical
reasoning. As such they support problem-based
learning and show students how to think like an
experienced clinician by logically working back
from a presentation. Cases in Eureka Cardiovascular
Medicine include classic presentations such as ‘Pain
radiating across the chest and down the left arm’
and more challenging ones such as ‘Postoperative
shortness of breath and palpitations. Graphic
narratives. Inspired by the ‘pathographic’ novels that
depict patient narratives of illness, Eureka’s innovative
graphic narratives bring the stories of the patients
depicted in the cases to life, to great effect. They also
highlight – in a way that is hard to do using text only
– the skills which students need to communicate
with colleagues, patients and their relatives. For
example, in the ‘Pain radiating across the chest’
case, the reader is introduced not just to Mr Baylis
and his wife but also to the cath lab team who care
for him. Starter questions at the beginning of each
chapter: the answers to these intriguing questions
are designed to engage the reader and make learning
and revision more interesting for the student: What is
more serious, a runner collapsing during a marathon
or at the end? Are heart attacks more common on
Monday morning? Boxes highlight important clinical
tips, tricks and learning points throughout the book.
Extensive full-colour illustration programme includes
artworks of anatomic structures, physiological and
other core science processes; photographs of clinical
signs and examination techniques; the graphic
narratives described above and patient archetypes
that depict the constellation of signs associated with
classic presentations (Fig 3.7 Ischaemic heart disease,
Fig 7.12 Infective endocarditis). With textbooks
becoming bigger, heavier and more expensive, it is
unsurprising that some students are buying fewer of
them and potentially forsaking learning opportunities
in the process. With its compact size, accessible
format and attractive design, Eureka Cardiovascular
Medicine represents astonishing value for money and
a truly unique and exciting addition to the learning
resources available to future clinicians.
deal of detail and I would expect a student who was
well-acquainted with the content to score well in
any undergraduate exam. The main strengths are
the mixed learning resources and good illustrations.
The weakness is that the whole person is a little
lost. I would be a little hesitant to recommend this
to all first year students but for undergraduates
with aptitude and interest in CV medicine this is
a helpful text. If you accept the premise of this
series of books, then this is a comprehensive and
well-constructed example. The text is logical, the
illustrations strong and the book meets the aims set
out by the authors.”
“This is an interesting format and the book has
been authored with care and diligence. There is a
Heart Failure: A Companion to Braunwald’s
Heart Disease 3rd ed.
Douglas L Mann and G Michael Felker – Elsevier,
2015 ISBN: 9781455772377 £120
Cardiologists, cardiology fellows/trainees, internal
medicine physicians and residents
Lead editor of Braunwald’s Heart Disease, Dr
Douglas L Mann, and nationally and internationally
recognised heart failure expert Dr G Michael Felker,
bring you the latest, definitive state-of-the art
information on heart failure in this outstanding
Braunwald’s companion volume. Heart Failure,
3rd Edition, keeps you current with recent
developments in the field, improved patient
management strategies, and new drug therapies
and implantable devices that will make a difference
in your patients’ lives and in your practice.
Braunwald’s Heart Failure Companion also has an
online version that is updated with late-breaking
clinical trials, “Hot Off the Press” commentary
and Focused Reviews that are relevant to heart
failure. Detailed chapters on heart failure patient
management, from simple to complex. It instructs
readers on the most commonly accepted standards
for patient management and includes coverage of
the development and implementation of the heart
failure guidelines. It reviews the protocols in easyto-understand language and relates the data to
patient management. It covers everything needed
to know to pass the board examination and enables
readers to take the test with confidence. Heart
failure presents a major global health challenge,
affecting an estimated 38 million patients. Despite
striking advances in the diagnosis and treatment
of a variety of cardiovascular disorders during the
past three decades, the prevalence of heart failure is
increasing. The third edition is not merely an update
of prior editions of the Heart Failure Companion, it
is an attempt to envision what a “modern” textbook
on heart failure should provide, recognising that
many readers of this book may pursue the new
board certification in heart failure.
Programme and Award Winners
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“This book aims to be the de facto textbook for
heart failure. It succeeds. It has a marvellous
authorship and is beautifully presented. If you
want to know something about heart failure, it’s in
the book. It is a significant update on the previous
book. I do not know of a better book that deals
with heart failure. It has all the latest data in it
and is contemporaneous. Thorough reviews of
the literature done by recognised experts. I have
no criticisms of this book. It’s excellent. I highly
recommend it. It’s a marvellous resource which I
have enjoyed browsing.”
ThE ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular Imaging
2nd ed.
José Luis Zamorano, Jeroen Bax, Juhani
Knuuti, Udo Sechtem, Patrizio Lancellotti
and Luigi Badano – Oxford University Press,
2015 ISBN: 9780198703341 £115
Ideal reference guide for cardiologists and
radiologists alike
Impressive in scope, The ESC Textbook of
Cardiovascular Imaging contains information
on cutting-edge technical developments in
echocardiography, CT, CMR and hybrid imaging and
imaging’s current role in cardiac interventions, such
as identifying cardiac structures, helping to guide
procedures and exclude possible complications.
The application of imaging modalities in conditions
such as valvular and coronary heart disease, heart
failure, cardiomyopathies, peri-myocardial disease,
adult congenital heart disease and aortic disease, is
also extensively considered. It not only discusses the
principles of individual modalities but also clearly
demonstrates the added value each technique can
bring to the treatment of all cardiac diseases. Richly
illustrated with colour figures, images, and tables
and using a wealth of newly available evidence to
link theory to practice, it demonstrates how these
techniques can be used in the diagnosis of a range
of cardiovascular diseases. Learning how to apply
them in practice is made easy with free access to
videos and imaging loops online along with the
full text so that it is always available, even when
on the move. Produced in collaboration with the
European Association of Cardiovascular Imaging
with contributions from specialists across the globe
and edited by a distinguished team of experts.
From discussion on improved imaging techniques
and advances in technology, to guidance and
explanation of important practices and theories, this
new edition of The ESC Textbook of Cardiovascular
Imaging is the ideal reference guide.
“This is the magnum opus of CV Imaging: it
contains state of the art information on technical
developments in echocardiography, CT, CMR
and hybrid imaging and imaging’s current role in
cardiac interventions, etc. There are other specialist
cardiac imaging textbooks around. This one is of
course the European Society of Cardiology one,
and has links to guidelines etc. There is very much
a European feel to the book (as the name implies).
As with large textbooks the lag time means some
of the more recent important evidence papers in
(say) last six months would be lacking – the field is
rapidly evolving. There is some discussion on this,
but most chapters focus on detail, evidence, and
applicability.”
The ESC Textbook of Preventive Cardiology
Stephan Gielen, Guy De Backer, Massimo F
Piepoli and David Wood – Oxford University
Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780199656653 £115
Ideal guide for the physician and allied health
professional working to prevent and treat
cardiovascular disease in their daily practice
With a strong clinical focus the topics covered range
from epidemiology and risk stratification through
psychological factors, behaviour and motivation to
secondary prevention, integrating hospital-based
and community care for cardiovascular disease
prevention and information on cardio-protective
drugs. Case studies, clinical decision-making
trees and drug tables with recommended doses
and potential side-effects make it easier than
ever to implement treatments in practice. It is
comprehensive, practical and extensively linked to
practice guidelines and recommendations from the
European Association of Cardiac Prevention and
Rehabilitation (EACPR), and it clearly connects the
latest evidence base to strategies and proposals
for the implementation of prevention in clinical
practice. This is the official textbook of the European
Association for Cardiovascular Prevention and
Rehabilitation. Comprehensive, practical and
extensively linked to practice guidelines and
recommendations from the European Association
of Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation (EACPR).
“I would recommend this book to all healthcare
professionals involved with cardiovascular risk
prevention and modification, with a few small
caveats. The editors in the book’s preface make
it clear that this textbook will ‘not be perfect in
all aspects’, and one particular issue in question
pertains to risk assessment. Given that this is a vital
spine to CV risk prevention, this book section mainly
utilises the SCORE risk estimation system, which is
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
commonly used in mainland Europe, but less so in
the United Kingdom, where QRISK and JBS3 usage is
much more prevalent, this risk assessment section
could be much less applicable for a UK reading
audience. This book attempts to provide a single
comprehensive information reference resource for
healthcare professionals providing care to patients
relating to their cardiovascular risk, and largely
succeeds in this aim. Evidence and subsequent
guidance offered by the text is up-to-date and also
gives the reader a ‘horizon scan’ of what potential
developments and healthcare trends may be around
the corner. It would also be fair to comment that
not all of the book sections will be applicable to all
readers, but this essentially widens the potential
audience base which is likely to be multi-disciplinary.
This textbook is an excellent attempt to provide
an authoritative single reference suitable for all
healthcare professionals dealing with cardiovascular
patients and modification of their risk. The book is
well-referenced and easy-to-read and navigate and,
apart from the issue of the risk assessment section
being perhaps more Euro-centric with regard to the
risk estimation system used, I think this book will
be exceptionally helpful to a wide audience, and I
personally have made good use of this book in daily
clinical practice already.”
can achieve their own goals. The subject matter
appears to be accurate and up-to-date and covers
a number of subjects. The programme originally
is quite difficult to figure out however once you
have browsed the site for a few minutes it becomes
easier to figure out. The information provided is
easy to follow and offers the option to use the
programme with feedback as you progress or move
as a test with feedback on completion. There is
accompanying information on the site which can
be printed and used elsewhere during the students’
work which is helpful. The site is visually appealing
and they utilise pictures well in some of the
questions and feedback. “
Digital and online resources
Elsevier ExamPrep UK Basic Science
Jeannette Naish, Denise Syndercombe
Court, Andrew Wood – Elsevier Ltd, 2015
ISBN: 9780702061974 £50
Undergraduate students in medicine, pharmacy and
pharmacology
This is an online question bank which aims to
prepare students to pass undergraduate exams in
pharmacology, medical therapeutics and pharmacy.
It contains over 2,000 single best answer, and
extended matching questions mapped to curricula
as well as a revision tool that pinpoints the user’s
strengths and weaknesses and adapts to deliver
targeted revision. It is a personalised learning plan to
help students optimise exam performance.
“In the context of medical students studying
particularly in the preclinical years this resource is
clearly helpful and allows the student to pick topics
they would like to be tested on. It also would be
useful to students on other science based courses
such as biology and chemistry to further knowledge
and improve their ability to answer questions on
these subjects. The programme allows students to
set their own learning objectives to work towards
with the aim of self-directed learning meaning they
Ortho Interview (www.orthointerview.com)
Alexander Young – Ortho Interview, 2015
ISBN: £95
Candidates applying for ST3 Trauma and
Orthopaedic specialty training in the UK and sitting
the national ST3 trauma and orthopaedic interviews
Ortho Interview provides a free reading list and
core knowledge topics to help candidates prepare
for the competitive selection process to trauma
and orthopaedic surgery specialty training in the
UK. Ortho Interview also features a responsive
bank of interview questions covering clinical,
communication, portfolio, technical skills and
presentation topics. Over 250 scenarios have been
hand-picked by current T&O trainees and feature
comprehensive answers, videos and a question
tracking system all of which can be accessed from
home computer, tablet or mobile device. Ortho
Interview aims to help candidates prepare for ST3
trauma and orthopaedic specialty interviews by
providing both free and premium content including
an interactive online question bank. There are
currently no resources available that help prepare
candidates applying to ST3 trauma and orthopaedic
speciality selection interviews and candidates must
rely on information from previous candidates.
“The target audience is doctors applying for ST3 in
orthopaedics only. It has some generic interview tips
but it is mainly for orthopaedic trainees. The website
is very easy to use with simple navigation. There is
a good layout on the screen and it is very simple
to work out what to do. The content is generally
good within the website. There are good videos
and presentation of the website. Some pictures
are taken from AO website which are obviously of
good quality.”
Programme and Award Winners
21
Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine: Prepare for
the FRCA – Key Articles from the Anesthesia
and Intensive Care Medicine Journal
Nicholas Pace – Elsevier Ltd, 2015 ISBN:
9780702069246 £19.99
program also includes a note/clipboard section that
you can utilise to make notes on relevant sections.
The product’s aesthetics are simple but engaging.
It uses a similar format to that found in journals
which emphasises important elements without
overwhelming the reader.”
Anaesthetists in training
This eBook is one of 10 carefully selected collections
of important articles from the Anaesthesia and
Intensive Care Medicine journal – a continually
updated, evidence-based learning resource, based
on the RCOA Curriculum. Prehospital Emergency
Medicine (PHEM) is a relatively new and evolving field
within Prehospital Care and involves the delivery of
safe prehospital critical care to seriously ill or injured
patients, and the safe transfer to or between hospitals.
This collection is ideal for trainees approaching this
sub-specialty for the first time and/or when preparing
for the FRCA (or similar) exams. It will also prove
an invaluable, authoritative refresher for life-long
learning and CPD. Related MCQs are included to test
your understanding. To provide easy to understand
coverage of PHEM for those approaching the subspecialty for the first time and/or for when preparing
for their specialty exams. It offers up-to-date content
in an engaging and affordable electronic format that
was previously only available in traditional journal
or textbook formats. The PHEM sub-specialist
practitioner role is uniquely challenging and there
is currently relatively little published specifically for
those training in this emerging area.
“As a specialty trainee currently in ICM I found this
very useful and I believe others would too. The
content is a collection of up to date material published
and peer reviewed from the journal ‘anaesthesia
and intensive care medicine’ from the last few years
it is therefore current and accurate through a peer
reviewed system. The learning objectives state the
book is designed for those coming to the specialty or
those preparing for FRCA – I believe this to be met.
The articles are well-written and concise and detailed
enough for either end of the trainee spectrum. No
obvious material was included on how to utilise the
program. However, this in its own right highlights
how easy the program is to navigate and use without
an instruction manual. The design and layout meant
it was very easy to traverse from the contents page
to subsequent sub-sections. The information within
each chapter follows a logical and well-presented
format. Generally this starts with a summary (an
abstract and learning objectives) to each chapter and
then depending on the content this is broken down
into important and relevant sub sections. The search
function is not obviously present when the program is
initially opened and is only available when an article/
chapter is open however, it is thorough and will scan
all chapters for specific search terms there on. The
The Stahl Neuropsychopharmacology
Masterclass: Antidepressants.
Stephen M Stahl – Cambridge University Press,
2015 ISBN: 9781107594838 £65 + VAT
Busy mental health professionals in practice
or in research, and anyone seeking the
most up-to-date information on advances in
neuropsychopharmacology
The Stahl Neuropsychopharmacology Masterclass is
an online educational program of courses covering
the use of drugs for the treatment of mental
disorders. Each course focuses on a core area of
psychiatric research and practice. The content of
the courses consists of interactive readings, short
lectures, animations and case studies. Users are
encouraged to take a pre-course assessment to
gauge a starting level of knowledge, engage with
the structured learning exercises and then sit the
post-course testing, successful completion of
which results in CME credits required for licensure
reregistration and Maintenance of Certification.
This is an ideal resource for busy mental health
professionals in practice or in research, and anyone
seeking the most up-to-date information on advances
in neuropsychopharmacology. The program of
courses is edited and moderated by the Neuroscience
Education Institute (founded by Dr Stahl) and
endorsed by Cambridge University Health Partners.
This course on Antidepressants is certified for 18.25
CME credits. Our aim is to provide the highest quality
educational experience in neuropsychopharmacology,
where up-to-date knowledge is essential. It provides
self-testing options and opportunities to claim formal
CME credits, all taken at a self-directed speed. It
includes opportunities to record personal practice
notes as well as interact with other users.
“This excellent resource is both accurate and current
but also includes information on antidepressant
innovations. The learning package is straightforward;
it is easy to use, easy to set up an account and loads
very well with no concerns. The navigation is easy
and it has an intuitive interface and is presented in a
logical sequence. It includes good quality animation
videos of the more difficult concepts and there
are good learning features especially for reflective
activities. The aesthetically pleasing layout brings the
book to life.”
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Surgical procedures. Version 1.4
dementia; what it is, its symptoms, living in a care
home and the impact on people living with the
condition and their families. The unusual format
enables the reader to educate themselves whilst also
enjoying a touching and light-hearted family story.
This comic approaches a serious subject matter in a
gentle way, and by introducing a family rather than
just a condition, aims to inform about a common yet
misunderstood disease without overwhelming with
unnecessary details.
Mr Vija Sodera FRCS – One Small Speck Ltd,
December 2015 ISBN: 9780992870126 £42.99
General practitioners, medical students, nurses and
dermatologists
This fully illustrated book details surgical procedures
that can be easily and safely applied to general
practice. Techniques include: cryotherapy, incisional
biopsy, excision biopsy, cyst excision, lipoma excision,
temporal artery biopsy, hydrocele aspiration, and
sclerotherapy. Every procedure is illustrated with a
series of still images and also a detailed video. It is a
companion volume to Surgical techniques.
“I would recommend this to a GP who wished to
develop a career in minor surgery. I am not aware of
any other resource which includes such a wide range
of conditions with illustrations from all stages of the
treatment. The production quality is very professional
with clear photographs and figures. There are many
illustrations of different conditions at different stages
of treatment eg those for warts. The image quality
is very good. The before and after photos are very
useful: eg those for lentigo. I am not aware of any
other resource that has so many images from before,
during and after treatment. The book has embedded
videos which are very useful. It does not make
extensive use of interactive digital features but is
logically set out. This is one of the better books that I
have seen on minor surgery. It is very comprehensive
and the advice on techniques is appropriate.”
Health and social care – the winner of
this category will be announced from
this shortlist
Dad’s not all there any more: A comic
about Dementia
Alex Demetris – Singing Dragon (Jessica
Kingsley Publishers), 2015 ISBN: 9781849057097
£7.99
For those affected by Lewy Body Dementia, their
loved ones, and both professional and informal carers
When Pete started hallucinating clowns in the corner
his son knew something wasn’t quite right. Here, Alex
Demetris draws on his father’s experience of Lewy
Body Dementia (LBD) to shed light on the condition.
Exploring both physical and mental changes, this
comic shows how LBD symptoms affect people with
the condition and their loved ones. Based on his
family’s experience of his father’s LBD, Alex Demetris’
comic explores with tenderness and humour one
of the most common yet often unheard of types of
“This is a really excellent graphic novel about the
diagnosis of DLB. It is unique, in that it is the only
book on this diagnosis, and does what it has set
out to do really well. There are one or two graphic
novels about dementia but this is the most personal
I have come across. This is a really excellent
graphic novel about Dementia with Lewy Bodies.
It is the only book I am aware of that does this
and it is beautifully illustrated. I would absolutely
recommend it, particularly to patients and carers
facing a diagnosis.”
Dementia, Culture and Ethnicity: Issues for All
Julia Botsford and Karen Harrison Dening
– Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 2015
ISBN: 9781849054867 £29.99
Dementia care practitioners, researchers and
policy makers
This book explores the relationship between
dementia, culture and ethnicity, looking at the latest
evidence and research to determine the impact of
diversity on dementia care services. By examining
the important issues and providing suggestions
for change, this book shows how dementia
professionals can provide culturally appropriate
care for all. With contributions from experienced
dementia practitioners and care researchers, this
book examines the impact of culture and ethnicity
on the experience of dementia and on the provision
of support and services, both in general terms and in
relation to specific minority ethnic communities, in
order to ensure that provision is culturally appropriate
for an increasingly diverse older population. This text
is unique in focusing on the complexity of culture
and ethnicity of people with dementia, and how
care services can be provided in both a culturally
appropriate and person-centred way.
“I really valued the carer’s perspective and historical
information with well-researched background
information from a review of literature including
data on demographics as well as more qualitative
data on experience of care etc. Chapters from
contributing authors added variety and different
perspectives/strategies in the area. Case studies
Programme and Award Winners
23
about patients/carers and projects/care providers
added more practical context. Chapter 9 included
short case studies of projects/organisations: very
practical and could be very useful for people setting
up projects or working in this area: perhaps could
have been included later on in the book as part of
next steps/recommendations. I feel if people were
accessing the book just for inspiration they may
miss this very useful chapter. Its strengths include
carer perspective, thorough literature review, good
subject, innovative ideas. It is a good balance of
history, background, research, practical examples,
reflection, carer perspective, strategy: a wellrounded, interesting book.”
Heaven and Hell: The Psychology of
the Emotions
Neel Burton – Acheron Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780992912727 £15.99
Very broad audience, but of special interest to
health professionals who deal with difficult emotions
After an introductory chapter on the philosophy
of the emotions, the book dissects some thirty
emotions from lust to love, and humility to
humiliation. It draws upon various strands in
psychology, philosophy, literature, and religion to
uncover their sources, their potential consequences,
and better ways to understand and perhaps even
harness them. Each of us spends maybe fifteen
years or more in formal education. We are taught
mathematics, chemistry, geography, history, and
so on, but at no point are we taught anything about
the emotions. Not even in psychiatric training do
we get taught about the emotions. Yet, out in the
real world, it is our untutored emotions that move
us, hold us back, and lead us astray. It is, at first and
at last, our emotions that determine our choice of
profession, partner, and politics, and our relation to
money, sex, and religion. Nothing can make us feel
more alive, or more human, than our emotions, or
hurt us more. This book aims simply to help redress
the balance by educating our emotions. Healthcare
professionals in general and medics in particular are
never made to think about the complex and painful
emotions which they face on an almost day-to-day
basis. Yet, a great part of the healing art is to guide
people through their emotions so that they might
understand them, contain them, and perhaps even
grow from them.
“I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed
the book and I found the historical aspects and
insights fascinating. It would appeal to a wide
ranging audience. The book sets out to remind us
of the power and significance of our emotions in
our day to day lives and that all too often in today’s
society their importance can be overlooked. Each
of the 29 chapters is focussed on a particular
emotion and discusses their ‘origin’, links with
philosophy and historical aspects. The impact of
each particular emotion both negative and positive
is then addressed. Essentially in relatively few pages
the readers’ existing perception of an emotion is
challenged at the same time as developing further
insight and understanding. The book does what it
sets out to do – it makes you stop and think. The
author’s enthusiasm and passion for psychology and
philosophy is very much evident throughout the
book, making it very ‘personable’. The book focusses
on a subject matter (emotions) that is relevant to
all. It enables and encourages the reader to think
differently and challenge their understanding on
emotions we experience without really ‘thinking’
about. The historical aspects/origins relating to
our understanding of the emotions covered are
fascinating and make it a really interesting read.”
In Search of the Perfect Health System
Mark Britnell – Palgrave Macmillan, 2015
ISBN: 9781137496614 £19.99
Healthcare professionals; academia at higher and
further education levels; government, politicians,
policy makers and think tanks; commentators,
bloggers and influencers
Every nation has its own unique healthcare system,
each with its individual strengths and weaknesses,
each struggling to provide effective, affordable care
to meet growing demand. Chairman of the Global
Health Practice at KPMG International and author of
In Search of the Perfect Health System, Mark Britnell
has spent more than 20 years working with public
and private healthcare organisations, travelling
to over 60 countries on nearly 200 occasions.
Combining the heart and passion of a healthcare
professional, and patient, with the head of a man
leading a successful global enterprise, Britnell has
learned first-hand what makes a healthcare system
work – and what doesn’t. Reflecting the diversity of
its subject matter, Britnell focuses on compelling
case studies of countries whose healthcare systems
offer inspiration and insight for the rest of the
world. With an insider’s acumen, Britnell explores
how elements of healthcare systems as diverse as
those found in India, South Africa and Singapore
can contribute to meeting the global healthcare
challenge, demonstrating how collaboration on a
global scale can tackle these challenges. Each of the
25 country chapters puts a particular system under
the microscope, revealing the different ways nations
respond to the healthcare challenges faced today.
From the UK’s struggle with competition in the NHS
to the rise of universal healthcare in the US; from
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
the ticking time-bomb of Japan’s ageing population
to the Nordics’ early-years health education, the
book is a timely and well-informed examination of
the best – and worst – examples of healthcare from
around the world. The main objectives of the book
are to give readers access to the author’s unrivalled
global knowledge on healthcare systems, sharing
his findings, insight and observations and identify
the big demographic trends and challenges facing
global healthcare systems and encourage high level
debate around these trends. This book also highlight
the successes and failures of a variety of different
healthcare systems across the globe through a
variety of accessible and easily digestible country
case studies and pinpoints what we can learn from
the most successful health systems and how these
learnings can be applied to our own healthcare
systems. In Search of the Perfect Health System
is the first book to comprehensively examine
healthcare systems across the globe in order to
answer all-important questions, like: what does the
‘perfect’ health system look like? Which countries’
health systems perform best? What lessons can we
learn from healthcare systems across the globe?
style and content addresses each group’s individual
needs in terms appropriate to them and schools
them in how to deal with voices from their particular
perspective. The core aim is to provide these three
groups with practical techniques they can use on a
daily basis. The resource offers a proactive, practical
and client-centred framework that is designed
to reduce anxiety and increase the likelihood of
learning new ways to deal with voices. Material for
the book was extensively derived directly from my
work with voice-hearers over the last decade of my
working life in an acute mental health setting as well
as being clinical lead in the Buckinghamshire Early
Intervention Service. I do, however, draw on what I
consider to be seminal approaches to dealing with
voices and helping voice-hearers. Chiefly, these are
cognitive, cognitive behavioural, client-centred,
group and interpersonal therapy, as well as the
mindfulness and compassionate mind approaches.
“I have really enjoyed reading this book and have
already lent it to colleagues who are interested in
public health. Even for those not interested in public
health, it is a wonderful read which provides an
overview of the positives and negatives of different
healthcare systems. The small length of the sections
makes it easy to get through in busy days, which
was really helpful for me! This book has definitely
helped me understand the differences in healthcare
systems across the world. I’m really pleased to
have been given this book to read: it is wonderful! It
contains such a vast amount of information in a fun
and easy-to-read way, all of which is relevant to our
careers as medical professionals. It has sparked many
conversations between my colleagues and I, and a
number of colleagues have asked to borrow it.”
On the Frontline with Voices: A Grassroots
Handbook for Voice-Hearers, Carers and
Clinicians
Keith Butler – Speechmark Publishing Ltd, 2015
ISBN: 978-1909301696 £29.99
Voice-hearers and their carers, as well as the
clinicians and groups who support them both
This is a jargon-free, user-friendly resource for voicehearers and their carers, as well as the clinicians
and groups who support them both. It offers a
new and practical way of looking at voice-hearing
as well as a host of practical strategies to assist in
recovery. The resource is built around three core
sections. Each of the sections speaks directly to
voice-hearers, clinicians and carers, in turn. The
“I would definitely recommend this book, to
someone in any of the three target groups, as I think
that it has very useful ways of thinking about what
is actually not an uncommon problem in general
practice and the community, as well as in the
inpatient setting. For each group, maybe especially
the carer group, it has some really interesting
insights into the problems and challenges they face,
and would be useful for a carer, but also a clinician
to read and consider. It could potentially be a book
which might change clinical practice. The strengths
of this book are several and considerable, and
include the attractive writing style, the fascinating
and clinically useful content, and the ability to use
this book and approach to voice hearing with both
clients and carers. The author has thought very hard
about his intended audience and has produced a
book which speaks to all three main groups who
are concerned with voice hearing: the voice hearers
themselves; their families and careers, and their
clinicians. I admire the principle behind that idea,
the separate sections targeted at each group are
good and it’s a sensible idea to write in a slightly
different tone and for the somewhat different
perspectives of these three group, whilst still
maintaining the integrity of keeping these sections
all in the same book, particularly in the interests of
transparency, so any group could with ease look at
how they are being portrayed and represented to
the other group and to see that the message they
are being given is in fact consistent with that being
given to the other groups. It does result in a certain
amount of repetition, but I think that is a fair enough
payoff for the benefits of this approach. It contains
a very helpful and interesting approach to voice
hearing, for all three groups. From my perspective
I think that the sections written for the patient and
for the carer are the stronger sections, as some
of the advice in the clinician section is somewhat
vague and offers less practical suggestions and
more frameworks. For example, it recommends
Programme and Award Winners
25
several specific psychological methods but does
not discuss these in much more detail than just
giving their names. However, the clinician group is
probably the most disparate group the author tries
to address in terms of needs and knowledge. There
are very useful ideas however for all three groups
about new ways of thinking about voice hearing
and new strategies. It is a potentially a very useful
resource to use as a clinician or to recommend to
a patient or carer. In my experience of books in this
market, it seems to be both novel and original, and
certainly contains many ideas and approaches that
I was not aware of as a clinician. It is an excellent
idea for the same book to be accessible for the
client, carer and clinician, and again that seems to
me to be quite original. There are references, some
of them dating back quite far, but as the author
states, these he considers seminal publications with
continuing relevance. A lot of the book is clearly
based on the author’s personal experience and
expertise, and there are frequent examples drawn
from his own past clients, or people he has known,
even from his own life. I would have liked a more
evidence-based approach rather than anecdotal, but
this is not necessarily a failing in this book, and the
author clearly states that the contents of the book
are largely based on his own work and experiences.
The sources the author chooses to use are certainly
appropriate to the ideas and approaches he is
advocating, and the authors own significant clinical
experience in this area shines through. The writing
style is clear, engaging and lucid. It is an enjoyable,
fascinating and easy book to read. The headings,
summary statements and important point boxes
make it an easy book to navigate. The tone is slightly
different between the sections aimed at each of
the three target groups, with the clinician section
being a bit more formal, but that feels appropriate.
On the whole the tone is quite colloquial and
conversational. The main weakness of this book for
me was the slightly scanty evidence base, which is
understandable in the sort of resource the author is
trying to provide perhaps, but even so I would have
preferred to see a little more evidence of evidence
for his approach, as sensible and reasonable as it all
seems. The author has thought very hard about his
intended audience and has produced a book which
speaks to all three main groups who are concerned
with voice hearing: the voice hearers themselves;
their families and careers, and their clinicians. I
admire the principle behind that idea, the separate
sections targeted at each group are good and it’s a
sensible idea to write in a slightly different tone and
for the somewhat different perspectives of these
three group, whilst still maintaining the integrity
of keeping these sections all in the same book,
particularly in the interests of transparency, so any
group could with ease look at how they are being
portrayed and represented to the other group
and to see that the message they are being given
is in fact consistent with that being given to the
other groups. It does result in a certain amount of
repetition, but I think that is a fair enough payoff
for the benefits of this approach. It contains a very
helpful and interesting approach to voice hearing,
for all three groups. From my perspective I think
that the sections written for the patient and for
the carer are the stronger sections, as some of the
advice in the clinician section is somewhat vague
and offers less practical suggestions and more
frameworks. For example, it recommends several
specific psychological methods but does not discuss
these in much more detail than just giving their
names. However, the clinician group is probably the
most disparate group the author tries to address
in terms of needs and knowledge. There are very
useful ideas however for all three groups about
new ways of thinking about voice hearing and new
strategies. It is a potentially a very useful resource
to use as a clinician or to recommend to a patient
or carer. In my experience of books in this market,
it seems to be both novel and original, and certainly
contains many ideas and approaches that I was not
aware of as a clinician. It is an excellent idea for the
same book to be accessible for the client, carer
and clinician, and again that seems to me to be
quite original.”
Peaceful, Pain free and Dignified: Palliative
and End of Life Care for People on the Autism
Spectrum. A Guide for Social Care Practitioners
Jill Ferguson and Val Laurie – BILD, 2015
ISBN: 9781905218417 £18
Social care teams
This book was commissioned and published by
the British Institute of Learning Disabilities (BILD),
a small charity publisher that aims to promote
good support for people with learning disabilities
and people with autism. The book originated
from a piece of reflective practice based on the
experiences of a team of staff supporting a person
on the autism spectrum through palliative and
end of life care. After the person’s death it was
important to take time to discuss how the team
felt and reflect on what they found difficult, what
they did well, and what they could learn from their
experiences. The team’s reflections were filmed
and included contributions from the important
people involved in the person’s life; family, health
and social care staff, and close friends and peers
on the autism spectrum. The video content and
the conversations with colleagues in health and
social care were transcribed and that story and
discussion flows throughout the book. The aim was
to make it feel relevant and relatable to social care
practitioners as those important voices sharing
26
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
their story form a thread that runs throughout the
book. There are also further contributions from
the support workers and professionals who have
attended the palliative care workshops run by
the authors, enabling a broader range of health
and social care professionals to contribute their
thoughts and perspectives on the topic. Each
chapter of the book contains narrative from the
transcribed video content, sign posting for further
information, practice suggestions and discussion
points for care teams. At the end of each chapter
there are good support mapping templates that are
designed to enable care teams to start mapping out
the important considerations involved in delivering
palliative and end of life care to a person they
know or support. The content of the book aims to
consider how the challenges of a person’s autism
impacts on palliative and end of life care.
Positive Focus: A Groupwork Approach to
Self-harm
“This is an excellent resource which the authors
produce as a work book but also carries a useful
amount of information to use as a reference text.
The insights into the needs of people on the autistic
spectrum are valuable to me as a health professional
especially as the reported prevalence is approaching
2%. The acknowledgment of that person’s atypical
or unique perspective on aspects of their life and
therefore also their death, that must be respected
and understood comes through clearly in the book
It covers important areas of palliative care and
would provide the reader with the background they
need to care for someone dying who was also on
the autistic spectrum or had learning disabilities.
This includes not just the physical needs but also
the spiritual, emotional and social areas. Most
importantly it also covers the needs of those
providing the care. The quote to ‘put on your own
oxygen to mask first’ is especially relevant. I would
disagree with the authors about the title as I feel
this book would be as useful for health as well as
social care professionals. I would have liked to know
more about the authors’ backgrounds. It is clearly a
resource that relates as much to learning disability
as much as autism and perhaps it could have more
overtly incorporated this? Whilst the book is clearly
high quality, beautifully crafted and put together
it covers a specialist area of practice but should
be available in the libraries of hospices and social
care professionals who care for those with learning
disability or on the autistic spectrum. Whilst quite
a niche text it stands as a highly useful reference
for professionals who find themselves looking after
patients or clients in this situation.”
Sarah Hodgkins – Speechmark Publishing Ltd,
2015 ISBN: 978-0863889790 £34.99
Young people who self-harm
Positive Focus introduces a seven session group
work framework which has been designed to
support young people who self-harm. The group
aims to encourage young people to develop
alternative coping strategies for dealing with their
feelings, thereby reducing the need to self-harm.
Each session includes topics on: Anger/
Anxiety management; Relaxation; Assertion/
Communication skills; Distraction/Channelling;
Problem Solving; and Self-control. Group members
will receive printed information from the sessions
to take away with them and build into a support
reference. The sessions will enhance the individual’s
feelings of self-control and responsibility for their
actions, giving them a sense of choice about how
they deal with difficult situations and feelings.
“It provides a clear structure for setting up and
running group sessions for young people who selfharm. The clarity of information will help you set up
group sessions. I think this is a very useful resource
for professionals working with young people who
self-harm. It facilitates the development of group
sessions, which make best use of professional’s
time. It includes a number of useful printable
and downloadable resources, from handouts
and questionnaires through to MP3 versions of
relaxation exercises. It is almost a complete package
(just doesn’t provide the professional to lead the
sessions!).”
Internal medicine – the winner of this
category will be announced from this
shortlist
Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin: Clinical
Dermatology 12th ed.
William D James, Timothy G Berger and Dirk M
Elston – Elsevier, 2015 ISBN: 9780323319676
£150
Dermatologists, internists and GPs
Effectively diagnose and treat a wide range of skin
conditions with the latest edition of the highly
regarded Andrews’ Diseases of the Skin: Clinical
Dermatology. The 12th edition of this classic
reference, by esteemed authors William D James,
MD, Timothy G Berger, MD, and Dirk M Elston, MD,
provides state-of-the-art information on newly
The BMA International and
Immigration Department:
tackling “information poverty”
The availability of relevant and reliable
health information is a prerequisite for a
fully-functioning health system. Without
it, health professionals cannot deliver
effective, safe and timely healthcare.
Patients and other service users also
require appropriately-targeted health
information in order to make decisions
about their own care and the care of
those for whom they are responsible.
As health information needs change
over time, the medical research and
publishing communities must keep
pace and continue to produce resources
which are fit for purpose.
Healthcare Information for All (HIFA)
Since 2008, we have provided strategic and
financial support to Healthcare Information
for All (HIFA), a global multi-disciplinary
network of over 14,000 individuals from 172
countries, working in collaboration with the
World Health Organization and more than
260 health and development organisations
worldwide towards a shared vision:
In low- and middle-income countries
(LMICs) lack of access to information
remains a major barrier to evidence-based
health care in developing countries. The
consequences are devastating. Tens of
thousands of women, children and men die
every day, often because the mother, family
caregiver or health worker does not have
access to the information and knowledge
they need, when they need it, to make
appropriate decisions and save lives. Most of
these deaths could have been prevented by
simple interventions, often available locally.
HIFA harnesses the unique experiential
knowledge of members to build a global
picture of health information needs and
develop strategies for meeting them. The
BMA’s 2015 Annual Representative Meeting
gave unanimous support to HIFA and urges
the UK government to prioritise support for
initiatives that improve the availability and
use of health information.
The BMA International Department is
working with external stakeholders both to
address the root causes of the crisis and to
provide direct assistance to organisations in
LMICs where access to reliable and relevant
health information is limited or non-existent.
“A world where every person and every
health worker will have access to the
healthcare information they need to protect
their own health and the health of those for
whom they are responsible.”
More information:
hifa2015.org/
Contact Martin Carroll, head of International
and Immigration [email protected]
BMA Information Fund
The BMA Information Fund has provided
books and other learning resources to
health-focused organisations in LMICs
and other areas of need. Working with the
charity Teaching Aids at Low Cost (TALC),
we invite and consider applications for
assistance from the Fund on an annual
basis. In 2015, Ethiopia, Democratic
Republic of Congo, and Laos, were among
the countries which received donations
from the Fund.
More information and details of how to
apply: bma.org.uk/informationfund
Contact Arthy Santhakumar, senior policy
advisor, International and Immigration
Department [email protected]
28
British Medical Association
recognised diseases, new conditions, and unusual
variants of well-known diseases, as well as new uses
for tried-and-true medications and unique drugs for
diseases as disparate as melanoma and rosacea. It’s
the ideal go-to resource for clinical dermatology, at
every stage of the medical career.
“To middle grade doctors: staff grades and GPs this
is more than adequate. A registrar may want to
start here before progressing to the large tomes.
It will never be the definitive textbook of a large
department (like say Rook) but it is an excellent
middle grade book and reference in the clinic. It
is hard to fault its references, information, online
images or videos.”
Dermoscopy: An Illustrated Self-Assessment
Guide 2nd ed.
Robert Johr and Wilhelm Stolz – McGraw-Hill
Education, 2015 ISBN: 9780071834346 £71.99
Dermatologists, dermatology students and medical
oncologists
With 436 clinical and dermoscopic images and
218 progressively more difficult cases commonly
encountered in general dermatologic practice,
Dermoscopy: An Illustrated Self-Assessment Guide
offers a unique checklist methodology for learning
how to use dermoscopy to diagnose benign and
malignant pigmented and non-pigmented skin
lesions. Each high-quality, full-colour clinical and
dermoscopic image is presented with short history.
Every case is followed by multiple-choice questions
and three check boxes to test your knowledge
of risk, diagnosis, and disposition. Turn the page,
and the answers to the questions are provided in
an easy-to-remember manner which includes the
dermoscopic images being sown again. Circles,
stars, boxes, and arrows appear in the image
pointing out the important criteria of each case. This
unique resource helps readers train themselves in
the use of direct skin microscopy (dermoscopy) in
order to differentiate and diagnose pigmented skin
lesions. Skin cancer is the most highly reimbursed
diagnosis for dermatologists and misdiagnosis
of skin cancer is one of the top reasons for a
malpractice suit against dermatologist. Accurate
diagnosis of benign and malignant pigmented
skin lesions is thus critical for a dermatologist’s
success. A relatively new tool for the dermatologist
is the dermoscope a handheld specially illuminated
microscope that allows a high power view of any
skin lesion without taking a biopsy. This tool also
prevents unnecessary excisions of melanocytic
nevi without increasing the risk of overlooking
melanomas and is changing the standards of care
for pigmented skin lesions.
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
“I would highly recommend this book for anyone
wishing to hone their dermoscopy skills. I think it
ideally should be used in conjunction with a primer
to become familiar with dermoscopic features and
the various methods of dermoscopic analyses prior
to working through the cases (although the first
chapter Dermoscopy A-Z does provide a useful
revision of these). I think the book is especially useful
to repeatedly revisit to maintain dermoscopy skills
as there is a vast wealth of learning material here. I
am a generalist GP with an interest in dermoscopy
and I can honestly say that this is one of my all-time
favourite medical books. Although it has a steep
initial learning curve for a novice I think any reader
who works through all the cases will be rewarded
with a guaranteed level of dermoscopic skill which
will improve with each rereading. It’s definitely a book
to go back to and should be on the shelf of anyone
interested in dermoscopy. As a generalist with many
year experience I cannot think of many books which
have provided me with such a powerful learning
experience. The reader who works through all the
cases will almost certainly significantly improve their
dermoscopy skills, whether a novice, intermediate
or experienced dermoscopist. I think the book will
appeal not just to dermatologists and dermatology
trainees but also to the increasing number of general
practitioners who are taking up dermoscopy. The
cases are a pleasure to work through. Firstly the
images are clear and excellent in rendition. Secondly,
the accompanying MCQs, checkboxes requiring
triage, diagnosis and disposition all challenge the
reader in a most realistic fashion. Thirdly, the lucidly
annotated images and analyses provided in the
answer section prove to be a very powerful learning
tool all consolidated by the accompanying pearls of
clinical wisdom. The second edition builds on the
successful format of the first edition by adding extra
cases, extra chapters on paediatric dermoscopy and
the use of dermoscopy in general dermatology. The
book is an excellent investment for anyone who
wants to become a better dermoscopist – I highly
recommend it.”
Eureka Respiratory Medicine
Authors: Laura-Jane Smith, Jennifer Quint and
Jeremy Brown; Series Editors: Janine Henderson,
David Oliveira and Stephen Parker – JP Medical
Ltd, 2015 ISBN: 9781907816727 £22.95
Medical students
Eureka Respiratory Medicine includes all the core
science and clinical information that students
need for the respiratory module of their course,
conveniently brought together in one book. Its
integrated approach teaches students how to apply
Programme and Award Winners
29
biomedical principles to everyday practice across
primary, acute and emergency care settings. The
content has been carefully planned to provide an
authoritative reference for use during the degree
course and an ideal revision aid in the run up to
exams. While the primary goal of providing students
with a text that integrates core science and clinical
medicine is far from unique, there can be few other
publications that provide students with all the core
respiratory science and clinical content they need,
in one book, in full colour and using such innovative
learning features as Eureka Respiratory Medicine.
As with all titles in the Eureka series, the learning
tools included in Eureka Respiratory Medicine set
the book apart from more traditional undergraduate
texts: Cases. Many textbooks feature clinical
scenarios, but too often these are token cases
inserted to break the main text and do not help
students to learn. In contrast, Eureka Respiratory
Medicine’s insightful long form cases, which
introduce the disease-based chapters, are written
in a uniquely engaging narrative style that carefully
steps the reader through the clinical reasoning
process. As such they support problem-based
learning and show students how to think like an
experienced clinician by logically working back from
a presentation. Cases in Eureka Respiratory Medicine
include classic presentations such as recurrent
cough and wheeze and more challenging ones
such as Breathlessness and weight loss. Graphic
narratives. Inspired by the ‘pathographic’ novels
that depict patient narratives of illness, Eureka’s
innovative graphic narratives bring the stories of
the patients depicted in the cases to life, to great
effect. They also highlight – in a way that is hard to
do using text only – the skills which students need
to communicate with colleagues, patients and their
relatives. For example, in the Breathlessness and
weight loss case, the reader is introduced not just to
Elsa Jeffard and her daughter but also to the other
members of the multi-disciplinary team involved
in her lung cancer diagnosis. Starter questions
at the beginning of each chapter: the answers to
these intriguing questions are designed to engage
the reader and make learning and revision more
interesting for the student: Is COPD ever reversible?
Why do only some people who smoke develop lung
cancer? Boxes highlight important clinical tips, tricks
and learning points throughout the book. Extensive
full-colour illustration programme includes artworks
of anatomic structures, physiological and other core
science processes; photographs of clinical signs
and examination techniques; the graphic narratives
described above and patient archetypes that depict
the constellation of signs associated with classic
presentations (Fig 3.9 The ‘pink puffer’ and ‘blue
bloater’). With textbooks becoming bigger, heavier
and more expensive, it is unsurprising that some
students are buying fewer of them and potentially
forsaking learning opportunities in the process. With
its compact size, accessible format and attractive
design, Eureka Respiratory Medicine represents
astonishing value for money and a truly unique and
exciting addition to the learning resources available
to future clinicians.
“This is an excellent resource for medical students
on clinical attachments as it covers investigations,
diagnostic strategies and clinical scenarios very
well. I think it is a useful aid for not only students
but trainees at all grades even up to SpR level. At
higher levels in training the book still explains topics
in enough detail to obtain a fundamental basic
understanding. The objective to present concepts
in a clear and concise manner has certainly been
fulfilled by the books layout and use of diagrams
and tables ensure easier understanding an effective
revision and memory tool. The clinical areas are
dealt with more globally than just addressing the
pathophysiology and diagnostic conundrums but
also looking at management from a multidisciplinary
perspective. Also from an exam perspective the
book highlights important areas with exam style
questions. It is particularly useful for students after
problem-based learning undergraduate curriculum.
This book is unique in that it covers both basic
science, mechanisms of disease and clinical cases
as well as going though radiological imaging and
other diagnostic tests. Important points in history
and examination for PACES and MCQ style exams
are also demonstrated. I have not come across
such a book previously that is also so handy and
easy-to-read and can easily fit into a small bag! The
text is both accurate and up-to-date as areas such
as cystic fibrosis management have mentioned
Ivacaftor and Pirfenidone in the treatment of
interstitial pulmonary fibrosis. The BTS/ERS /ATS
guidelines have been adhered to for example in
the management of asthma. Diagrams are used
effectively to explain clinical examination and lists
are accurate for example to list respiratory viruses.
The writing style is easy to understand for students
for both the main text and the answers to questions.
This is evident in the first chapter eg: explanation of
important concepts like phagocytosis and immunity
but also when defining condition such as obesity
hypoventilation syndrome and what are the main
aspects that differentiate from obstructive sleep
apnoea. They have contributed immensely to
the success of this book as the test is very much
enhance by clear tables, good quality photos to
explain examination skills and high quality radiology
too. The figures in the first chapter also convey
accurately concepts in physiological mechanisms eg
ion channels in CF.”
30
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Fishman’s Pulmonary Diseases and Disorders
5th ed.
monitoring and the importance of multidisciplinary
care are also emphasised. The goal of this new
edition, as previous editions, is to provide all critical
information needed for the diagnosis, treatment
and care of patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) in a
single volume. The intent is to be a strong resource
on clinical management but it does so while still
touching on the underlying basic science that is
critical to understanding and caring for CF patients.
It is the only current and comprehensive reference
specifically for health professionals managing
cystic fibrosis patients and written by renowned
international experts.
Michael A Grippi, Jack A Elias, Jay A Fishman,
Allan I Pack, Robert M Senior and Robert
M Kotloff – McGraw-Hill Education, 2015
ISBN: 9780071807289 £325.99
Pulmonary physicians
Since 1980, Fishman’s Pulmonary Diseases and
Disorders has delivered unparalleled coverage
of pulmonary medicine and the underlying basic
and applied science upon which clinical practice
is based. The Fifth Edition, with 270 contributing
authors, includes more than 2,000 illustrations, 60
videos, and 18,000 references. The book opens with
a comprehensive overview of the scientific basis of
lung function in health and disease. It then provides
detailed coverage of the broad array of diseases and
disorders affecting the respiratory system, including
obstructive and restrictive diseases, pulmonary
vascular disorders, sleep-disordered breathing, lung
neoplasms, respiratory infections, and respiratory
failure, among others.
“This is a comprehensive two-volume textbook
written predominantly by US-based contributors. It is
an excellent encyclopaedia of respiratory medicine
that would serve as a good general textbook for those
trained in the US or US-based systems. The strength
is that it is a wide ranging textbook that covers the
range of disorders written by experts in the fields.
This is a very good quality textbook that will be very
helpful to any train or respiratory physician in the US
or allied healthcare systems.”
“It is a really useful reference book which is invaluable
to sub-specialty trainees and consultants alike.
Rather than reading it from cover to cover I would
recommend this book as a reference book which you
can dip in and out of when needed. As it is heavily
evidence-based it will undoubtedly need revising in
a few years’ time but it is the most current CF book
I have seen. It is clearly presented, comprehensive,
well-written, both scientific and clinical slant to
the way information is discussed. Up-to-date but
also using important classic CF references. But it is
a physically heavy book so I will probably use the
electronic version. This is the only CF reference text
book that you need. Contributors are experienced,
working in centres of clinical excellence and also
actively involved in research. This gives a unique
balance: science translated into clinical practice. Bang
up-to-date. Clearly presented.”
Hoffbrand’s Essential Haematology 7th ed.
A Victor Hoffbrand and Paul AH Moss – WileyBlackwell, 2015 ISBN: 9781118408674 £45.99
Hodson and Geddes’ Cystic Fibrosis 4th ed.
Andrew Bush, Diana Bilton and Margaret Hodson
– CRC Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781444180008 £149
Respiratory clinicians, pulmonologists or health
professionals caring for cystic fibrosis patients.
Hodson and Geddes’ Cystic Fibrosis provides
everything the respiratory clinician, pulmonologist
or health professional treating patients’ needs in a
single manageable volume. This international and
authoritative work brings together current knowledge
and has become established in previous editions as
a leading reference in the field. This fourth edition
includes a wealth of new information, figures, useful
videos, and a companion eBook. The basic science
that underlies the disease and its progression is
outlined in detail and put into a clinical context.
Diagnostic and clinical aspects are covered in depth,
as well as promising advances such as gene therapies
and other novel molecular based treatments. Patient
USMLE students, biomedical science
undergraduates and postgraduate students
Hoffbrand’s Essential Haematology has built a
reputation as the flagship haematology textbook
for students, providing an authoritative introduction
to the subject. Now in its 7th edition, this classic
text explores the remarkable advances in the
understanding of the pathogenesis of diseases
of the blood and lymphatic system and in the
treatment of these diseases, and provides up-todate knowledge of the pathogenesis, clinical and
laboratory features, management and treatment of
a wide range of blood and bone marrow disorders
in a concise and user friendly style. It outlines
the basic principles of clinical and laboratory
haematology and shows how manifestations of
blood diseases can be explained by new knowledge
of the disease processes. It is an indispensable
resource for students and trainees and an essential
read for all specialists who are interested in
Programme and Award Winners
31
updating their knowledge. Hoffbrand’s Essential
Haematology outlines the basic principles of
clinical and laboratory haematology and shows how
manifestations of blood diseases can be explained
by new knowledge of the disease processes. It is an
indispensable resource for students and trainees
and an essential read for all specialists who are
interested in updating their knowledge.
“This book strikes a good balance between not
dumbing down haematology, which is becoming
increasingly complex, and managing to explain
the subjects in a clear and concise manner. It is
clearly up-to-date and includes recent advances.
There are a number of textbooks looking to teach
undergraduates haematology, but many of them
gloss over the complexities of haematology whereas
this book does not shy from the detail and seeks to
make it accessible. It includes recent advances in
the understanding and treatment of a wide variety
of haematological conditions. It also makes good
use of explanatory diagrams, images and tables. Its
main strength is its clarity of explanation, without
underestimating the knowledge of the reader and
their desire to learn more about the subject. It is
easy to read and one can understand topics that
are otherwise difficult to penetrate. This is a good
quality textbook which makes learning the subject
much easier. Well done in making haematology
more accessible!”
Lecture Notes Immunology 7th ed.
Ian Todd, Gavin Pickett and Lucy Fairclough
– Wiley-Blackwell, 2015 ISBN: 9781118451649
£26.99
Medical students and junior doctors and biomedical
science students
Immunology Lecture Notes provides a thorough
grounding in basic concepts of immunity.
Covering the core components of the immunology
curriculum at medical school, it presents a
concise overview of the immune system, its
interactions with pathogens, the major areas of
immunopathology, including immunodeficiency,
allergy, autoimmunity, lymphoproliferative diseases
and transplantation, and their therapy. With
learning objectives and important points guiding
you through the vital concepts, Immunology
Lecture Notes will help you to address the
important disorders of the immune system, and use
immunological developments in clinical practice.
It is a user-friendly guide to this complex science
to help achieve a thorough understanding of the
immune system. It begins with an overview chapter
on the nature of immunity to ease students into
the complexities of immunology. It presents core
knowledge of the major components of the immune
system, tissue-damaging mechanisms of response,
common and important immunodeficiency
disorders and therapeutics. It features clinical
cases to illustrate how immunological principles
are applied in practice. It includes histological
slides, anatomical scans, learning objectives,
important point’s boxes, and EMQs with full
answers. Immunology is the study of the structure
and function of the immune system in health and
disease, and is a required component of medical
and bioscience degrees. Covered during the early
stages of their course, students are normally
given a thorough grounding in basic cellular and
molecular immunology. This knowledge is then
built upon to discuss the more applied aspects of
immunology including defence against infection
and defects in immune responsiveness such as
immunodeficiencies, allergy and autoimmune
disease.
“Its strengths are: clear, non-pretentious,
sympathetic text with very good illustrations. If you
missed all the lectures in a course (for whatever
reasons) you could get by if you read these notes
conscientiously. The clinical sections are rather
too sketchy for non-clinicians who are interested
particularly in clinical applications (but then the
authors would no doubt point out that it’s not
supposed to be a textbook of any part of medicine).
The illustrations are absolutely indispensable; and
very good. The fact-rich illustrations are as lean
and self-explanatory as the selected readership
needs. Some are very simple. The more elaborate
illustrations can’t be less elaborate, otherwise this
book wouldn’t qualify even as ‘notes’.”
Oxford Textbook of Clinical Nephrology 4th ed.
Neil N Turner, Norbert Lameire, David J
Goldsmith, Christopher G Winearls, Jonathan
Himmelfarb and Giuseppe Remuzzi – Oxford
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780199592548
£450
Nephrologists in clinical practice and training, and
other healthcare professionals with an interest in
renal disease
This fourth edition of the Oxford Textbook of
Clinical Nephrology builds on the success and
international reputation of the publication as an
important resource for the practising clinician. It
provides comprehensive, scholarly, and evidencebased coverage of the full spectrum of clinical
nephrology, written by a global faculty of experts.
The chapters include treatment algorithms to aid
patient care where possible, and the emphasis
throughout is on marrying advances in scientific
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research with clinical management. It provides clear
presentations of relevant science in appropriate
depth alongside important extras such as historical
notes, and reflects developments in the field and
new approaches to topics. This is an authoritative
and comprehensive textbook combining the
clinical aspects of renal disease essential to daily
clinical practice with extensive information about
the underlying basic science and current evidence
available. The textbook couples a practical clinical
approach with a learned account of disease
pathogenesis and background. The Oxford Textbook
of Clinical Nephrology includes contributions from
nearly 500 widely respected specialists covering
all facets of nephrology, and includes unique
sections on rarer clinical problems such as renal
manifestations of systemic disease and renal
disease in the tropics, with increased focus on the
medical aspects of transplantation, HIV-associated
renal disease, and infection and renal disease. New
sections on genetic topics, clinical and physiological
aspects of fluid/electrolyte and tubular disorders,
and the addition of summaries to each section to
give quick answers to common questions makes
this edition even more accessible and didactic.
Postgraduate Haematology 7th ed.
“This fourth edition of Oxford Textbook of Clinical
Nephrology builds on the success and popularity
it has had in the nephrology fraternity. It is a solid
reference book for anyone connected with renal
medicine. It has used an extensive network of
international contributors to produce authoritative
information on basic sciences leading to clinical
aspects of renal diseases. It sets out a clear
picture of scientific components behind today’s
practice. Paper and online format is very handy.
There have been significant updates and newer
sections on transplant, genetic diseases, acid-base
and electrolytes, paediatric and geriatric renal
medicine, and renal diseases in pregnancy. Some
chapters could have been daunting, especially the
bigger and broader topics. But these have been
successfully broken down into smaller sections that
are easy-to-read and comprehend. The use of colour
headings and subheadings is very pleasing to the
eye. It is well-illustrated with charts, diagrams and
photographs; this desk reference will continue to be
an indispensable reference book.”
Victor Hoffbrand, Douglas R Higgs, David M
Keeling and Atul B Mehta – Wiley-Blackwell,
2015 ISBN: 9781118854327 £175
Haematologists and trainees
The new edition of this classic reference textbook
provides pp-to-date knowledge of the pathogenesis,
clinical and laboratory features and management
of all blood disorders, with new sections reflecting
on advances in the specialty, including knowledge
gained from new generation sequencing, latest
anticoagulant drugs, diagnostic laboratory tools,
and treatment strategies. Superb four-colour
illustrations and photomicrographs of blood cells
and tissues throughout make learning and teaching
simple and new algorithms aid with decision-making
for treatment. Companion website includes figures
and tables for download. Postgraduate Haematology
aims to provide up-to-date knowledge of the
pathogenesis, clinical and laboratory features,
management and treatment of a wide range of
blood and bone marrow disorders in a concise and
user friendly style. This approachable textbook
provides the perfect resource for teaching and
learning in haematology.
“This book is excellent, comprehensive and
accessible with generally just the right amount of
detail. It is well-written with excellent coverage of
the field; most haematologists will find something
of interest or use intros volume. The level of detail
is aimed largely at the interested trainee in the field
but sub-specialists will find very good and useful
summaries of other areas of haematology that fall
outside their area of expertise. This is an excellent
work and I fully support shortlisting.”
Retinal Pharmacotherapeutics
Quan Dong Nguyen, Eduardo B Rodrigues,
Michel Eid Farah, William F Mieler and Diana V
Do – S Karger AG, 2015 ISBN: 9783318055641
€296
Anyone concerned with the management of retinal
diseases (the general ophthalmologist and the
retina specialist alike)
This publication discusses many aspects from basic
research on the retina, to animal models for retinal
drug delivery, retinal diseases that are amenable to
pharmacotherapy and also drugs and mechanisms
in retinal diseases. The use of pharmacotherapeutics
in the management of retinal diseases is rapidly
evolving, and a favourable therapy for the patient.
Today anti-VEGF agents are used for a range of
indications from inflammation-related choroidal
neovascularisation to macular oedema secondary
to retinal vein occlusion or diabetic retinopathy.
Beyond VEGF, there is an array of target areas under
investigation – not only for vascular pathologies
such as age-related macular degeneration and
diabetic eye disease, but also for degenerative,
infectious and inflammatory retinal conditions.
“The book provides an excellent review of the
subject; it would be excellent to read but also to
have on the shelf. I will be recommending it to
colleagues looking for more information on this
area. The breadth and depth of this book are really
excellent. It provides a good narrative but it is also
to find quick answers to specific questions and
clearly references where to ‘look next’. It covers
therapeutics now in use but also those in trials
and research development. It has broadened my
previous knowledge of this rapidly expanding area
of ophthalmology. The one weakness is that if one
reads is expecting to get help with deciding the
management of a specific patient, it is unlikely to
provide specific enough guidance, although the
book makes no claim to provide that function. I
was really impressed with this book, and was glad
to receive it to review. This is a complex and rapidly
developing area of ophthalmology, and this book
provides a very good update on the subject, but has
sufficient background and basic science to make it
useful any level of ophthalmologist.”
Tattooed Skin and Health
Jørgen Serup, Nicolas Kluger and
Wolfgang Bäumler – S Karger AG, 2015
ISBN: 9783318027761 €184
Clinicians and nursing staff, toxicologists and
regulators, laser surgeons who often face the
challenge of having to remove tattoos, professional
tattooists and producers of tattoo ink
This book discusses different aspects of the various
medical risks associated with tattoos, such as
allergic reactions from red tattoos, papulo-nodular
reactions from black tattoos as well as technical and
psycho-social complications, in addition to bacterial
and viral infections. Further sections are dedicated
to the composition of tattoo inks, and a case is
made for the urgent introduction of national and
international regulations. With about 10-20% of the
adult population in Europe being tattooed, there
is a strong demand for publications discussing the
various issues related to tattooed skin and health.
Until now, only a few scientific studies on tattooing
have been published.
“The title and subject matter are unusual. This is
very much a reference book and as such, it serves
its audience very well. It provides a lot of detail
regarding the social, cultural, historical, basic
science and clinical science relating to tattooing and
dermatology. There are several chapters covering
the practice of tattooing, several chapters detailing
side-effects of tattooing, a series of chapters
devoted to the manufacturing of tattoo inks and
their chemical constituents. The final sections cover
the regulation of the tattooing business in Europe
and the US. I probably would not have bought this
book before reading it as an addition to my own
reference library, but after reading it, it makes a
good addition to both an institutional and personal
dermatology library. The illustrations really are very
good quality. The text, footnotes, bibliography are
up-to-date and accurate, as is the index. This is the
standard I would expect from Karger and from this
editorial team. The main recommendation I can
make is that I would not have picked this book out
to purchase for my personal dermatology library
before reading it. However, having read it, I would
definitely recommend it to both personal and
institutional dermatology libraries. Perhaps, because
of its social focus too on tattoos, it would be very
welcome in general and general medical reference
libraries as well.”
The Hands-on Guide to Diabetes Care in Hospital
David Levy – Wiley-Blackwell, 2015
ISBN: 9781118973493 £21.99
Foundation doctors; core medical trainees; general
medical registrars, ED doctors (all grades); general
ward nursing staff, ED nurses, diabetes specialist
nurses, ward pharmacists and dieticians
The Hands-on Guide to Diabetes Care in Hospital is
an ideal companion forward practitioners, providing
answers to these and many other practical diabetes
problems, helping you to deliver safe and effective
care to patients. Using the best current UK and
international guidance, The Hands-on Guide
to Diabetes Care in Hospital presents succinct
guidance on acute diabetes problems, blood
glucose management, acute medical and surgical
problems commonly complicated by diabetes and
insulin and non-insulin agents, as well as preparing
for discharge to the community. With top tips,
important points, questions to ask, treatment and
follow-up advice in each chapter, this is an essential
resource for all medical trainees and students
who treat diabetic patients. Ward-based nurses,
diabetes specialist nurses and pharmacists will also
find a lot that is relevant to their practice. This is a
practical, concise, bulleted, and algorithmic guide
to managing diabetes throughout the hospital, with
specific focus on diabetes emergencies. It includes
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
unusual presentations of both Type 1 and Type 2
diabetes and helps the trainee deal efficiently with
diabetes emergencies when there is no diabetes
team around. Between 15% and 20% of patients
in hospital have diabetes, so at any time most
general wards in UK hospitals will have between
two and five patients with diabetes. A small number
have primarily diabetes problems (hyperglycaemic
emergencies, acute diabetic foot infections,
significant diabetic renal disease), but many will
have problems of blood glucose control while in
hospital that occupy a substantial proportion of
doctors’ time. All foundation year doctors and
registrars will encounter diabetes problems that
require fairly urgent decisions, often when the
diabetes team isn’t in the hospital to give help.
one would expect, blood glucose management on
the wards has a chapter of its own. The closing few
topics on technology and practical guides to meters
and smart meters are the only words in the book
that are a relaxed treatise. This is a pocket-book
that will be well-thumbed, blooded and clasped
tightly in the hand of anyone hacking through the
undergrowth of the multifarious demands of the
busy diabetes clinic or admissions unit looking for
the true path to the temple of all knowledge.”
There are no concise practical books on diabetes
management in hospital that have completely
up-to-date prescribing information, including
detailed information on insulin and non-insulin
drugs, and real-life guidance on prescribing insulin
and what doses to start with. There are some books
covering diabetes emergencies, but they don’t deal
with general management problems in medical and
surgical patients, which occupy a significant amount
of every trainee’s time.
“This book would provide support for junior medical
staff embarking on a sharp learning curve in this
area. It uses a full gamut of pedagogical graphics
to impart knowledge in the most succinct and user
friendly way. Most sub-sections are only a few pages
in length, ensuring situation-specific information is
readily available. Building on from ‘Basics’ it moves
on with strong guidance on history taking and triage
parameters. Realistically definitive with regard to
the fraught decisions to admit vs no need to admit,
it shakes these out for the reader to spot check in
the clinic. Where needed it cascades chronological
assessments, treatment and monitoring both for
primary diabetes and also for other medical and
surgical problems that are complicated by diabetes.
Insulin and other medications are covered is
the same way. The book is a voice in your ear. A
consultant in your pocket. A hand on your shoulder.
It exudes an aura of efficient, knowledgeable,
pertinent, timely and efficacious care for a common
disease that can present medical challenges in
various forms and levels of pathological urgency.
When painting a clinical picture, it brooks no ifs or
buts – other than essential caveats – it is straight
talking. The whole purpose of the book is to teach
and guide in specific clinical situations with the
astute assurance of ‘if this then do that – and
do it now!’ It would provide support for junior
medical staff embarking on a sharp learning curve
in this area. Threading through the signs and
symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications and
confounding pathology is the blood glucose level. As
Williams Textbook of Endocrinology 13th ed.
Shlomo Melmed, Kenneth S Polonsky, P Reed
Larsen and Henry M Kronenberg – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9780323297387 $199.99
Endocrinologists; internists (adult and paediatric);
internal medicine residents; endocrinology fellows;
nutritionists; diabetologists and RNs
Endocrinologists are trained to recognise and
treat problems of the endocrine system, a
complex system of glands that regulate hormones.
Hormones control so many body systems,
including metabolism, reproduction, and growth
and development, that endocrinologists work with
patients who have been referred from physicians
across the entire internal medicine spectrum.
Likewise, internists (both adult and paediatric)
must be thoroughly versed in endocrine disorders
so they can appropriately diagnose and treat or
refer their patients. With this textbook, Dr Williams
made it his goal to “provide a condensed and
authoritative discussion of the management
of clinical endocrinopathies, based upon the
application of fundamental information obtained
from chemical and physiologic investigations. The
new edition includes updated therapies and new
FDA-approved drugs for pituitary tumours; expanded
content on diabetes, obesity, and appetite; and
an enhanced paediatric focus. Two new chapters
for this edition are Genetics of Endocrine Disease
and Endocrinology of Population Health. For more
than 65 years, Williams Textbook of Endocrinology
has been the gold standard in the field, delivering
authoritative guidance on every aspect of adult
and paediatric endocrine system disorders. The
13th Edition has been thoroughly to bring state-ofthe-art coverage of diabetes, metabolic syndrome,
obesity, thyroid disease, testicular disorders, and
much more, all designed to help provide optimal
care to every patient. Bridging the gap between
basic science and clinical information, it is an
essential, relevant resource for endocrinologists,
endocrine surgeons, gynaecologists, internists, and
paediatricians – any clinician who needs the most
reliable coverage available on the diverse features
across the spectrum of endocrine disease. This
Programme and Award Winners
35
book helped to set the stage for this specialty, and
more than 13 editions, has provided up-to-date
information on this expanding field.”
“The editors say that the book is the classic ‘go to’
book for all those interested in endocrinology. It
is. Together with the electronic version, this is a
very important reference book to go to to look up
problems as well as reviewing areas for professional
development. It is well-thought out, with good
digital resources. This book has an interesting
approach: it gives the evidence and also the
personal opinion of the authors. Despite multiple
authors the book has a feel of being written by one
person, and clearly written at that.“
Medicine – the winner of this category will
be announced from this shortlist
A Comprehensive Guide to Chinese Medicine
2nd ed.
Ping-Chung Leung – World Scientific Publishing,
2015 ISBN: 9789814678131 £32
Clinical practitioners and scientists; professionals in
complementary/alternative medicine; intellectuals
seeking complementary care; and teachers and
students
The theories and practice of acupuncture have
been revised and rewritten to give readers a clear
idea of how it works and when it is to be utilised.
Botanicals, ie herbal medicine, form the major core
of Chinese medicine practice. The potential of
botanicals development is wide: from casting specific
biological activities to preventive uses. Three new
chapters are offered: (i) for the understanding of
the biological activities of herbal medicine, (ii) the
products produced from herbs for specific needs, and
(iii) the individual’s choice for what may suit him/her
best. Since the publication of the First Edition, much
development has occurred in the field of Chinese
medicine. All the chapters have been updated and
revised accordingly so that general readers, those
looking for effective treatment, as well as those who
want to serve their patients better, can have a reliable
comprehensive reference. The Second Edition of
this book is a rearranged and enriched version of
the previous edition, composed of feedback and
constructive comments from readers. In this present
era of information technology, readers should be
guided on the use of the Internet and related areas
in order to independently secure information for
personal use and research needs. The last chapter is
provided for this practical purpose.
“This book is ideal for anyone wanting to understand
how Chinese medicine has developed from its
early beginnings in the distant past reflecting the
philosophy of the times of Confucius and slowly
developed into the complex system of a century
ago. The influence of the political upheavals of the
Communist regime and the effect of westernisation
is well-covered. The ambivalence of the desire
to keep tradition and yet embrace scientific
technology and perhaps change the practice, is wellpresented. The compromise that the authors have
adopted accepting the need for some scientific
evaluation of Chinese Medicine, is well-suited to
the postmodern era. The editors have included a
wide spectrum describing the philosophical basis
for the healing arts of both Chinese and Western
medicine which leaves room for the spiritual
aspects of healing which the World Health Authority
continue to include, especially when considering
Folk Medicine in the majority world where resources
are poor and advancing technology too expensive.
One of the main strengths of this book is that it is
the second Edition and the editors have acted on
the feedback from their wide readership. Thus the
updating of all the information has been assured
and valuable extra chapters added: Chapter 4:
Medicinal Herbs: From Quality Control, Safety and
Biological activities; Chapter 10: Botanical Products
for Medicinal use; Chapter 11: Value of Traditional
Medicine for the individual. The chapter by the
anthropologist helps keep the subject matter in the
context of the Chinese Culture. However, the editors
have made the important point that a scientific
investigation of herbs is important to reduce toxicity
and to encourage a worldwide distribution.”
Compassion: The Essence of Palliative and
End-of-Life Care.
Philip J Larkin – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780198703310 £29.99
Palliative care practitioners; undergraduate and
graduate students of palliative care, sociology,
psychology and theology, and healthcare
professionals in associated disciplines
International experts critically reflect upon the
role of compassion in the practice and delivery
of palliative and hospice care. From a range of
backgrounds they provide insight into the practice
of compassionate palliative care and explore the
fundamental historical discourse surrounding
this crucial concept. Compassion has become
a fundamental part of palliative care. In this
ground-breaking book, international experts give
their critical thoughts on the essence and role of
compassion, in both palliative and hospice care over
the past half-century. Featuring the reflections of
leading healthcare professionals, social workers,
chaplains and educators, chapters use case
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examples and first-hand experiences to explore the
historical and contemporary discourse surrounding
the concept of compassion in palliative medicine.
“This reasonably priced book contains most of the
important facts from the original Davidson’s at a
fraction of the cost. This is an excellent concise
version of the original Principles and Practice of
Medicine. Although much smaller than the original,
it still remains very detailed covering a large variety
of subjects. The chapter on interpreting important
investigations is particularly useful but I feel this
could be easily expanded on in future editions. The
information in the book remains up-to-date and it
contains some very good images and tables.”
“I would definitely recommend this book to anyone
with an interest in palliative medicine. It provides
fascinating insight into the role of compassion in
palliative medicine from some international experts.
It also provides invaluable accounts of the history
of the inception of palliative medicine in Europe
and the USA. I feel the main strength of this book is
its adoption of providing first-hand insights from a
breadth of both clinicians and support staff involved
in working in the field of palliative medicine. Each
chapter is from the point of view of a different
expert and they each reflect on cases that focus
on the role of compassion. I found this to be an
excellent means of provoking my own personal
reflections on cases I have been involved in, thereby
making the book relevant to my own clinical
practice. As a reader with an interest in pursuing
a career in palliative medicine I found this book
to be a fascinating account of the experience of
international experts on the subject of compassion.
I particularly enjoyed reading their reflections on
important case examples from their own careers
as it provided an interesting insight into complex
issues in palliative medicine and how compassion
on the part of health professionals can help deal
with the situation. Larkin has recruited a wide
ranging of experts, from all fields within palliative
medicine (including doctors, nurses, chaplains
and social workers). This helps to provide a wealth
of experience and understanding. It is for these
reasons that I found the book to be so engaging.”
Davidson’s Essentials of Medicine 2nd ed.
Alastair J Innes – Elsevier Ltd, 2015
ISBN: 9780702055928 £27.99
Medical students
Davidson’s Essentials of Medicine provides the
core content of the main Davidson textbook in a
condensed format which will be invaluable, whether
commuting, travelling between training sites, or on
electives. The objective of this book is to provide a
distillation of the core information required for clinical
studies in medicine. While retaining the acclaimed
readability of the main textbook it presents the
important information in a format more appropriate
for practical clinical work. The book responds to a
request from students who wanted a reduced or
condensed version of the main Davidson textbook but
which importantly retained the integrity and structure
of the textbook, while presenting a readable account
of the important topics. It is not a “list-style” book.
Mechanisms of Clinical Signs 2nd ed.
Mark Dennis, William Talbot Bowen,
and Lucy Cho – Elsevier Australia, 2016
ISBN: 9780729542371 £45
Students undertaking their clinical skills/
examination subjects within the medical curriculum
Mechanisms of Clinical Signs is organised by body
system and explains the mechanism behind the
clinical signs that all medical students are expected
to recognise, interpret and understand. Signs are
ordered alphabetically within each body system
chapter. Each sign is explained according to the
after structure: a description of that sign; a list of the
conditions it is associated with (what condition the
sign indicates); an explanation of the mechanism; the
‘value’ of that sign (the evidence on how reliable it is
as an indication of a condition). The explanations for
the mechanisms underlying each sign are succinct,
accurate and informative. Clinical Pearls have been
included to highlight signs which are either of the
highest value in diagnosis or most dangerous to the
patient. The print book includes access to video,
audio and self-assessment content, as well as the
full text ebook, through StudentConsult. The video
and audio content demonstrating important signs in
the clinical setting assist students in recognising the
sign within a patient presentation and examination.
This is a resource which is particularly valuable in
demonstrating rare, though important clinical signs.
The online self-assessment content is in the form
of an extended case study with MCQs to simulate
the clinical diagnosis environment and guide the
reader through a systematic clinical examination.
Although many titles cover how to elicit clinical
signs, Mechanisms of Clinical Signs is the only
evidence-based title fully dedicated to explaining the
mechanisms behind the signs and their value. This is
a gap the authors recognised during their final years
of medical school and so developed a resource that
will not only educate our future doctors, but also
facilitate the translation of this knowledge to the
improved diagnosis and treatment of patients.
Programme and Award Winners
37
“I would recommend it to someone who wants to
know not just about what the signs look like, and
how to identify them, but also why they manifest
themselves in the way that they do. It does provide
an interesting and useful explanation for each
sign typically encountered. This book has several
strengths but also some weaknesses. Its primary
weakness is that it does not give a clear explanation
as to who this book should be aimed at – is it for
those starting with clinical examination, those
aiming to perfect examination, for the experienced
clinician or the junior doctor who is looking to take
postgraduate exams. If it is all of the above, inform
the person briefly scouring the book. I feel this book
is for all those interested in clinical examination, who
have already got the book on how to examine, but
want to know more about why the signs are there.
This book’s main strength is that it comprehensively
and informatively informs the reader why the signs
occur, and there are very few books that do this in a
way that is not daunting and uses diagrams, photos
and charts very well. The use of student consult
also gives the book a practical edge and useful to
those learning about how to pick up the clinical
signs. I believe this book fills a niche in the clinical
examination textbook market, and whilst it may
not be useful for everyone, does provide a different
perspective on the clinical examination. This is a
book that provides a really good perspective on the
clinical examination and forces the reader to think
about more than just how to identify signs, but to
think beyond this and look at why they are there.
There are very few books on the market that provide
this perspective on the pathophysiology behind the
clinical signs and has given me a new insight into
why I look for certain signs in the clinical exam and
it should be commended for this. I feel the intended
readership is a bit unclear and as such, the clear focus
of the book is blurred slightly. I believe this book is
not a standalone book for someone learning about
clinical examination, but for someone who uses it as
an adjunct to this, or for the skilled clinician looking
for a new perspective on clinical examination.”
Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine 5th ed.
Nathan Cherny, Marie Fallon, Stein
Kaasa, Russell K Portenoy and David C
Currow – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780199656097 £225
Healthcare professionals working in palliative
care and oncology, including specialist palliative
medicine physicians, oncologists, specialist nurses,
geriatricians, surgeons, and family physicians
As palliative care has become an established
specialty, there is the need for the evidence-base
to match other areas of clinical medicine. The
Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine provides
more than 100 chapters, written by more than
200 international authors, emphasising the multidisciplinary nature of palliative care, making this a
truly comprehensive and global text on palliative
medicine. Written by an established, comprehensive,
multidisciplinary focused, internationally-recognised
team, this textbook provides the definitive reference
on palliative medicine. Completely updated with
the latest evidence base for clinical practice and
patient management, the Oxford Textbook of
Palliative Medicine, Fifth Edition emphasises the
multi-disciplinary nature of palliative care. Ethical
and communication issues are explored and
the treatment of symptoms is comprehensively
covered, with particular focus on the management
of pain. The book also includes specific chapters
devoted to the role of palliative care in nonmalignant diseases and conditions. Education and
training are highlighted as critical to future best
practice, making this a truly comprehensive and
global text which no hospital, hospice, palliative care
service, or medical library should be without.
“This is the standard work on the market. It is an
authoritative and reliable text and includes a global
perspective, bringing together authors from many
countries. The book covers and indeed emphasises
what a broad specialty palliative medicine is. It is
not just about patients with cancer who are dying
but there are so many topics that are part of it
such as talking to the bereaved, HIV/AIDS, fatigue,
emergency departments and nursing homes. This
is a hugely comprehensive reference work. It covers
an enormous amount of material but in a format
that is easy to follow. It is also important to note
that the editorial team is truly international with
editors from Israel, UK, Norway, US, and Australia, so
avoiding bias to one particular country’s approach
to palliative care. There is no other book like this – a
single-volume reference work covering all aspects
of the subject. Palliative Medicine is, of course, a
relatively new distinct speciality and it is invaluable
to have a reliable single-volume resource like this.
The authors include very topical subjects such as
the demise of the Liverpool Care Pathway. Research
in palliative medicine is a relatively new aspect,
growing over the past few years, so a whole section
on research with nine chapters is extremely useful.
Also, I notice that the book was published in 2015,
which would mean it would have to be delivered to
the publisher around a year in advance, but there
are plenty of really recent references to material
from 2013/2014. It is a superb book. Well-balanced
with just the right amount on each topic: easy and
most enjoyable to read.”
Palpation Techniques: Surface Anatomy for
Physical Therapists 2nd ed.
Bernhard Reichert – Thieme Publishers,
Stuttgart, 2015 ISBN: 9783131463425 £60
Physical therapy and osteopathy practitioners
This completely updated second edition of Palpation
Techniques is a beautifully illustrated guide with
clear, step-by-step descriptions that teaches readers
how to identify and then distinguish between
various body structures. It includes more than 800
full-colour photographs of models with detailed
drawings of muscles, bones, and tendons sketched
directly onto their skin, and complementary colour
illustrations showing the functional significance
of each anatomic region. This revised edition will
enable physical therapy and osteopathy practitioners
and students to refine their knowledge of anatomy
and thus optimise patient care. Students who
desire to become competent in palpation as well
as experienced clinicians who seek a strong review
of palpation will find this text an excellent learning
resource.
“The strengths of this book are its illustrations and
the simplicity of the layout and language. This is a
beautifully illustrated clear and concise text book.
There are few books that concentrate on the relation
between surface anatomy and underlying structures
in this way. It does what it says on the tin. As a result
it is a useful text for a wide variety of practitioners
wanting to improve their palpation skills.”
Procedures at a Glance provides broad topic
coverage based on the GMC guidelines as listed in
Tomorrow’s Doctors, with concise and accessible
explanation of the reasoning behind the skills. It
includes aide-mémoires, multiple choice questions
(MCQs) and checklists for self-evaluation and
uses large, clear photographs and diagrams in a
‘step-by-step’ approach to each procedure and
skill, It features valuable ‘contraindications’ that
show when it’s inappropriate to carry out certain
procedures and includes a companion website.
When starting medical school, there is an enormous
amount to swiftly become confident with – from
communicating with patients, to mastering the
theory of the core curriculum. There are also
many clinical skills and basic procedures which a
student needs to be comfortable performing, both
for examination purposes, and for daily life on the
wards. Every medical student (and nursing student
for that matter) is exposed to clinical skills teaching
and is assessed regularly on their performance of
these skills. Nearly every medical school has their
own clinical skills centre or suite where students
are taught how to perform these skills. The skills
themselves are wide ranging, from the basic (eg
hand-washing), to the complex (catheterisation or
cannulation).
“This is a very useful quick reference text for
medical students, foundation trainees and other
healthcare students. The simple and accessible layout, as with all the books in this series, means it’s a
useful quick reference text. It includes access to a
bank of MCQs for students to test their knowledge.”
Practical Medical Procedures at a Glance
The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry 4th ed.
Rachel K Thomas – Wiley-Blackwell, 2015
ISBN: 9781118632857 £25.99
Camille G Wermuth, David Aldous, Pierre
Raboisson and Didier Rognan – Elsevier/
Academic Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780124172050
£80.75
Medical students; healthcare assistants; physician’s
assistants; nursing students; district nurses and
general practice surgeries
Practical Medical Procedures at a Glance covers
all the practical procedures required of UK
medical students, foundation doctors, and other
medical students worldwide, and provides a vital
introduction and quick reference to support clinical
skills sessions and ward placements. Providing
clear explanations of each skill so that they can
be efficiently learned, and ultimately, safely
practiced, this guide is the perfect companion to
clinical practice. Beginning with basic procedures
and progressing to more complex skills, Practical
Medical Procedures at a Glance builds confidence
and provides an invaluable overview of the
skills needed throughout medical school and
beyond, regardless of specialty. Practical Medical
Medicinal chemists and pharmaceutical researchers
involved in drug discovery in industry and academic
settings and graduate-level students
The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry, Fourth Edition
provides a practical and comprehensive overview of
the daily issues facing pharmaceutical researchers
and chemists. In addition to its thorough treatment
of basic medicinal chemistry principles, this
updated edition has been revised to provide new
and expanded coverage of the latest technologies
and approaches in drug discovery. With topics
such as high content screening, scoring, docking,
binding free energy calculations, polypharmacology,
QSAR, chemical collections and databases, and
much more, this book is the go-to reference for
all academic and pharmaceutical researchers
Programme and Award Winners
39
who need a complete understanding of medicinal
chemistry and its application to drug discovery and
development. The newest edition of The Practice
of Medicinal Chemistry builds upon the previous
editions’ reputations as a singularly thorough and
excellent resource on the most important issues
affecting pharmaceutical researchers and chemists.
With an expert team of international editors and
authors drawing upon decades of medicinal
chemistry and drug development research and
experience, the fourth edition incorporates colour
figures, case studies and practical examples to
enhance readers’ understanding of important
concepts. The Practice of Medicinal Chemistry,
Fourth Edition is unique in that it deftly tackles the
big picture of this fast-moving area of research
while also detailing the daily and practical issues
facing medicinal chemists today. The fourth edition
has been significantly revised to provide new
and expanded coverage of the latest approaches
and advances in drug discovery, including drug
targeting, compound evaluation technologies and
much more. Full of clear and colourful illustrations,
this book provides a thorough and engaging look
at the current state of the art in the science of
medicinal chemistry.
experience of clinicians ‘in the trenches’. Clinical
case studies have long been recognised as a useful
adjunct to problem-based learning and continuing
professional development. They emphasise the
need for clinical reasoning, integrative thinking,
problem-solving, communication, teamwork and
self-directed learning – all desirable generic skills
for healthcare professionals. By emphasising what
can go wrong, even in the hands of experienced
clinicians, a strong teaching message is given.
“This is an authoritative, definitive textbook, suitable
for researchers, discovery scientists in industry,
undergraduates majoring in medicinal chemistry
and PhD students. It has an excellent range of
authors with an international perspective and
contributors from industry, academia, pharmacists,
and chemists. It is also a useful reference texts
for pharmaceutical physicians/scientists, drug
development experts and regulators. The whole
range of this diverse subject is logically covered, and
personal perspective is provided throughout from
leading subject matter experts.”
Anne G Osborn, Karen L Salzman, Miral D
Jhaveri and A James Barkovich – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9780323377546 £220
Neurology – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
Common Pitfalls in Cerebrovascular Disease:
Case-Based Learning
José Biller and José M Ferro – Cambridge
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780521173650
£44.99
Neurologists, stroke physicians and primary care
physicians
This concise and useful guide in the Common
Pitfalls series provides a step-by-step guide for
everyday clinical practice, invaluable to anyone
dealing with cerebrovascular disease on a frontline
basis. A case-based book intended to bridge the
gap between textbook information and everyday
“This is a very useful book for trainee neurologists
and trainees in stroke medicine. The book covers
the most common problems encountered in
cerebrovascular disease. The book is very useful
to understand about the potential pitfalls and
challenges seen in day to day practice in the field
of stroke. I have already left this book in our stroke
unit library for everyday use by the multidisciplinary
stroke team. This book is of exceptional standard as
it deals with common scenarios in stroke medicine.
The book deals with potential challenges as well as
common pitfalls on these scenarios quite well.”
Diagnostic Imaging: Brain 3rd ed.
Neuroradiologists; radiologists; neurosurgeons and
neurologists
More than 300 diagnoses that are delineated,
referenced, and lavishly illustrated highlight the
third edition of this bestselling reference. Worldrenowned authority Dr Anne G Osborn and her
expert author team of Drs Karen L Salzman and
Miral D Jhaveri provide carefully updated information
in a concise, bulleted format, keeping you current
with new disease entities and syndromes, MR
imaging techniques and applications, and pathology
relevant to brain imaging. Succinct text, outstanding
illustrations, and up-to-date content make this title a
must-have reference for neuroradiologists, general
radiologists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons. The
concise, bulleted text provides efficient information
on more than 300 diagnoses that are clearly
illustrated with 2,500 superb images, it includes
expert guidance on CLIPPERS, second-impact
syndrome in trauma, perfusion MR for tumour
characterisation, susceptibility-weighted imaging
in stroke and brain bleeds, and molecular markers
in brain tumour classification and grading. There
is updated coverage of brain trauma addresses
newly recognised entities, techniques and imaging
for rapid stroke triage, and functional imaging and
dementia diagnosis. This is a major update, including
new disease entities and syndromes described since
40
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
previous edition (eg, second impact syndrome in
trauma; CLIPPERS) and new MR imaging techniques
and important clinical applications (perfusion MR
for tumour characterisation, susceptibility-weighted
imaging in stroke and brain bleeds). New pathology
(molecular markers in brain tumour classification
and grading). Brain trauma with newly-recognised
entities beyond the ‘usual suspects (second impact
syndrome, chronic traumatic encephalopathy).
references have also been updated and are generally
easy to find online for further reading. I have come
across few single volume diagnostic neuroradiology
reference texts that are as comprehensive. It is
written in a uniform, concise bullet point format
with plentiful fully-captioned images and diagrams.
This means that it is information dense and
relatively easy for readers to find information. The
format makes it ideal as a reference text, but does
not lend itself to be used as a textbook. The book
systematically covers diseases affecting the brain
that are investigated by imaging. It is split into two
parts, the first covering pathology-based diagnoses
and the second anatomy-based diagnoses. The first
part is subdivided into sections including congenital
malformations, trauma, stroke, neoplasms, infections
and metabolic disorders. Sections within the
second part include ventricles and cisterns, sella
and pituitary, and cerebellopontine angle. Helpful
overviews are provided at the start of each section.
Each diagnosis included within a section first has
a concise ‘Key Facts’ section with accompanying
representative high quality (predominantly magnetic
resonance and computed tomography) images
and diagrams for quick review. This is followed by
a more detailed bullet point description covering
terminology, imaging features, differential diagnoses
(including important discriminating features),
pathology, clinical issues, a diagnostic checklist, a
list of selected references and additional captioned
images. All pathologies included within the text
have an accompanying list of selected references,
providing a springboard for further study. These
are up-do-date, with most published within the
past five years (ie since publication of the previous
edition). In summary, the third edition of ‘Diagnostic
Imaging: Brain’ is a welcome update to its widely
used predecessor. There are few single volume
diagnostic neuroradiology reference texts that are
as comprehensive and up-to-date, and I anticipate it
will soon find its way onto the bookshelves of most
neuroradiologists and many general diagnostic
radiologists.”
“The third edition of Diagnostic Imaging: Brain is a
well-targeted reference book for neuroradiologists
and diagnostic general radiologists. It is an update to
the authoritative second (2010) edition of this widely
used reference text. Selected references have been
updated, the large majority of which were published
within the past five years and are generally easy to
find online for further reading. The book is written
in a concise bullet point format with plentiful highquality images and diagrams. This means that it is
information dense and relatively easy for readers
to find information. The format makes it ideal as a
reference text, but does not lend itself to be used as
a textbook.”
“The third edition of Diagnostic Imaging: Brain is a
well-targeted reference book for neuroradiologists
and diagnostic general radiologists. I have come
across few single volume diagnostic neuroradiology
reference texts that are as comprehensive. The
strengths of the book include: Expert (and in many
cases world-renowned) authors; Uniform, structured
layout and concise style making it information
rich and relatively easy to find information; Helpful
overviews provided at the start of each section;
an important Facts section for each disease with
accompanying representative images and diagrams
for quick review; Plentiful, high quality diagnostic
images and explanatory diagrams, all fully captioned;
Helpful list of differential diagnoses to consider with
particular imaging findings, including important
discriminating features; Up-to-date references;
High-quality paper and binding; Good index and an
accompanying eBook version. Concise, bullet-point
style makes the book ideal as a reference text, but
does not lend itself to being used as a textbook;
the Section on neoplasms, specifically regarding
the classification and grading of brain tumours
according to WHO criteria, will soon require updating;
References are not cited within the main text. Rather,
a list of selected references is provided at the end
of each diagnostic subsection. It can be difficult to
ascertain from the title of reference alone if it will be
suitable for particular additional information a reader
may be seeking. A collaborative book written by
experts in the field, it is an update to the authoritative
second (2010) edition of this widely used reference
text. Significant highlights of this volume include
a more extensive list of new diagnoses and topics
including tumour pseudoprogression. Selected
Molecular Neuropharmacology: A Foundation
for Clinical Neuroscience 3rd ed.
Eric J Nestler, Steven E Hyman, David M
Holtzman and Robert C Malenka – McGraw-Hill
Education, 2015 ISBN: 9780071827690 £50.99
Psychiatrists; neurologists; neuroscientists and
pharmacologists
Molecular Neuropharmacology first reviews the
fundamental biochemistry of the functioning
nervous system and then describes how nerve
cells communicate with one another through
Programme and Award Winners
41
numerous types of neurotransmitters involving
amino acids, monoamines, neuropeptides, and
neurotrophic factors, among several others. The
neuropharmacology and neural circuits that
underlie complex behaviours as well as major neural
disorders are also discussed as are the drugs used
to treat those conditions. In the final section, the
authors use the concepts presented in the first
two sections to explain how irregularities in the
biochemistry of neuronal interactions can lead to a
wide array of clinical manifestations.
“This is an excellent and supportive text for those
wishing to consolidate their learning from a starter
knowledge of pharmacology. The stated target
audience includes undergraduate and graduate
students as well as residents (registrars) in
psychiatry, neurology, neurosurgery, rehabilitation
and anaesthesia as well as practicing clinicians and
scientists in these areas. A sound background of
knowledge of basic pharmacology concepts will be
necessary since this book is system (ie organ) rather
than drug class-based or neurotransmitter-based, in
contrast to many other pharmacology texts. In my
opinion this is a strength rather than any weakness.
The strengths include the structuring around organ
and clinical concepts as well as the clarity of the text
and of the illustrations. This is a model of what a
postgraduate text should be.”
Movement Disorders in Childhood 2nd ed.
Harvey S Singer, Jonathan W Mink, Donald L
Gilbert and Joseph Jankovic – Elsevier/Academic
Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780124115736 £80.75
Clinical and research neurologists and
neuroscientists interested in movement disorders
in children
Movement Disorders in Childhood is the only
current reference specifically focused on childhood
movement disorders. It investigates the underlying
aetiologies and mechanisms of these disorders.
This second edition is completely revised and
updated with new materials and a more diseaseoriented approach. It includes new coverage of
genetics and movement disorders, immunology
and movement disorders, and an introduction
to the latest quantitative analysis. New videos of
instructive and unusual childhood movement
disorders have been added. Movement Disorders
in Childhood aims to provide readers with the
most up-to-date information on the diseases and
disorders that affect motor control, an important
area of specialisation within child neurology. Over
the past several decades, advances in genetics,
neuroimaging, neurophysiology and other areas of
neuroscience have provided new understanding
of the underlying aetiologies and mechanisms of
these conditions as well as new opportunities for
more accurate diagnosis and effective treatment.
This new edition builds upon the success of
the first edition, with comprehensive scientific
and clinical updates of all chapters. In addition,
there are new chapters on hereditary spastic
paraplegia, quantitative motor assessments,
autoimmune disorders, and movement disorders
in the developmental neuropsychiatric disorders
ADHD, OCD and autism. Additional materials
are provided on the latest in drug treatments,
computer based strategies for genetic diagnosis
and helpful videos for phenomenology. This book
fills the gap in the market by offering the only
comprehensive text devoted solely to the diagnoses
and treatment of all paediatric movement disorders.
Discussions of common and rare disorders such as
movements that occur in sleep and psychogenic
movement disorders and the latest advances and
developments in medications keep readers apprised
of today’s best practices. Each chapter is accessible,
illustrated, stylistically uniform and carefully
referenced, making it easy for readers to access the
information they need.
“II would recommend this book especially for junior
doctors with an interest in paediatric neurology. The
book is an original contribution in comparison with
other works because it reviews extensively all kind
of movement disorders in childhood and it offers
also image support like a video atlas. The text is
accurate and it is supported by reliable and updated
references. It is a comprehensive, updated, reliable
and illustrated review. I invite you to consider the
effort of these authors for creating a comprehensive
and updated review of such a difficult subject in
paediatric neurology. They offer at the same time
a clear book easy to understand and to study for
readership.”
Netter’s Atlas of Neuroscience 3rd ed.
David L Felten, M Kerry O’Banion and
Mary Summo Maida – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9780323265119 £40
Students of neuroscience and neuroanatomy
(medical programs, health professional programs,
undergraduate programs); AP courses in high
school; linguistic programs and professionals in
related fields (psychology, psychiatry, neurology etc)
Ideal for students of neuroscience and
neuroanatomy, the new edition of Netter’s Atlas
of Neuroscience combines the didactic well-loved
illustrations of Dr Frank Netter with succinct text
and clinical points, providing a highly visual, clinically
oriented guide to the most important topics in this
subject. The logically organised content presents
neuroscience from three perspectives: an overview
of the nervous system, regional neuroscience, and
systemic neuroscience, enabling you to review
complex neural structures and systems from
different contexts. For students of neuroscience
and neuroanatomy who want a visual and clinicallyoriented presentation of the essentials, Netter’s
Atlas of Neuroscience that combines didactic
Netter illustrations with succinct text and clinical
points is unlike typical student Neuroscience
atlases because the figures are largely illustrated,
not photographic and the content is organised to
present Neuroscience from three perspectives:
overview, regional, and systems.
“I would recommend this book without reservation
and over other neuroanatomy books. The greatest
strength is its beauty. Neuroanatomy can be
tough. The drawings provide perspectives that
are rarely seen in other textbooks and can make
concepts click in your mind -a picture is worth
a thousand words. The text is cleverly used to
highlight rather than provide a detailed explanation
-which can be referenced from other books. The
initial overview and then diving down into the
nitty-gritty significantly aids learning as it provides
a contextual road-map. The influence of the
educationalist is clearly felt alongside the expertise
of the anatomists. They have done Netter justice.
This is an exceptional book, now in its third edition.
An established gem. Well worth shortlisting. The
electronic version is very welcome and makes a
chunky tone accessible anywhere with the added
video bonus. This is a standard publishers should be
aiming for.”
Neuro-Ophthalmology Illustrated 2nd ed.
Valérie Biousse and Nancy Newman – Thieme
Publishers, 2015 ISBN: 9781626231498 £72
Ophthalmologists and neurologists
This book covers the full range of neuroophthalmologic conditions in concise format with
special focus on performing the clinical exam.
Its unique feature is the number of excellent
clinical images and the guidance presented by
two masters in the field. Neuro-Ophthalmology
is an “overlap” specialty involving neurology
and ophthalmology. It is also an area of some
complexity, and of uncertainty for ophthalmologists
(who are more comfortable with surgical topics).
The book addresses these complexities through
clear, well-written text from two of the very top
authorities in the field. Aiding in this presentation
is the sheer number (almost 1,000) of excellent
images, ‘telling the story’ through image as much
as by text. This is viewed as complex area within
neurology and ophthalmology. In order to address
it, the conventional wisdom has been that one
needed a multi-volume, text-dense, tome. This book
is highly practical and filled with the wisdom and
clinical pearls of the author, produced in a handy
paperback, and truly earns the title of ‘Illustrated.’
“This book lowers the bar to genuine fluency with
neuro-ophthalmology, the relevant investigations,
differential diagnosis (emphasising the most
common) and is rapid to assimilate. It should
succeed other texts as the go-to book for medical
students, and ophthalmology and neurology
trainees. But, as well as a learning resource, it will
also uniquely be a great tool for teaching others.
There is a high bar to getting started with neuroophthalmology. The anatomy and physiology of the
eye is complex and the associated visual pathways
encompass about a third of the brain. But because
there is barely a neurological condition that does
not involve the visual system in some way and so
ophthalmologists, neurologists, neurosurgeons
and otolaryngologists all need familiarity with the
subject. This exquisite paperback provides the
accessible introduction and comprehensive guide
that is required. It is targeted at a wide readership,
but it will be highly valued by senior medical
students and trainees up to and including those at
registrar level. Prior to reviewing this book, I relied
in my training on an old version of the condensed
‘essentials’ version of Walsh and Hoyt’s Clinical
Neuro-ophthalmology supplemented with judicial
use of the internet to supplement the text. But
this attractive volume could easily supplant such
established titles as the text of choice at all but
the most specialist level. The emphasis is distinctly
clinical, based on experience of what is useful
and what works, and the text is uncluttered with
journal references. Its 21 well-delineated sections
cover not only the examination but the important
presentations by syndrome. There is a compelling
blend of the anatomy, physiology and pathology of
the visual system – a feat in itself – and the text is
readable and accessible and so each section can
be skimmed in15 minutes or so. There are also
clinical pearls spread through the text. Like any
other specialty, ophthalmology has its own selection
of unique and often unfamiliar investigations. This
book brings clarity to the many unique tests used
in ophthalmology and when to request them.
Although it is built for rapid assimilation, to do so,
however, would be to scan past the illustrations
that are such a prominent feature and a highlight.
It would be a very good atlas: there must be 1,000
high quality colour images – a mixture of anatomical
schematics, radiographic imaging and retinal
photographs. The retinal photographs in particular
are a useful compendium of classic and rarer cases
which will be also be invaluable for teaching. These
Programme and Award Winners
43
run with the text, and are just where the reader
expects them rather than collected together. The
consistent way in which they are presented aids
familiarity with the material. Although compact and
paperback, its moderate size renders it pocketable
only for those wearing white coats. Nevertheless, it
is portable enough to be baggable. The trade-off is
that it will not wear well, unless it remains for desk
use, without a protective cover.”
Orofacial Pain and Headaches 2nd ed.
Yair Sharav and Rafael Benoliel –
Quintessence Publishing Company, Inc., 2015
ISBN: 9780867156805 £110
editing, which overall is excellent. As a pain clinician
dealing with chronic facial pain I value it both as a
textbook and as a readily accessible and sensible
reference source.”
The Neurology of Consciousness: Cognitive
Neuroscience and Neuropathology 2nd ed.
Steven Laureys, Olivia Gosseries and Giulio
Tononi – Elsevier/Academic Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780128009482 £ 64.59
Clinicians and researchers in cognitive neuroscience,
neurology, translational neuroscience and
neuropsychology, studying the neural underpinnings
of consciousness and disorders of consciousness
Pain specialists
For many years, the study and treatment of
orofacial pain have been considered as separate
from the study and treatment of headaches,
but the editors of this updated award-winning
textbook take the philosophical stance that
orofacial pain and headache must be considered
together. The authors integrate knowledge
across these disciplines to improve diagnostic
accuracy and clinical management of chronic
pain conditions and encourage a beneficial
collaboration between headache specialists and
orofacial pain experts. The first chapters cover
diagnosis, psychosocial modifying factors, and the
anatomy and neurophysiology of the trigeminal
nerve, but the bulk of the book is given over to a
comprehensive review of the major clinical families
of craniofacial pain. In this new edition, the authors
place a focus on presenting clinical features and
outlining treatment strategies, and the clinical
case reports offer insight into the complexity
of orofacial pain diagnosis and management.
Because pharmacotherapy remains the primary
treatment for most craniofacial pain, two chapters
detail the pharmacology, efficacy, and side effects
of commonly used drugs, although treatment
options for neurosurgical and complementary and
alternative medicine are also included. Finally, a
new chapter addressing facial pain, headache, and
sleep provides much-needed insight to this oftenoverlooked topic.
“Comprehensive and clear. There are always going
to be omissions in a book that only intends to
cover some pain conditions, for example neck
pain contributing to headache is not covered in
great detail. Also, there is an excellent chapter on
psychological factors but these do not appear to
feature as strongly in the chapters on individual
conditions. This is probably inevitable in a multiauthor book and does not imply criticism of the
The Neurology of Consciousness, Second Edition
is a comprehensive update of the ground-breaking
work on human consciousness. By taking a lesional
approach (afforded by the study of neurological
patients who have suffered damage to the brain), it
offers a thorough survey of the way that damage to
the brain can cause disruptions and disturbances of
consciousness. In addition to providing readers with
a basic foundation for the study of consciousness
–including a definition of the phenomenon, its
neural basis, and functional neuroimaging – this
book also provides a thorough understanding
of various conscious and unconscious states,
including sleep and wakefulness, coma and related
conditions, and seizures, splits and other disorders.
This authoritative collection of chapters is the first
to describe disorders of consciousness and how
they are used to study and understand the neural
correlates of conscious perception in humans. The
Neurology of Consciousness is an indispensable
resource for researchers and students working on
the cognitive neuroscience of consciousness and
related disorders, as well as for neuroscientists,
psychologists, psychiatrists and neurologists
contemplating the philosophical, ethical, sociological,
political and religious questions of consciousness.
The first edition of The Neurology of Consciousness
was the first book to summarise the neuroanatomical
and functional underpinnings of consciousness by
utilising a lesional approach offered by the study of
neurological patients. By examining damage to the
brain and the resulting disorders, disruptions and
disturbances of conscious perception that result
from and accompany that damage, the book provides
a unique perspective not offered by any other
available work. Rapidly advancing brain imaging and
monitoring techniques have made consciousness
much more accessible scientifically; this critical and
timely second edition contains not only thoroughly
updated chapters by internationally renowned
researchers, but also new coverage of the anatomical
About BMA House
outdoor areas, BMA House has the
versatility to act as the setting for
a wide range of events, including
conferences, dinners, private
parties, receptions and weddings.
BMA House is a grade II listed
building in central London’s
fashionable and historic
Bloomsbury.
Home to the prestigious British
Medical Association, BMA House
was designed in 1911 by the
famed architect Sir Edwin Lutyens
it has been the Headquarters for
the BMA since 1925.
Highly accessible, the venue
has a superb location just a short
walk from the Eurostar (at nearby
St Pancras), as well as Russell
Square, Euston and King’s Cross
stations. Ideal when you have
delegates coming from across
the UK.
Offering 29 unique event
spaces, including two private
Event spaces are fitted with
state of the art audio visual
technology as well as free Wi-Fi
for all standard requirements.
A team of friendly and very
knowledgeable in-house
technicians are also on hand to
offer guidance and support for
any event.
Conferences and Meetings
BMA House is a favourite for
conferencing, boasting an
impressive range of larger rooms
suitable for lectures, presentations Corporate and private events
Adorned with high ceilings and
and talks.
Conference spaces include the magnificent decorative features,
BMA House provides an opulent
magnificent Great Hall (maximum
setting for both corporate and
capacity 297 conference-style)
private events. BMA House boasts
and the Council Chamber (fixed
five different event spaces, as well
capacity for 97) which comes
as outdoor entertainment facilities
equipped with features such
and a creative in house catering
as an electronic voting system
team. The venue can tailor for
and individual laptop anad
any event;
microphone
from private
connections
dinners and
for delegates.
Part of the venue was once
cocktail parties,
There
the home of novelist Charles
summer
are also 11
Dickens in the late 1850s
soirées and
different
barbeques,
purpose-built
to Christmas parties and stylish
meeting rooms, the largest of
which can accommodate up to 65 evening receptions. With
capacities ranging from 20 to
people in board room style.
320, this historical central London
venue is ideal for both intimate
gatherings and larger scale
corporate affairs.
Summer and outdoor parties
Ideal for summer parties and
outdoor events, BMA House
offers two beautiful and peaceful
outdoor spaces, namely The
Courtyard and Garden; a
remarkable asset given its central
London location. Built on the
foundations of the house where
Charles Dickens wrote classics
such as Bleak House and Great
Expectations, the Garden is a
picturesque secret spot located
to the side of BMA House. With
a capacity of 90, it is suited for
reception drinks, barbecues and
cocktail parties. Surrounded
on three sides by the majestic
walls of BMA House, and on
one side by an ornate iron gate,
The Courtyard is a glamourous
location for a reception or
standing buffet. Perfect for larger
scale outdoor events, given it has
a capacity of 320.
BMA
HOUSE
and high quality ingredients.
A dedicated planning team
BMA House has been accredited
When you organise an event at
with a silver rating under the
BMA House, you will have the
Green Tourism Scheme due to
assistance of an in-house events
its dedication
team, which
to placing
encompasses
Visitors have included
sustainable
catering,
Myleene Klass,
and ethical
audio visual
Princess Anne, Boris Johnson,
practices at
support and
Mo Farah and Lesley Garrett
its forefront.
the services
Ingredients
of a dedicated
are sourced
Event Planner
locally and sustainably wherever
who will work with you from
concept to fruition of your event. possible and supportive of
Fairtrade tea and coffee growers.
Menus are created by our
In addition, all food waste is
in house caterers who have
composted and all glass bottles
a focus on British produce
recycled.
and healthy eating. They have
created seasonal menus which
are notable for their innovative
design, stunning presentation
@BMAHousevenue
Prince’s Room has, for example,
Weddings
a maximum capacity of 60 for a
The historic BMA House is an
ceremony. BMA House is also a
idyllic location for weddings. The
fabulous location to hold a private
venue holds a wedding licence
outdoors drinks
for four of
and canapé
its feature
BMA House was the host
reception. In
rooms: Great
venue for Nike’s Athlete
addition to
Hall, Snow
Hospitality programme
its splendid
room, Paget
during the Olympics 2012
interiors, The
room and
featuring 4,000+ shoe boxes!
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of which retain many of their
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dinner drinks.
House can easily accommodate
If you would like a guided
large weddings; the Great Hall
tour of our building to discuss
has a maximum capacity of 200
any plans you have for
for a ceremony and wedding
meetings and events please
breakfast. However, it is also
email or phone and we will be
ideal for smaller, more intimate
delighted to help you.
ceremonies and receptions; The
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Facebook.com/bmahouse
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Get in touch and let us assist you
Call 020 7874 7020 or visit www.bmahouse.org.uk
BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JP.
46
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
basis of consciousness that provides readers new
to the subject with additional background into
the biology behind consciousness. It also features
expanded coverage of memory disorders and of
neuroethics, including discussion of ethical questions
surrounding neuro-palliative care. The Neurology
of Consciousness offers a comprehensive and
unique survey of all aspects of disorders of human
consciousness not available elsewhere.
Obstetrics and gynaecology – the winner
of this category will be announced from
this shortlist
“As a collection of reviews, this book excels although
it fails to link them or provide a cohesive narrative
from one chapter to the next. They are best read
in isolation and dipped into as it is a relatively
heavy text written to high standards. To take this
book to the next level, an overview, narrative and
interweaving of each chapters’ offerings would be
helpful. I would have been curious to hear from each
author how the work they present fits in to a larger
theory of consciousness, which theories they favour,
and the personal experience of their work. This is a
good book for its limited intended audience.”
Lavishly illustrated and easy to use, this
comprehensive guide covers every aspect of
fetal heart examination and all major cardiac
malformations. World-renowned experts in the
field, Drs Abuhamad and Chaoui, world-renowned
experts in the field, have meticulously updated
and expanded this third edition while maintaining
its systematic and methodical approach. New
chapters, 25% new images, and a practical, concise
format make this reference indispensable for both
physicians and sonographers in the detection of
congenital heart disease. Thoroughly illustrated
ultrasound images in colour are accompanied by
clear, colourful schematic drawings that depict
cardiac anomalies. Numerous tables outline
common and differentiating features of various
cardiac malformations. Disorders are discussed in
terms of the ultrasound findings, with important
points summarised at the end of each chapter. The
first half of the text covers the technical aspects
of the cardiac exam and includes new chapters
on risk factors for cardiac defects, national and
international guidelines for fetal cardiac screening
and fetal echocardiography, optimising the cardiac
examination, cardiac embryology, the three-vesseltrachea view, and the venous system. The second
half of the text features detailed discussions of
fetal cardiac malformations, each presented in
a practical, methodical format that includes the
definition, spectrum of disease and incidence, the
use of grey scale, colour Doppler, 3D and early
gestation ultrasound in diagnosis, followed by the
differential diagnosis, prognosis, and outcome.
The Treatment of Epilepsy 4th ed.
Simon Shorvon, Emilio Perucca and
Jerome Engel, Jr. – Wiley-Blackwell, 2015
ISBN: 9781118937006 £240
Neurologists and epileptologists
This fourth edition provides a comprehensive
reference and clinical guide to the pharmacological,
medical and surgical options available in the
treatment of epilepsy. The first two sections cover
the background to, and principles of, treatment in
different clinical situations; section three comprises
a series of systematic reviews of contemporary
drug therapy, devoting one chapter to each antiepileptic drug and covering all clinically-relevant
aspects; and section four focuses on the surgical
options, devoting individual chapters to each
of the modalities of pre-surgical assessment
and to each surgical operation or approach. To
provide a comprehensive resource for those in
the field of epilepsy. Now in full colour, extensively
illustrated, and thoroughly revised, this book aims
to incorporate the many recent developments in
therapy, and comprises 81 chapters from world
experts from 18 countries.
“This book is brilliant and highly recommended
as an essential reference for all those managing
patients with epilepsy. It is patient-centred,
comprehensive, up-to-date and well-referenced. It
is a good way of filling gaps as both common and
niche are covered. It is highly recommended.”
A Practical Guide to Fetal Echocardiography:
Normal and Abnormal Hearts 3rd ed.
Alfred Abuhamad and Rabih Chaoui – Wolters
Kluwer, 2015 ISBN: 9781451176056 £80
“I have no reservations at all to recommend this
book. The main strength is the didactic way in
which the information is presented with plenty
of illustrations. The book does not target fetal
cardiology specialists but some of the general and
fetal medicine-related information it provides is
also helpful to cardiologists. This book is about
imaging the fetal heart and guiding those who
wish to improve their skills in doing so. It is about
ultrasound, its technique and art in imaging
the small heart before birth. The authors are
very experienced in imaging and teaching how
to image the fetal heart. This gives them the
necessary background to understanding the
‘needs’ of the intended readership. They couple
Programme and Award Winners
47
this understanding with their artistic ability to
convey a lot of the information through images.
The book provides a large number of high quality
ultrasound images which are beautifully prepared
and presented (in print and digitally) in an elegant
and comprehensive way. Additionally, the legends
are informative and overall, the accompanying text
merges with the images in a symbiotic way. The
book is rich in illustrative material, a comprehensive
library of images complemented by textual
information. It is a valuable resource to many
trainees around the world. The authors are wellrecognised by their teaching expertise which has
been translated into this book.”
An Atlas of Time Lapse Embryology
Alison Campbell and Simon Fishel – CRC Press,
2015 ISBN: 9781482214468 £63.99
Embryologists
The Atlas of Time Lapse Embryology describes in
detail the technology and techniques surrounding
time lapse embryology. The book also covers
the clinical aspects of time lapse imaging,
morphokinetic timings, implantation data,
fertilisation, compaction, blastulation, irregular
cleavages, multinucleation, vacuolation, zona
defects, and other topics. to show what claims can
be made for a new method of assessing the viability
of an embryo the first monograph on a new and
fast-developing technology.
“I think that this book is a very impressive addition
to the library of books and resources available
for embryologists in training and in practice to
see what images should like as they change. The
combined format of the text, pictures and the online
supplements in a simple accessible format make
this a great book. I showed my daughter, a mid-20s
science graduate the videos and she was equally
wowed; she said it only missed some popping noises
when the cells dived to make it better! This would
be a very useful book for trainers on and students
training in clinical embryology. It is timely that this
should incorporate images that are moving but in
practice that can be very difficult to do so this is all
the more impressive.”
Atlas of Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic
Surgery 4th ed.
Michael S Baggish and Mickey M Karram –
Elsevier, 2015 ISBN: 9780323225526 £180
OB/GYN residents and practitioners;
urogynecologists and general surgeons
The text is organised into five main units – principals
of pelvic anatomy and gynaecologic surgery;
abdominal surgery; cervical, vaginal, and vulvar
surgery; other related gynaecologic surgery; and
endoscopy and endoscopic surgery. Each unit
begins with a comprehensive overview of the
anatomy, including fresh cadaver specimens and
line drawings, which are important to helping
residents in particular put the anatomy into context.
The rest of each unit is organised anatomically and
then by specific procedure. On the whole, chapters
focus on clinical images and line drawings; the text is
limited to figure legends and concise introductions
to each procedure. Half-tone images and fourcolour clinical photographs aid in comprehending
complex anatomic relationships. Comprehensive
coverage of conventional and endoscopic
surgeries helps you master the full spectrum of
surgical procedures. The updated edition of Atlas
of Pelvic Anatomy and Gynecologic Surgery richly
illustrates pelvic anatomy and surgical operations
through full-colour anatomic drawings, correlative
surgical artwork with step-by-step photographs,
and computer-assisted hybrid photo illustrations.
Covering a compendium of gynaecologic
operations, including major and minor procedures
and approaches, the techniques described feature
a myriad of laparotomy, laparoscopic, robotic,
hysteroscopic, vaginal, vulvar and cystoscopic
operations. It is a truly comprehensive resource
that’s well-suited for practicing obstetriciansgynaecologists, obstetrics-gynaecology residents,
general surgeons, subspecialists, nurses, and
medical students with an interest in gynaecology.
“The amount of visual content is so impressive – it
actually feels very relevant and makes you want
to read more! It is possibly the most inclusive
pelvic anatomy atlas available with widespread
use of photographs and diagrams; clear and easily
accessible on opening each chapter. It contains a
chapter on transgender conditions and surgery and
combines historical anatomical research and new
images. The writing style is easy-to-read; it seems
like the author is talking to you in the theatre and
describing the procedure.”
48
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use
5th ed.
SBAs and EMQs for the MRCOG Part 2
World Health Organization – World Health
Organization, 2015 ISBN: 9789241549158 £28
Policy-makers; decision-makers and family planning
services
This document is one important step in a process
for improving access to quality of care in family
planning. The WHO Medical eligibility criteria for
contraceptive use, 5th edition, continues the
series of periodic updates of guidance on the
safety of various contraceptive methods for use
in the context of specific health conditions and
characteristics. The recommendations contained
within this document are based on the latest
clinical and epidemiological data. The intended
audience for this publication includes policy makers,
family planning programme managers and the
scientific community. It aims to provide guidance
to national family planning/reproductive health
programmes in the preparation of guidelines for
service delivery of contraceptives. Several tools and
job aids are available from WHO and other sources
to help providers use these recommendations in
practice. The goal of this document is to provide
policy-makers, decision-makers, and the scientific
community with a set of recommendations that
can be used for developing or revising national
guidelines on medical eligibility criteria for
contraceptive use.
“This is aimed to support policy makers and
professionals, across the globe, to make evidenced
based contraception and reproductive healthcare
prescribing decisions with women. The updated full
version clearly lays out information about type and
quality of evidence included The existing version is a
specialty staple; this version adds detail and updates
with additional methods, additional clarification
of guidance, and clearer assessment of type and
quality of evidence reviewed. The subject needs
to be understood at some level to make this book
useful, but its strength is its concise collation of all
recommendations in a consistent way for a global
audience.”
Shreelata Datta and Tahir Mahmood – Oxford
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780198745594
Candidates preparing for the Membership of the
Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Part 2
examination (MRCOG part 2)
Specifically designed for the MRCOG exam part
2, SBAs and EMQs for MRCOG Part 2 offers 500
questions mapped closely to the Royal College of
Obstetrics and Gynaecology curriculum to help
candidates prepare for the newly adapted exam.
This book aims to help exam candidates to selfassess their knowledge effectively and to help them
revise successfully. It does this by providing high
quality questions with Answers which explain the
rationale behind the correct answer and signpost
the reader to further sources of information. Whilst
other exam revision books are available to purchase,
none of them mimic the structure and format of
the recently revised MRCOG Part II exam as our
title does. In addition, each of our answers is fully
explained.
“Membership of the RCOG is an essential part of
specialty training to become a specialist in Obs and
Gynae. The exam is knowledge based, and requires
clinical application of theoretical knowledge, but
as with any postgraduate medical exam, familiarity
with the format of the exam is also essential if the
candidate is not to waste marks. This book provides
examples of the two formats used in the exam
now, namely Single Best Answers and Extended
Matching Questions. There are 50 of each in each
in each of five papers, providing the opportunity
for the preparing candidate to check knowledge
and practice the format, giving an up-to-date
preparation for the exam. The book avows that
it is written by recent successful candidates as
well as consultants with an interest in medical
examination. The book supplies a total of 250 SBAs
and 250 EMQs, which while not taken from the
College ‘bank’ of questions (for obvious reasons!) are
representative of them, and therefore a realistic test
of knowledge. There is also valuable advice from the
authors about how to approach the exam. This is not
intended as a replacement for a textbook, nor will it
suffice instead of a thorough-going familiarity with
College and National guidelines, for instance, as well
as patient information leaflets and scientific advisory
papers. There is useful advice about further reading
during exam preparation which, although it may
seem obvious to an experienced specialist, may not
have occurred to a candidate. Publications providing
examples of typical exam questions for any College
membership examination is a valuable resource for
candidates. From memory when I attempted the
Programme and Award Winners
49
exam (and passed!) I couldn’t get enough practice
books, no matter how many there were available. By
which I mean that there is no limit to the number
of up-to-date examples of books like this one, as
candidates will always seek them out. It may not be
unique, but it is well-presented and very useful, as
judged by the trainees I have shown it to. The text is
admirably up-to-date considering the difficulties in
achieving this, when the lead-time in publishing is
often more than a year. References given at the foot
of every answer (impressive in itself), are often dated
2015, suggesting that the authors have combed
all the recent literature to back up the suggested
answers to the questions. The information sources
used to formulate the questions and justify the
answers include both peer reviewed journal articles
and publications by internationally recognised
experts in the relevant field. These are the most
appropriate types of source. It is in the nature of
an exam-preparation publication that the style and
tone is determined by the questions themselves,
which accurately reflect the style of MRCOG
questions. The introduction and ‘How to approach
the exam’ are both well-written and provide clear
and unambiguous advice to the reader. This is a
timely addition to the exam preparation literature,
which accurately reflects the current exam format.
The answers to the SBAs and EMQs are clear,
unambiguous, and well-referenced.”
Oncology – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
Clinical Radiation Oncology 4th ed.
Leonard L Gunderson and Joel E Tepper –
Elsevier, 2015 ISBN: 9780323240987 £200
Radiation oncologists, medical oncologists,
radiologists, surgical oncologists, therapeutic
medical physicists and radiotherapists
This highly illustrated book provides a
multidisciplinary approach to radiation oncology,
with a focus on practical, clinical applications
organised by disease site. This fourth edition
provides an increased emphasis on stereotactic
radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic body irradiation
(SBRT), two important treatment areas in the
field of radiation oncology. It also includes useful
treatment algorithms, important points for each
chapter, and disease site overviews, which provide
a useful summary of cancer in that particular
organ system. It is a unique offering in this area as
it comprehensive enough for the entire radiation
oncology team and without an overabundance
of non-clinical content. Content is templated
and divided into three sections -- Scientific
Foundations of Radiation Oncology, Techniques
and Modalities, and Disease Sites – for quick access
to information. Disease Sites chapters summarise
the most important issues on the opening page
and include a full-colour format, liberal use of tables
and figures, a closing section with a discussion
of controversies and problems, and a treatment
algorithm that reflects the treatment approach of
the authors. Chapters have been edited for scientific
accuracy, organisation, format, and adequacy of
outcome data (such as disease control, survival,
and treatment tolerance). Allows you to examine
the therapeutic management of specific disease
sites based on single-modality and combinedmodality approaches. Features an emphasis on
providing workup and treatment algorithms for each
major disease process, as well as the coverage of
molecular biology and its relevance to individual
diseases. This book contains four useful videos on
intraoperative irradiation, prostate brachytherapy,
ocular melanoma, and penile brachytherapy. These
videos provide useful anatomical, diagnosis, staging,
and therapeutic procedural information with helpful
voiceover narrative.
“I will strongly recommend the current revised
fourth edition of this multidisciplinary Clinical
Radiation Oncology textbook to clinicians involved
in the management of cancer without hesitation.
Each section of the book covers practical clinically
focused latest multimodality management option
resource in a consistent and concise format to its
reader. It’s a treatment focused, multidisciplinary
textbook which provides the latest comprehensive
knowledge on the management of cancer. It
provides updated information, treatment algorithms
and various modern techniques together with
discussions of the controversies and problems along
with the reflection on the treatment approaches
employed by the authors of international repute on
the subject matter. It’s a scholarly textbook which is
extremely useful, clear, and attractive and thought
provoking multidisciplinary source for trainees and
practicing oncologists alike. The book is a welcome
resource focused on the multidisciplinary approach
on the role of the modern science of Clinical
Radiation Oncology in the management of cancer. It
provides in depth insight to basic science of clinical
oncology with beautifully organised, extensively
illustrated modern management approach primarily
focused on clinical applications to oncologists.
In-depth knowledge on scientific foundation of
radiation oncology and its use in the management
of cancer patients including intra-operative
radiotherapy, brachytherapy, along with the evolving
role of modern techniques like IMRT, stereotactic
radiosurgery and stereotactic body irradiation has
been well-described. Though each chapter of this
multi-authored compendium has been suitably
50
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
and accurately updated, many excellent features of
the popular previous editions of the book has been
admirably maintained by its editors.”
where there have been so many publications
about immunotherapy but no book consolidating
the existent knowledge and providing a summary
of what is actually happening now. The timing of
publication of the book is great, as well as a very
complex subject is very clearly presented in a
succinct manner.”
Immuno-Oncology
Olivier Michielin and George Coukos – S Karger
AG, 2015 ISBN: 9783318055894 £130
Oxford Textbook of Oncology 3rd ed.
Scientists interested in the translation of basic
immunology into the clinical practice, as well as for
clinicians interested in deepening their knowledge
of current and upcoming immune strategies in the
fight against cancers
David J Kerr, Daniel G Haller, Cornelis JH van de
Velde and Michael Baumann – Oxford University
Press, 2016 ISBN: 9780199656103 £245
Oncologists of all grades and subspecialty interests
This book provides a concise and accurate outline
of the main developments in major tumour types
including melanoma, lung, breast, brain and renal
cell cancers. In addition, transversal chapters
that describe the commonalities of some of the
therapeutic strategies are provided to cover topics
like immune checkpoint biology, T cell engineering
or rational combination therapies. Over the last
decade, immuno-oncology has witnessed an
astonishing pace of discovery and innovation
translating into unprecedented successes in the
clinical setting, arguably representing one of the
most profound and transforming revolution in the
history of cancer therapy. This book aims to provide
the most up-to-date view on cancer immunooncology. Each chapter has been authored by senior
important opinion leaders in their respective fields
to provide the most up-to-date view on cancer
immuno-oncology. To reflect on the important
translational aspect of immuno-oncology, all
chapters are making explicit connections between
basic science discoveries and the resulting
translational therapeutic strategies.
“I would definitely suggest this book to the budding
oncologist and to colleagues with interest in
immunology. This book is in fact very topical as
there has been an explosion of information about
the current application of immunotherapy in
numerous types of solid tumours. Although this
book is indeed aiming to inform the non-expert
about the use of immunotherapy it would be easier
for the reader if there a section at the beginning
introducing the concept of immunotherapy. For
example, the chapter on Immune checkpoint
inhibitors could potentially act as the introductory
part of the book. Up-to-date, accurate and very well
nicely presented information about immunotherapy
and its use in the majority of tumour types that
it has been found to have significant impact on.
A chapter on the most commonly encountered
toxicities could have also been useful and
informative. This book is unique now in a time
Structured in six sections, the book provides an
accessible scientific basis to the important topics
of oncology, examining how cancer cells grow
and function, as well as discussing the aetiology
of cancer, and the general principles governing
modern approaches to oncology treatment.
The book examines the challenges presented
by the treatment of cancer on a larger scale
within population groups, and the importance of
recognising and supporting the needs of individual
patients, both during and after treatment. A series
of disease-oriented, case-based chapters, ranging
from acute leukaemia to colon cancer, highlight
the various approaches available for managing
the cancer patient, including the translational
application of cancer science in order to personalise
treatment. The advice imparted in these cases
has relevance worldwide, and reflects a modern
approach to cancer care. Written and edited by
internationally recognised leaders in the field, the
new edition of the Oxford Textbook of Oncology
has been fully revised and updated, taking into
consideration the advancements in each of the
major therapeutic areas, and representing the
multidisciplinary management of cancer.
“I would strongly recommend this thoroughly
revised informative book to all oncology trainees
and practicing oncologists. It is a must for every
institutional library including access to the online
version of the book to help further the education
of oncology. It is an outstanding revised edition
of a widely recognised classic which gives
comprehensive accounts of the multidisciplinary
management approach of cancer for practicing
oncologists and oncology trainees. The book
has been fully revised and updated using recent
advances, basic science, molecular profiling and
personalised medicine for day to day management
of cancer patients. The Oxford Textbook of
Oncology provides a comprehensive account of the
multidisciplinary approach to the management of
Programme and Award Winners
51
adult cancers with success. This long due updated
edition, written and edited by internationally
recognised leaders in the field of oncology has been
fully revised and provides an accessible scientific
basis to the aetiology, biology and evidence
based explanation for the management of cancer
sufferers. The book has been updated using recent
advances, basic science, molecular profiling and
personalised medicine for treatment selection.
The new information provided for the practicing
oncologists in this widely recognised classic is
science based and provides practical guide to their
application in the clinics.”
Principles and Practice of Pediatric Oncology
7th ed.
Philip A Pizzo and David G Poplack – Wolters
Kluwer, 2015 ISBN: 9781451194234 £267
Now thoroughly updated to include new advances
in the field, and with regular content updates to
the eBook, Principles and Practice of Pediatric
Oncology, 7th Edition remains the gold standard
text for the care and research of children with
cancer. This authoritative reference is the single
most comprehensive resource on the biology and
genetics of childhood cancer and the diagnosis,
multimodal treatment, and long-term management
of young patients with cancer. Also addressed
are a broad array of topics on the supportive
and psychosocial aspects of care of children and
families. Covering virtually every aspect of the
breadth and depth of childhood cancer, this 7th
Edition provides expert guidance on state-of-theart, multidisciplinary care for children and families.
Supportive care is covered broadly and specifically –
in contexts such as emergencies, infectious disease,
and nutrition. The most updated and authoritative
information is provided by the leading experts in
the field. Gain a thorough understanding of every
aspect of paediatric oncology, with comprehensive
information regarding basic science, diagnostic
tools, principles of treatment, and clinical trials, as
well as highly detailed, definitive coverage of each
paediatric malignancy. Collaborate more effectively
with others on the cancer care team to enhance
quality-of-life issues for patients and families.
Understand the cooperative nature of paediatric
oncology as a model for cancer research with
information from cooperative clinical trial groups
and consortia.
“This is a great book to read and learn about
paediatric oncology. It is best used when reading
around a patient or interest as it is too weighty
to read from cover to cover in one go. This is a
comprehensive text that remains the premier
paediatric oncology textbook. The illustrations
are superb and well-placed in the text. The tables
are well-thought out and add understanding
often summarising the information in a concise
and accurate way. The online service is brilliant
and works extremely well, it is very useful being
able to access from your electronic advice. The
organisation of the chapters using colour coding on
the side of the page is very useful and are divided
into logical sections. Each chapter is well-written
and logical, conveying the information in a concise
yet understandable way. Patient illusions of various
conditions as well as pathology and biology aid
significantly to the relevance of each section. The
ability to share sections via the online system is
very useful and well as being able to highlight
portions that are especially relevant. The indexing
and content pages are logical and easy to use. It
is a good book to refer to for med students and
trainees who want that bit extra when being taught
about paediatric oncology. An extremely good
overall paediatric oncology text which remains the
gold standard. There are no major flaws although
the book is very US-centric in many chapters. Some
are very good like the germ cell chapter which
comments on multiple trails form around the world.
All but three of the many authors are from North
America, of those three, two are involved in the
developing countries chapter and the other one
I believe worked in North America until relatively
recently. Overall an exceptional book which remains
the gold standard of paediatric oncology textbooks.”
Problem Solving in Older Cancer Patients
Alistair Ring, Danielle Harari, Tania Kalsi, Janine
Mansi and Peter Selby – Clinical Publishing, 2015
ISBN: 9781846921100 £39.95
Oncologists and geriatricians and trainees in these
disciplines and specialist nurses in oncology and
geriatrics
An evidence-based guidebook that will assist the
physician managing the older cancer patient to
implement appropriate treatment strategy taking
account of comorbidities, frailty, and patient
choice. The book is divided into two sections: an
overview of the issues surrounding effective care
of the older cancer patient in twenty-first century
healthcare systems (18 chapters by specialist
authors); and 32 case studies by interdisciplinary
teams of oncologists and geriatricians. Each clinical
case includes a concise discussion on patient
presentation and of scenarios underpinning issues
experienced by older patients followed by a clear
appraisal of how the latest clinical research impacts
on patient management. Different professional
52
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
groups often have different styles and different
cultures, but they all share the aim of bringing
about the best outcomes, the best quality of life
and the best outcomes for their patients. The
editors anticipate that this new text will be a useful
contribution to improving planning for the care
of older cancer patients and the development
of clinical care teams from oncology, geriatrics,
primary care and other fields to deploy their
skills for the maximum benefit of this increasing
group of patients. Developed and compiled
by interdisciplinary teams of oncologists and
geriatricians; provides case study-based examples of
team working; provides an audit of UK performance
in this area, where a number of European countries
already provide excellent care.
Paediatrics – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
“The management of elderly patients with a
malignancy is such a relevant and hot topic now, as
the amount of patients with a diagnosis of cancer
that live longer is increasing and the practising
physician needs to become aware of how to
manage such potential complex patients. This book
comes at a great time to address these concerns
and provide advice for such patients. The authors
here show an excellent technique of addressing
the current issues in geriatric oncology in such an
ingenious way by using clinical cases and examples
but also discussing the epidemiology of cancer in
the elderly and also providing the view of how the
same issues are death with by different oncologists
and elderly physicians in the rest of Europe. This
book is unique and will be very warmly welcomed
not just from oncologists but also from general
physicians, geriatricians and GPs. We all need to
adjust our practice with an increasingly large aging
population and publications like these facilitate the
training of doctors in dealing with more complex
patients like elderly patient with malignancy,
among other co-morbidities. It is a definite mustbuy for the every geriatrician, oncologist, GP and
general physician, The main strengths include
the fact the authors have come to address a very
topical issue in a very clear, structured and succinct
manner, providing perspectives on different issues
commonly seen in the management of geriatric
patients but also by using clinical case examples.
This is such a good book, and I have thoroughly
enjoyed reading it!”
Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric Dermatology:
A Textbook of Skin Disorders of Childhood and
Adolescence 5th ed.
Amy S Paller and Anthony J Mancini – Elsevier,
2015 ISBN: 9780323244756 £112
Paediatricians; dermatologists; family practitioners
and anyone who sees children with skin disorders
This must-have clinical reference, by Drs Amy S
Paller and Anthony J Mancini, provides practical,
authoritative guidance for identification and
management of all types of skin disorders seen in
children and adolescents. Hurwitz Clinical Pediatric
Dermatology, 5th Edition, is ideal for paediatricians,
dermatologists, family practitioners and anyone who
sees children with skin disorders – no matter what
level of experience you may have. Benefit from the
knowledge and expertise of two leaders in the field,
who provide a clearly written, consistent approach
throughout the text. Stay on the cutting edge of
what’s new in paediatric dermatology – from the
neonate to the adolescent – with the latest drug
developments and disease classifications. Recognise
virtually any skin condition you’re likely to see
thanks to more than 1,000 high-quality colour
images, including more than 300 brand new to this
edition. Find the most appropriate therapy options
with updated evidence based guidance. Easily
locate the information you need with more quickreference boxes and summary tables throughout
the text. Described by readers as ‘a must-have for
anyone who sees children as patients’. The new
edition of Hurwitz is completely updated with new
treatments and guidelines and continues to hit all
the market needs by providing a comprehensive
approach to paediatric skin disease but also remains
easily readable for quick review. Written by two
world leaders who keep it accessible to all levels,
Hurwitz remains a leading text among a broad
market including paediatricians, dermatologists,
family practitioners and anyone who sees children
with skin disorders.
“This is a well-written, comprehensive textbook
on paediatric dermatology. It is very easy-to-read
unlike some other textbooks that are difficult and a
chore. It therefore does a very good job of appealing
to all knowledge levels. It is well-ordered into 26
separate sections eg chapters devoted to neonatal
dermatology and one devoted to infestations, bites
and stings. Each chapter is copiously illustrated
with high quality pictures and these are not too
dark either! (so many other paediatric dermatology
books suffer from having pictures that are too dark
Section of brochure
British Medical Association
BMA Patient Information Awards 2016
BMA board of science
The BoS (board of science) supports and
promotes medical science on behalf of BMA
members. It provides the BMA’s main interface
between the profession, the government
and the public, on science, health education
and any public health matters falling within
its remit. Through undertaking research and
publishing evidence-based recommendations
for action, the board is able to advise and lobby
governments on key issues that concern the
medical profession and impact on healthcare in
the UK.
Its broad remit allows it to be reactive to issues
that are of current public interest, and proactive
in signposting potential areas of concern for the
medical profession. To date, the BoS has produced
or commissioned work on a diverse range of
topics including nutrition, alcohol – including
alcohol and pregnancy -, tobacco and e-cigarettes,
children’s health, prescribed drugs dependence and
withdrawal, and achieving parity between mental
and physical health. It also produces guidance and
educational documents for members, commonly in
the form of web resources.
Health in all policies
The board of science has recently published a
briefing exploring the impact of austerity and welfare
reform on health and wellbeing. This presents the
evidence of ways in which austerity can impact on
health, as well as the need for: continued action
to reduce health inequalities; greater investment
in health and social protection systems; and the
need for a health in all policies approach to policy
development and implementation.
Prescribed drug dependence
The board of science has been working with a
range of stakeholders to agree what collaborative
action can be taken to improve the prevention and
management of prescribed drug dependence. This
follows on from the publication of ‘Prescribed drugs
associated with dependence and withdrawal –
building a consensus for action’.
Supporting healthy ageing
The board of science will be publishing a series of
briefing papers in late September on ‘Growing older
in the UK’, which are intended to explore different
health policy challenges associated with ageing in
the UK. These will cover the following topics: older
people and the social determinants of health; health
and social care services; older peoples mental health
and wellbeing; living with long-term conditions;
the perception of ageing and age discrimination;
and supporting carers. Each paper will set out
recommendations for policymakers and actions
doctors can take to support the process of heathy
ageing.
Pain relief and analgesic use
The board of science is developing complementary
policy briefings exploring ways of improving the
use of analgesics. These will focus on supporting
improvements in analgesic use in the context of
chronic pain, and improving access to pain relief
at the end of life. It is planned that these will be
published in autumn 2016.
You can find out more about the board on the
BMA website bma.org.uk
53
54
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
to meaningfully interpret). We need a good quality
dermatology textbook that allows the user (at any
level) to accurately identify the condition that they
are faced with using good photographs and wellwritten text. Each chapter is well-referenced at the
end, the majority of papers being within the last six
years. It has great pictures, easy-to-read text and
it’s well-indexed. A perfect book for any paediatric
emergency department. We have several paediatric
dermatology books in our department and this is by
far the best. The problem is now getting hold of the
copy when one needs it as it will have undoubtedly
have been spirited away by ones colleagues!”
uncommon clinical problems. It is extremely
well-written with concise easy to understand
language. There is no good comparable concise
handbook. There are very limited references
which is appropriate for a clinical handbook. This
second edition has some updates but most of the
first edition stands as a good reflection of current
understanding and practice. The three authors
have synthesised data, bibliography and excellent
personal experience. The line diagrams are simple
and clear. The reproductions of chest imaging are
surprisingly clear considering their small size, the
book concisely synthesises, in appropriate detail,
clinical management of both common and rarer
paediatric respiratory conditions. I found reviewing
it a real pleasure. This book can be considered a
‘classic’ as a paediatric respiratory handbook. It does
what it says on the tin.”
Paediatric Respiratory Medicine 2nd ed.
Jeremy Hull, Julian Forton and Anne
Thomson – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780199687060 £49.99
The Color Atlas of Pediatrics International ed.
Consultant general paediatricians; trainees in
paediatric respiratory medicine; consultants in
paediatric respiratory medicine and trainees in
general paediatrics
The handbook discusses the approach to clinical
problems, specific conditions, supportive care and
practical procedures, and includes vital appendices
covering specific tests and statistics. This book
remains the first point of reference for those faced
with treating acute or chronic respiratory problems
in children. The text deals with common problems
faced by all paediatricians everyday as well as the
rare conditions seen by specialists in the field.
Divided neatly into sections that cover the clinical
presentation, diagnosis, and management of
respiratory problems, the handbook provides useful
content for various exams and training in the field.
The handbook discusses the approach to clinical
problems, specific conditions, supportive care and
practical procedures, and includes vital appendices
covering specific tests and statistics. The book is
divided into five parts. Part I provides a practical
approach to acute and non-acute clinical problems.
Part II provides detailed information about common
and rarer clinical conditions. Part III provides
useful information on supportive care, including
for example, use of non-invasive ventilation and
the care of a child with a tracheotomy. Part IV
gives details on how to perform several practical
procedures, such as ciliary brush biopsy, flexible
bronchoscopy, and inserting a chest drain. The
appendices provide information on lung function
testing and tables of age-corrected normal values
for several respiratory parameters.
“The book is of great value to the target population
in regards its coverage of common but also
Richard Usatine, Camille Sabella, Mindy Ann
Smith, EJ Mayeaux Jr, Heidi S Chumley and
Elumalai Appachi. – McGraw-Hill Education,
2015 ISBN: 9781259251498 £68.99
Paediatricians; paediatrics students; physician
associates and nurse practitioners
The Color Atlas of Pediatrics features more than
1,800 full-colour photographs to help one visually
diagnose a wide variety of common and uncommon
conditions and disorders spanning the entire
paediatric spectrum. This superb collection of
clinical images is supported by concise evidencebased treatment recommendations presented in
easy-to-apply bulleted text. Each chapter begins
with a patient story that ties the photographs to
real-life patients. Coverage for conditions includes:
Epidemiology, Aetiology, and Pathophysiology,
Risk Factors, Diagnosis Differential, Diagnosis
Management, Prevention, Patient Education.
Strength of recommendation ratings are cited
throughout skilfully blending the art and science
of medicine for optimal patient care. A concise fullcolour diagnostic atlas of paediatric medicine. The
Color Atlas of Pediatrics features more than 1,500
full-colour clinical images and succinct bulleted
text covering a range of essential disciplines. Each
chapter devotes two to four pages on a given
condition and follows a consistent easy-to-access
design.
“As a visual learner myself, I have always known that
I learn best though images and photographs. As
I have progressed as a paediatrician, I have learnt
that I remember individual cases as a basis to my
learning. It is therefore a real pleasure, to find a
Programme and Award Winners
55
book such as this, which brings together excellent
examples of medical conditions, and not only
describes diagnosis, but also explains investigations
and management options. The book is based on the
premise that doctors use pattern-recognition when
making a diagnosis. Using a huge number of high
quality images, the book is able to show just what
a vital and useful approach this is. This book uses a
large amount of primary and secondary materials.
There are real life patient cases, experiences of
practicing doctors, as well as up-to-date guidance
and data. The book is set out in clear specialties (ie
ENT, respiratory, dermatology etc) and each topic
is broken down into clear sections. The illustrations
are a vital part of this book, and what makes it
a fantastic reference guide. There are excellent
illustrations, X-rays, and photographs of a wide
range of conditions and investigations. This book
promotes the importance of pattern recognition in
the art of diagnosis and therefore the images had
to be of good quality. Clear and easy to use. It is
definitely a book that I will continue to go back to
and reference in the future.”
Pathology – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
access to the salient information a pathologist
needs to know to effectively diagnose these difficult
problems.
“In my view, this is the pathology book to buy for
any specialist in diseases of the head and neck. It
is probably far too thorough for undergraduates,
or general practitioners, but would be useful as a
reference in a department for trainees. This book
covers the entirety of head and neck pathology
and is a fantastic reference text but it excludes skin
pathology. Whilst skin pathology is well-covered
in other text books, a section on common skin
pathology would be useful to many head and neck
specialists who often manage skin lesions in their
daily practice. The illustrations are of excellent
quality. The only way I can think of improving
them is to add some 3D or 4D illustrations to
the digital media, which are often very useful to
aid understanding of anatomical structures, and
changes in disease over time. I think this textbook
is a leader in its field, but there is some room for
improvement, especially in the digital content
which is simply a copy of the text book in digital
form. I would like to have seen them use 3D and 4D
illustrations, and they also missed the potential to
link to professional communities and social media.”
Atlas of Head and Neck Pathology 3rd ed.
Diagnostic Pathology: Kidney Diseases 2nd ed,
Bruce M Wenig – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9781455733828 £250
Surgical pathologists; head and neck pathologists;
oral pathologists; head and neck surgeons and oral
surgeons
Atlas of Head and Neck Pathology delivers
authoritative, highly visual guidance for effectively
and accurately diagnosing a wide range of head
and neck problems. This comprehensive resource
features extensive, high-quality images depicting
the histologic, immunohistochemical, cytologic,
and diagnostic imaging appearance of every type
of head and neck pathology. With a consistent,
practical organisation and succinct, bulleted
format, the Atlas continues to be the resource
general pathologists and specialists count on for
reliable, easy-to-find answers. The most important
component of the book is the illustrations which
include many colour images depicting each entity
with correlative figure legends. The book is quite
comprehensive, with numerous high-quality
illustrations, but a bulleted, quick reference format
that makes acquisition of information on head
and neck pathology easy. Other head and neck
pathology books present detailed information with
dense text and lots of references. While still being
authoritative, this book provides quick and easy
Robert Colvin and Anthony Chang – AMIRSYS,
2015 ISBN: 9780323377072 £220
Pathologists and nephrologists
Part of the highly regarded Diagnostic Pathology
series, this updated volume is a visually stunning,
easy-to-use reference covering all aspects
of common and rare renal diseases and their
variants. Outstanding images – including gross
and microscopic pathology, a wide range of stains,
and detailed medical illustrations – make this
an invaluable diagnostic aid for every practicing
pathologist, resident, or fellow. Written by leading
pathologists, this second edition presents an up-todate, concise presentation of major pathological,
clinical, pathophysiological, and genetic information
for more than 240 diagnoses. High-quality, carefully
annotated images highlight critical information,
including difficult issues of grading and staging
and diagnostic dilemmas not covered in depth
in other texts. Time-saving reference features
include bulleted text, a variety of test data tables,
and important facts in each chapter, annotated
images, and an extensive index. Major advances in
nephropathology and nephrology have occurred
since 2011, especially in the areas of membranous
nephropathy, MPGN/ complement-related
56
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
diseases, certain newly recognised immunologic
and genetic diseases. More than 25 new chapters/
disease entities plus added methods sections on
techniques. Updates include marked increase in
new, high-quality images, updated descriptions
including modern ancillary tests, and the latest
references on the full spectrum of non-neoplastic
renal pathology. The unique ‘diagnostic checklist’
section is an excellent feature not seen in other
books of this type
of molecular medicine. This is the first textbook to
take a practical and clinical approach to looking at
molecular changes in common medical diseases.
This text matches diseases with all of their molecular
mutations and explains how the molecular mutation
affects the disease. There is no other pathology
book with integration of molecular oncology.
“A comprehensive book on the evolving field of
science, which provides cutting edge practical
guidance on molecular pathology for personalised
clinical medicine. The book is extensively illustrated
and written in a concise bulleted format which allow
the reader to easily find the relevant information on
the topic. It provides clear guidance of molecular
pathology particularly molecular profiling using
modern techniques. The content is richly illustrated
with reference covering molecular investigations
and their clinical application. In the current era of
rapidly evolving genetic profiling and personalised
medicine, it’s a welcome source for pathologists and
trainees. Molecular pathology is rapidly changing
due to availability of new molecular target inhibitors
and there is limited number of textbooks on the
subject. Therefore, the readers will find it attractive
and informative. There is a scarcity of textbooks on
the subject of molecular pathology and this book
not only fills a gap but provides high standard of
information which is easy to understand and joy to
read. It will serve a guide for practicing pathologists
and each institution should try to have at least one
copy in their pathology division.”
“It is very easy and quick to access up-to-date,
comprehensive information about renal pathology.
Even uncommon diseases are adequately covered.
The book’s strength lies in its format that makes
information about its subject easy to access
and is comprehensive in scope and depth. The
histopathology trainee who wish to specialise in
renal pathology will benefit most from this book, the
general histology trainees and nephrologists less
so. The updated second edition of this book sets
a new benchmark in the field of Renal Pathology.
Contributed to and edited by acknowledged experts
in this area, the book covers virtually all of the nonneoplastic renal pathology. Concise yet extensive
clinical and pathological descriptions are supported
by appropriate tables, diagrams and followed by
highly quality images that illustrate macroscopic,
microscopic and ultrastructural pathology. The
contents are easily accessible via an extensive index
and a logical arrangement of topics. The production
qualities of the book and its digital ebook versions
are superb. The range and depth of subject covered
is outstanding. This book should find a place
wherever renal pathology is practised and will also
be immensely useful to renal physicians.”
Diagnostic Pathology: Molecular Oncology
Mohamad A Vasef and Aaron Auerbach –
AMIRSYS, 2015 ISBN: 9780323376785 £220
Greenfield’s Neuropathology Two Volume Set
9th ed.
Seth Love, Herbert Budka, James
Ironside and Arie Perry – CRC Press, 2015
ISBN: 9781498721288 £440
Pathologists and oncologists
Neuropathologists and related specialties including:
neurologists, neurosurgeons, general pathologists,
neuroradiologists and clinical neuroscientists
This volume in the highly regarded Diagnostic
Pathology series provides a clearer understanding
of molecular pathology as it relates to the
transformation and pathogenesis of cancer.
Diagnostic Pathology: Molecular Oncology is the
first reference to apply a practical and clinical
approach to examining how molecular mutations
affect common medical diseases. Additionally, it
identifies the relevant and appropriate molecular
tests to perform for a complete work-up in the era
of molecular-targeted therapies. Easy to use and
packed with outstanding illustrations, this is an
essential resource for all pathologists or clinicians
who need to keep up with the ever-evolving field
Greenfield’s Neuropathology, the world’s
leading neuropathology reference, provides an
authoritative, comprehensive account of the
pathological findings in neurological disease, their
biological basis and their clinical manifestations.
Underpinning the text is a clear description of the
molecular and cellular processes and reactions
that are relevant to the development, and normal
and abnormal functioning of, the nervous system.
Care has been taken to ensure that the information
is accessible to readers working within a range of
disciplines in the clinical neurosciences, and that
the neuropathological findings are placed within the
context of a broader diagnostic process.
Programme and Award Winners
57
“It is in my opinion the leading reference in
neuropathology and deserves high praise. It has
an important place in the market for this field
ever since it’s real birth more than fifty years ago.
Greenfield’s is a remarkable text which retains a
clear, comprehensive and precise style.
On the whole, the illustrations are exceptional. I
hope further editions look to provide even more
figures to summarise important concepts and
increase interactivity. The two volume set is
beautiful in red and crisp silver text: a welcome
change. This is a tried and tested reference, a great
leader in its field. Scientists, clinicians, researchers,
students who wish to learn more about neurological
disease should look no further than Greenfield’s
Neuropathology Ninth Edition.”
WHO Classification of Tumours of the Lung,
Pleura, Thymus and Heart 4th ed.
William D Travis, Elisabeth Brambilla, Allen
P Burke, Alexander Marx and Andrew G
Nicholson – World Health Organization, 2015
ISBN: 9789283224365 CHF 135
The WHO Classification of Tumours of the Lung,
Pleura, Thymus and Heart provides an international
standard used by oncologists and pathologists
in daily practice, and serves as an indispensable
guide for use in the design of studies monitoring
response to therapy and clinical outcome.
Diagnostic criteria, pathological features, and
associated genetic alterations are described in a
strictly disease-oriented manner. Sections on all
recognised neoplasms and their variants include
new International Classification of Diseases for
Oncology (ICD-O) codes, epidemiology, clinical
features, macroscopy, pathology, genetics, and
prognosis and predictive factors. The book,
prepared by 157 authors from 29 countries,
contains more than 800 colour images and tables,
and more than 3000 references. The overarching
objective of the WHO Classification of Tumours
project is to set up a pathological and genetic
classification and grading of human tumours that
is accepted and used worldwide. This volume
of the series sets out to achieve this objective
specifically concerning tumours of the lung, pleura,
thymus and heart. Without clearly defined clinical
and histopathological diagnostic criteria and,
more recently, genetic and expression profiles,
epidemiological studies and clinical trials are difficult
to conduct. This project therefore has a substantial
impact in not only pathology communities, but also
cancer registration, epidemiology studies, clinical
trials, and cancer research in general. Diagnostic
criteria, pathological features, and associated
genetic alterations are described in a strictly
disease-oriented manner. Sections on all recognised
neoplasms and their variants include new
International Classification of Diseases for Oncology
(ICD-O) codes, epidemiology, clinical features,
macroscopy, pathology, genetics, and prognosis
and predictive factors. The book, prepared by 157
authors from 29 countries, contains more than
800 colour images and tables, and more than 3000
references.
“This is the standard reference text on WHO
classification of thoracic tumours. A must-have,
authoritative text for thoracic pathologists and
pathology departments. This book will also be
very useful in the design of clinical trials where
pathological classification will determine many
aspects of trial design, and to any other clinical
professional or academic involved in thoracic
oncology/pathology. A much needed and long
overdue update to the previous version and includes
important updates such as molecular diagnostics
and reporting small biopsies. There are a wealth
of photographs and diagrams used appropriately
to further explain the important points in the text,
which is clear and concise. This is an excellent
reference text authored and edited by a large expert
panel, which undoubtedly will require more frequent
updates to keep abreast of the rapidly changing
thoracic pathology/oncology environment.”
Popular medicine – the winner of this
category will be announced from this
shortlist
Another Twinkle in the Eye: Contemplating
Another Pregnancy After Perinatal Mental
Illness
Elaine Hanzak – CRC Press, 2015
ISBN: 9781846198885 £19.99
Parents and families considering having another
baby after experiencing perinatal mental illness, as
well as healthcare professionals in related disciplines
Every year 35,000 women in the UK suffer from
postnatal depression. It follows that at some point
further on they are likely to ask the question ‘Do
I/ we want another baby?’ This guide will support
parents and professionals in decision making,
and in planning for another pregnancy and the
postnatal period if the decision is yes. It will also
consider the implications of deciding not to
have another child. This supportive guide brings
together an understanding of the thoughts and
emotions surrounding perinatal mental illness,
alongside self-help techniques, practical resources,
information and discussion, enabling parents who
The BMA General Practitioners
Committee
The BMA General Practitioners Committee
(GPC) represents all GPs across the UK,
whether or not they are members of the
BMA, from partners, to sessional GPs and
trainees. The work of the committee is
supported by a national infrastructure
of local medical committees. GPC is
recognised as the sole negotiating body
for GPs under the GMS contract by the
Department of Health.
In addition to negotiating the GP contract
each year, GPC has influence at national
level on many key issues for GPs and
general practice, championing on behalf
of the profession. GPC was instrumental
in developing the quality and outcomes
framework, which has provided the
foundation for consistent and high quality
long term condition management and
this now provides the basis for NICE
recommendations. Working with partners
GPC has lead the development of IT
changes in practices, resulting in worldleading electronic patient clinical records.
The committee has also had a leading
role in supporting the development of
multidisciplinary working within general
practice, most recently with a focus on the
wider use of pharmacists working directly
with practices.
General practice has been at the heart of the
delivery of primary healthcare for decades,
and is often described as the cornerstone of
the NHS. Over recent years, general practice
has faced increasing pressures on the
service, including unsustainable workload,
a workforce crisis and inadequate resource.
GPC has undertaken significant research into
the issues faced, including one of its biggest
ever consultation exercises, resulting in
GPC’s influential vision for general practice,
‘Responsive, safe and sustainable: Towards a
new future for general practice’.
GPC has played a key role in negotiating with
government on the support needed for the
profession, setting out the actions needed in
its recent ‘Responsive, safe and sustainable:
our urgent prescription for general practice’,
with many of the proposals being taken
up directly in NHS England’s GP Forward
View . GPC has been successful in securing
a number of commitments to sustain and
develop the service over the coming years,
and will continue to work to ensure a viable
and successful future for general practice.
In terms of training and education, GPC has
subcommittees for both GP trainees and
education, training and workforce. GP trainee
elected representatives were instrumental
in ensuring training and educational quality
and time were protected during the doctor
in training contract negotiations. For
example, work scheduling will be introduced
for GP trainees for the first time, and this will
ensure they are able to take full advantage of
their protected education, training and study
time.
GPC also has elected member
representatives on the multi-organisation
GP Speciality Advisory Committee, which
involves leading GP educators and trainers
from across the UK. Our work as one of the
four leading partner organisations on the GP
workforce 10 point plan involved improving
both infrastructure for and the breadth of
training and education for GP trainees. For
example, GPC was influential in determining
the strategic vision for the emerging regional
training hubs too.
We continue to lobby for better quality
facilities, sufficiently funded training and
education placements for undergraduates,
foundation doctors and GP trainees, and
the broadening of the GP curriculum to
ensure GP trainees feel fully prepared when
they enter the workforce after qualification.
In September 2015, the GPC invited
leading medical school, foundation and
GP educators to a symposium to discuss
solutions to underfunding and diminishing
exposure to GP training and education. The
principles from this meeting were adopted
by a specially established national group,
led by Health Education England, to develop
recommendations for positive changes to
GP training and education.
The committee also represents GP trainers,
and works to ensure GP trainer pay is
increased in line with annual increases
for GPs generally. Evidence for doing so
is submitted to the Doctors’ and Dentists’
Review Body on an annual basis.
Finally, GPC is also represented on the
Department of Health’s primary care
education and training tariff group, and we
intend to ensure future GPs get the most
from their training and education through
properly funded, high quality GP practice
placements. Positive exposure to General
Practice will ensure more doctors choose
General Practice as a career in the future and
is indeed one of the key ways to solve the
current workload crisis.
Programme and Award Winners
59
have experienced perinatal mental health to make
an informed decision when planning another child.
This book brings together real stories as well as
practical advice and examples of good practice from
experienced healthcare professionals.
harness the power of knowing, owning and sharing
feelings to transform situations and break negative
cycles and old ways of relating. There is no other
self-help book that draws on psychoanalytic work
and translates this for a more general audience.
“This book is a very good combination of
information on issues related to perinatal
mental illness for the general public and health
professionals. It could be enough as a general read,
but it also serves as a guide and reference book
for anyone who has suffered from perinatal mental
health illness or has to care for someone as such,
be that as a family, friend or professional. The book
strengths are that the contents are the product of
the experience of the author, both personally and
from her own research. From this point of view it
comes across as truthful and genuine. The fact
that there are chapters to which specialised health
professionals have contributed their authoritative
opinions adds to its strength. Although not a major
drawback, but as the author has a lot of material
from her survey and most of it is qualitative, there is
a tendency to some avoidable repetition. I enjoyed
this book greatly. It has a lot in it but it is presented
in an engaging way, so it does not tire the reader,
despite the endless references and resources cited.”
“This book tackles an area that is so relevant
to so many but still so difficult to talk about. It
offers reassurance and explanation as we all try
as new parents to manage our own expectations
of ourselves with the rollercoaster that is life with
a new born. This is a sound and well-organised
text that obviously comes from very experienced
authors. This could be a very well-deserving prize
winner in my opinion! This is by far my favourite of
all the books I have reviewed since I have taken part
in the BMA book awards as a reviewer: I congratulate
the authors on their text and wish them every
success.”
Finding Your Way with Your Baby: The emotional
life of parents and babies
Dilys Daws and Alexandra de Rementeria –
Routledge, 2015 ISBN: 9781138787063 £19.99
Parents and those working with parents and babies
including health visitors, midwives, social workers,
GPs, paediatricians and childcare workers
Finding Your Way with Your Baby explores the
emotional experience of the baby in the first year,
and that of the mother, father and other significant
adults. It does so in a way that is deeply informed by
psychoanalytic understandings, infant observation,
developmental science and decades of clinical
experience. It explores the emotional experience
of the baby in the first year, and that of the mother,
father and other significant adults. It does so in
a way that is deeply informed by psychoanalytic
understandings, infant observation, developmental
science and decades of clinical experience. It
aims to engage with the most difficult emotional
experiences that are often glossed over in parenting
books – such as pregnancy, through birth into
bonding, ambivalence about the baby, depression,
and the emotional turmoil so often brought to the
surface by being a new parent. Acknowledgement
and understanding about this darker side of family
life offers a sense of relief that can allow parents to
Neurotribes: the Legacy of Autism and How
to think Smarter about People who think
Differently
Steve Silberman – Allen & Unwin, 2015
ISBN: 9781760113636 £16.99
People interested in and affected by autism,
cognitive difference and the growing
‘neurodiversity’ movement, and psychology and
disability professionals
What is autism: a devastating developmental
condition, a lifelong disability, or a naturally
occurring form of cognitive difference akin to
certain forms of genius? In truth, it is all of these
things and more – and the future of our society
depends on our understanding it. After his groundbreaking article ‘The Geek Syndrome’, Wired
reporter Steve Silberman unearths the secret history
of autism, long suppressed by the same clinicians
who became famous for discovering it, and finds
surprising answers to the crucial question of why
the number of diagnoses has soared in recent years.
Going back to the earliest autism research and
chronicling the brave and lonely journey of autistic
people and their families through the decades,
Silberman provides long-sought solutions to the
autism puzzle while casting light on the growing
movement of ‘neurodiversity’ and mapping out a
path towards a more humane world for people with
learning differences.
“This book is a tour de force, it serves its purpose
without effort. I have learned so much in reading it.
This is an excellent contribution to popular science
it summarises and communicates the troubles of
those you struggle to communicate. It summarises
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
a whole field of research into a single book which
can be read surprisingly quickly. It is incredibly
accessible; it was apparent that the author had
worked for many years as a specialist journalist. The
text adequately described everything in such a way
that images weren’t needed.”
brain injury, post-concussion symptoms and the
most up-to-date ways of understanding prolonged
problems; section 2 summarises some of the most
helpful self-help strategies for a wide range of
thinking-based, emotional and physical difficulties
that can be experienced after a mild traumatic
brain injury, using both cognitive rehabilitation
approaches (which look at how best to understand
and manage changes in our thinking abilities such
as memory, concentration and multi-tasking skills)
and cognitive behavioural approaches (which look
at the ways in which our thoughts, feelings, actions
and physical reactions relate to each other); section
3 provides short summaries of some of the selfhelp strategies outlined in section 2 (which can be
used as easy-to-read information sheets for family
or friends who want to understand some of the
problems encountered after a mild traumatic brain
injury); and section 4 provides a short conclusion.
This book seeks to clarify some of the complex
issues for those who suffer with prolonged problems
and to provide practical, science-based self-help
guidance for managing traumatic brain injuries.
Using cognitive rehabilitation techniques and
CBT approaches for the associated mental health
complications of post-concussion symptoms, this
much needed book was written to provide help,
hope and understanding for what can be a highly
disabling and misunderstood condition. People
in these circumstances can have their difficulties
compounded by the very different explanations for
their persisting difficulties. These usually involve
receiving contradictory opinions about the extent to
which symptoms are caused by neurological brain
injury or other factors. On top of all of this, there is
a distinct lack of good, science- based information
for patients about the best ways to manage PCS. It
is therefore very common for those who experience
prolonged difficulties to find their situation
extremely confusing, frustrating and stressful.
Overcoming Chronic Fatigue in Young People:
A cognitive behavioural self-help guide
Katharine Rimes and Trudie Chalder –
Routledge, 2015 ISBN: 9781138802896 £14.99
Young people suffering from chronic fatigue,
parents and professionals supporting them
The book provides an effective evidence-based,
step-by-step guide to managing and overcoming
chronic fatigue. The authors present an accessible
and practical manual aimed at young people, with
downloadable material (available online) to support
recovery. The book also includes a guide for parents
and a helpful resources section. It is recommended
for any young person struggling with chronic
fatigue. The book aims to help young people
manage and overcome chronic fatigue through the
use of a step-by-step CBT programme. There is no
other self-help book aimed at young people with
chronic fatigue that uses CBT techniques.
“It provides excellent information in easy to
understand format. This is a useful evidence-based
cognitive behavioural self-help guide for young
people with chronic fatigue written by two experts in
the field. It is well-written and easy-to-read and will
make an excellent addition to my clinical tool-kit.”
Overcoming Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and
Post-Concussion Symptoms: A Self-help Guide
using Evidence-based techniques
Nigel S King – Robinson, 2015
ISBN: 9781472136091 £12.99
Anyone suffering lingering post-concussion
symptoms
This book is a new title for the Overcoming series
that gives guidance on managing post-concussion
symptoms after a mild traumatic brain injury. Dr
Nigel King is an expert with much experience in
this area, and has written a very valuable book
weaving together the most useful knowledge on
these difficulties and providing practical self-help
guidance for managing them using evidencebased techniques. It is divided into four sections:
section 1 summarises and explains mild traumatic
“I would recommend this book. It is easy-to-read
and gives one a good knowledge of the subject.
The information is grouped with bullet points used
appropriately. There are several box diagrams and
other diagrams which break up the reading material
and help one to grasp the content better. The
illustrations add value, break up the reading material
and help with grasping the content. Section 3 also
includes a number of information sheets which are
practical. I feel if I had the condition I will derive
benefit from the suggestions in the book.”
Programme and Award Winners
61
Reaching down the Rabbit Hole: Extraordinary
Journeys into the Human Brain
Allan Ropper (with BD Burrell) – Atlantic Books,
2015 ISBN: 9781782395478 £17.99
Readers interested in and affected by neurological
diseases
What is it like to try to heal the body when the mind is
under attack? In this gripping and illuminating book,
Dr Allan Ropper reveals the extraordinary stories
behind some of the life-altering afflictions that he
and his staff are confronted with at the Neurology
Unit of Harvard’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Like
Alice in Wonderland, Dr Ropper inhabits a place where
absurdities abound: a sportsman who starts spouting
gibberish; an undergraduate who suddenly becomes
psychotic; a mother who has to decide whether a life
locked inside her own head is worth living. How does
one begin to treat such cases, to counsel people
whose lives may be changed forever? Dr Ropper
answers these questions by taking the reader into a
world where lives and minds hang in the balance.
“Ropper continually talks about the experiences
of, and interactions with, residents he’s training. In
teaching them, he teaches the reader as well. This
ensures that messages are clear and comprehensible,
no matter how complex the theme (eg towards
the end of the book, when Ropper has to consider
if it’s more adequate to treat the symptoms of
Parkinson’s, rather than Parkinson’s itself, depending
on the goals of the patient) I’m confident that, for
the duration of the full 260 odd pages, readers
will also feel like members of his team. There’s a
running exploration of changes in the practice of
medicine. While quite a few books illustrate just how
incredible the brain is, and how incredibly wrong
things can go in disease, I haven’t come across
any book dealing this thoroughly with the ‘toil’ of
neurology itself. In-text referencing of organisations
involved in defining brain death, for instance. Though
names are changed, and details are altered, nothing
is lost from the descriptions of patient vignettes,
important vehicles used for communicating ideas,
both big and small, to the reader. Cases range
from those with happy endings to the downright
discomfiting (eg a child’s case in which everything
seems to scream Munchausen). The book largely
humanises the physician, in large part by discussing
the various ways in which doctors react to cases
they deal with. There are instances in which the
diagnostic feats of neurologists seem almost divine,
but these are always lucidly described as results
of experience, a continuously developing ability to
link case features to pathology ‘patterns’, and the
persistence of a genuine interest in the actual lives
of patients seen (eg p.135 in which a very specific
type of stroke is diagnosed). The authors plant larger
lessons throughout the book from the simple (eg the
difference between symptoms v. signs distinction) to
the more complex (eg the changing thoughts on, and
practices in, the field of psychiatry). There’s a running
exploration of changes in the practice of medicine. As
for the style of the book, it doesn’t oversimplify any of
the themes it encompasses. Yet, no one is in any way
excluded from the intricacies of diagnosis, the tough
decisions patients face, and the path which medicine
as a whole is taking. I’d recommend the book to
anyone curious about neurology, about the wider
field of medicine, and about the still wider field of the
human condition in health and disease.”
The 8-week Blood Sugar Diet: Lose Weight Fast
and Reprogramme your Body
Dr Michael Mosley – Short Books, 2015
ISBN: 9781780722405 £8.99
General public
Dr Michael Mosley, author of the bestselling 5:2 Fast
Diet, reveals a game-changing approach to one of the
greatest silent epidemics of our time – raised blood
sugar levels. The food we eat today, high in sugar and
easily digestible carbohydrates, is not only making us
fat, but is putting us at risk of type 2 diabetes, strokes,
dementia, cancer and a lifetime on medication. More
than a third of adults in the UK now have raised blood
sugar levels and most don’t know it. In this timely
book, Dr Mosley explains why we pile on dangerous
abdominal fat and shows us how to shed it, fast. He
demolishes common myths, such as the claim that
steady weight loss is always better than rapid weight
loss and that those who lose weight will inevitably put
it back on. This is a book not just for those at highest
risk but for anyone who has struggled with their
weight and wants to regain control of their health.
“The intended readership is everyone who has a
problem with weight and/or raised blood sugar. The
objective is to provide a practical way to solve this
problem. The book reaches this population because
the language is accessible and jargon free. It explains
the reasons/research behind the explanations and
advice in clear language and cross references well. It
is relevant and understandable both to people with
and without a scientific/medical background. The
advice given is reasonable, flexible and attainable.
It explains the problems clearly and provides good
advice on how to resolve these problems in a
practical way both in the short term and the longer
term. It is enthusiastic and optimistic.”
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
The Health Gap: the Challenge of an
Unequal World
a comprehensive and clear summary of the field of
health inequalities, while remaining accessible to a
broad readership. There are other more technical
offerings in the field of health inequalities, but this
book occupies a unique space. This is really a very
exceptional book and deserves a wide readership.”
Michael Marmot – Bloomsbury Publishing, 2015
ISBN: 9781408857991 £20
General audience and those interested in how
wealth and background impact on an individual and
a country or those interested in politics, the NHS,
medicine and geopolitics
An examination of how health can differ between
countries and within countries. What is universal is
that within countries, the higher the social status of
individuals, the better their health. Marmot argues
that creating the conditions for people to lead
flourishing lives, and thus empowering individuals
and communities, is important to reduction of
health inequalities. What makes these health
inequalities unjust is that evidence from round the
world shows we know what to do to make them
smaller. Marmot shows us this new evidence, and it
makes for compelling reading. It has the potential to
change radically the way we think about health, and
indeed society. It has been written considerately
so that general readers may be engaged and
enlightened by its findings, yet it is rich with new
discoveries, in-depth research and original thinking.
It is ‘quietly revolutionary’ (New York Journal of
Books), written to encourage us to fight for social
justice not only for ourselves, but for others. The link
between inequalities of background and inequalities
of health and life expectancy cannot be ignored
and this book makes the case why. It is a book that
partners serious learning with accessible writing.
“This is an excellent book for anyone interested
in this area. I have followed Michal Marmot’s work
for many years, but this still opened my eyes to
a wide variety of data and issues that I had not
previously considered. It is really the summation
of a life’s work and I would recommend it to all.
This book is for a wide audience of interested lay
people, clinical and non-clinical health specialists
as well as policy makers and public health experts.
It is clearly written and engaging. Never shying
away from the core epidemiology of the issues
relating to health inequalities, but supporting
these with helpful and clear anecdotes, examples
and case studies. It targets its audience spot on
and there is something in here for everyone. The
book’s scope is vast, charting the history of health
inequalities, the current evidence base and also
making significant recommendations for the future.
All of this is presented in an engaging and readable
style, accessible to all, in sensible chapters. The
argument is clear throughout and well-supported
by interesting anecdotes or examples. Michael
Marmot is the world leader in his field. This book is
This Living and Immortal Thing.
Austin Duffy – Granta Books, 2016
ISBN: 9781783781676 £12.99
Fans of medical dramas and literary fiction
Set in the lab of a New York hospital, Austin Duffy’s
narrator (an oncologist) searches for a breakthrough
in his cancer research while juggling the breakdown
of his marriage and his growing alienation within
the city’s urban spaces. As life is every bit as
persistent as the illness he studies. As he starts a
new treatment on his mice, he meets a beautiful
but elusive Russian translator at the hospital; his
estranged wife begins to call; his neighbours are
acting strangely and his supervisor pressures him to
push ahead professionally. And always there is the
pull of home: Ireland. Shot through Duffy’s haunting,
beautiful descriptions of the science underlying
cancer, which starkly illustrate the paradox of an
illness at whose heart is a persistent and deadly life
force, This Living and Immortal Thing shows how
the cruelty of the disease is a price we pay for the
joy and complexity of being in the world.
“The book is mainly about communication. PostDoc
is emotionally stunted for some reason, a poor
communicator, and meets a Russian interpreter,
Marya, who starts to bring him out of his shell.
he shows that doctors are focussed, introverted
and self-centred, and enter into a deceptive
relationship with patients, with their consent. Marya
challenges this. It is an easy read, educational in
parts, but is mainly about people and how they
interact in the setting of cancer. The main theme is
communication. The writing is deceptively simple,
the science is well-portrayed.”
Programme and Award Winners
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Primary health care – the winner of this
category will be announced from this
shortlist
Contraception Made Easy
Laura Percy and Diana Mansour – Scion
Publishing Ltd, 2015 ISBN: 9781907904301
£18.99
Students; specialty trainees in sexual and
reproductive health, genitourinary medicine,
obstetrics and gynaecology and general practice
and GPs
The book provides a concise but comprehensive
overview of available contraceptive methods.
It is easy to navigate: each method is explained
and best practice for its use is outlined, including
management of side-effects and complications, and
common myths and misconceptions. It also includes
sexually transmitted infections and unplanned
pregnancy. The UKMEC is referenced throughout,
as well as being included as an additional reference
tool.
“I am very pleased to have been sent a copy of
this book. I do not think I would have considered
purchasing it otherwise as the cover makes it
look a bit simplistic and I already have a few
comprehensive books on contraception. However
this book is the distillation of the important ‘need
to know’ facts and is very clearly laid out. It takes
just a few moments to find the relevant section to
answer a query. I would wholeheartedly recommend
it to medical students and GP registrars and am
happy to keep a copy in my consulting room draw
for quick reference. Without doubt the strengths of
this book are the clarity of the writing and layout.
It really does make contraception an easier topic
to understand. I really wish I had found this book
sooner as I would not then have wasted money on
buying several alternatives. I also think I would have
spent far less time trying to learn about the subject
from various sources. I do not feel this book has any
weaknesses. Excellent resource for anyone learning
about this topic or providing contraception services.
It initially looks a bit over simplistic but the authors
have really managed to get across important
facts in a very concise and clear way. If only I had
been aware of this book before I would not have
spent so much money on others. I also would not
have had to spend so many hours trying to read
and digest clinical guidelines to extract important
information. This book is now my favourite resource
on contraception guidance.”
Oxford Handbook of Expedition and Wilderness
Medicine 2nd ed.
Chris Johnson, Sarah R Anderson, Jon Dallimore,
Chris Imray, Shane Winser, James Moore and
David A Warrell – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780199688418 £34.99
Expedition doctors, nurses and paramedics,
expedition medical officers and all medics travelling
to remote areas
Written by leading experts, this authoritative and
practical handbook contains all the expeditioner
needs to know to minimise health risks, to protect
health and to deal with unexpected medical
problems whilst travelling in remote areas of the
world. It covers information about how to plan for
an expedition, how to keep the expedition members
healthy, how to diagnose and manage medical
problems encountered during an expedition, as well
as crisis management and issues to be dealt with
after returning home.
“This is an exceptional book. I can honestly say
that I certainly wouldn’t head out on an expedition
without this book and I would question anyone
who planned to do so. The book is tailored to its
intended use and has been refined, it would seem,
mostly through comments from people who have
used the book on expedition. It is practical and I
enjoyed reading it cover to cover in order to review
it, despite this not really being the way it was
intended to be read. The chapters on environments
I have never experienced in the expedition setting
are really interesting and have indeed helped me
to understand that area of expedition medicine.
The Oxford handbook format really fits well to
a book that fits in a pocket but provides the
necessary information for almost any foreseeable,
or unforeseeable, emergency in the wilderness. The
authors have taken this format and applied their
experience in the field, with a clear and easy-to-read
writing style to meet the needs of their readers
exactly.”
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
The 10-minute Consultation: Persistent Pain
The Naked Consultation: A Practical Guide to
Primary Care Consultation Skills 2nd ed.
Martin Johnson and Ann Taylor – Cedilla
Publishing, 2015 ISBN: 9781905982103 £9.99
Medical students; postgraduate students; GP
trainees; GPs; GPs with a special interest in pain and
other professionals involved with the assessment
and management of pain
An easy to use clinical guide that focuses on the
initial assessment and management of pain in
people presenting in primary care for those who are
not pain specialists. This pocketbook is packed full
of practical advice on how to carry out the necessary
tests, examinations and investigations within the
standard ‘10-minute’ framework. Individual book
chapters have been prepared by international
experts in the field of pain management and are
aligned with the British Pain Society’s new pain
patient pathways to ensure a consistent message.
The aim of the book is to provide primary care
teams with a quick reference guide to support
effective, patient-centred and evidence-based pain
management. Specific objectives are as follows: To
justify why early and effective pain management
is important, especially given that chronic nonmalignant pain is a long-term condition in its own
right. To ground pain within a biopsychological
model. To provide pragmatic approaches to screen,
assess, diagnose and manage pain. To align the
management of commonly seen pain conditions
to the British Pain Society’s Pain Patient Map of
Medicine Pathways and introduce case studies for
consideration (supplementary digital resources are
available). An easy to use clinical guide that focuses
on the initial assessment and management of pain
for those who are not pain specialists was missing
from the portfolio of resources available to health
professionals. We hope that this book will fill the gap
and that it will be used widely by trainees, as well as
more senior practitioners, in caring for patients who
present with pain in primary care.
“Pain management is an increasingly challenging
field in general practice and this brings together a
lot of useful information. It is comprehensive while
concise and includes a good range from the best
scientific evidence through to holistic approaches.
I checked some of the sections and found them
to be both accurate and up-to-date. It is a good
introduction to the subject, but not a definitive
text for specialists or those with a lot of clinical
experience.”
Liz Moulton – CRC Press, 2016
ISBN: 9781910227114 £22.99
Any health professional consulting in primary care –
GPs and nurses, trainees and seasoned professionals
The book begins by breaking the primary care
consultation into its components, making it easier
to focus on particular areas and practise skills such
as encouraging patients to explain what’s wrong,
summarising and reflecting, and giving information
to patients. The book then describes how-toeffectively use educational tools – such as videoing,
random case analysis, problem case debriefing, and
feedback – to improve consultations. It also explains
in detail how to show proficient consultation skills
in the Membership of the Royal College of General
Practitioners (MRCGP) exam and the importance of
these skills in appraisal/revalidation. Certified for
continuing professional development (CPD®) by
The CPD Certification Service, this fully updated and
revised Second Edition incorporates new thinking
and consultation models, including the 6 S model
and the new doctor, patient, illness model. It also
provides detailed analysis of the latest Royal College
of General Practitioners (RCGP) assessment tools,
such as the clinical skills assessment exam (CSA) and
the consultation observation tool (COT). Complete
with illuminating case studies, photocopiable
forms, and a jargon-busting appendix, The Naked
Consultation: A Practical Guide to Primary Care
Consultation Skills, Second Edition offers valuable
insight into the important phases of the primary
care consultation, the best features of common
consultation models, and the real-world application
of popular consultation techniques. The book aims
to cover all aspects of the primary care consultation
in a clear, concise, and highly readable manner. It
offers valuable insight into the important phases of
the primary care consultation, the best features of
common consultation models, and the real-world
application of popular consultation techniques.
The book breaks the primary care consultation
into its components, making it easier to focus on
particular areas and practise skills. It explains in
detail how to show proficient consultation skills in
the Membership of the Royal College of General
Practitioners (MRCGP) exam and the importance
of these skills in appraisal/revalidation. The new
edition published in January 2016 incorporates new
thinking and consultation models, including the 6
S model and the new doctor, patient, illness model.
It also provides detailed analysis of the latest RCGP
assessment tools.
Programme and Award Winners
65
“It provides clear descriptions and summaries of GP
consultation theories and books produced over the
last few decades and brings them together in to a
user friendly format with practical real-life examples.
It has made me review my own consultation
style again which was undoubtedly the intention
of the author. It offers a very clear summary of
consultation skills theory with lots of practical tips.
There are already lots of books about consultation
skills, but this is a helpful and easy-to-read using
summaries and linking to the current RCGP CSA.
It is very helpful for GP trainees but they may then
want to go back to the original texts on which this
summary is based.”
Psychiatry – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
Disruptive Mood: Irritability in Children and
Adolescents.
Argyris Stringaris and Eric Taylor – Oxford
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780199674541
£24.99
Clinical psychiatrists; researchers; mental health
professionals; special education professionals and
interested parents
A practical guide to understanding and treating
children and adolescents prone to extreme levels
of angry outbursts, Disruptive Mood: Irritability in
Children and Adolescents is based on the very latest
research and theory. Providing both a clinical and
scientific perspective on irritability in children, this
book is a timely look at recent developments in
the field. Abnormal states of anger are a common
reason for referral to child health services, and
cause concern in clinics, schools, and families.
Misdiagnosis and treatment can stem from a lack of
understanding of the mechanisms involved in high
levels of anger in children, and Disruptive Mood:
Irritability in Children and Adolescents provides clear
guidance on the development of abnormal states
of anger, their consequences for later development,
and how to assess and make differential diagnoses
between them. A useful resource for clinical
practice, this book is concise and accessible, and
offers tools for evaluating treatments. Disruptive
Mood: Irritability in Children and Adolescents is
designed for practitioners involved in child and
adolescent mental health and education and
researchers who need an introduction to this
complex field. Providing both a clinical and scientific
perspective on irritability in children, this new book
is a timely look at recent developments in the field.
Currently there is a lively scientific debate how
irritability contributes to various psychopathological
syndromes. The major classification systems are
responding–DSM-5 has created a new diagnosis of
disruptive mood dysregulation disorder and ICD-11
is considering how to include irritability as an entity.
Abnormal states of anger are a common reason for
referral to child health services, and cause concern
in clinics, schools, and families. Misdiagnosis and
treatment can stem from a lack of understanding of
the mechanisms involved in high levels of anger in
children, and this book provides clear guidance on
the development of abnormal states of anger, their
consequences for later development, and how to
assess and make differential diagnoses between
them.
“I would recommend to anyone working in the
field of child psychiatry, also concise enough
resource to recommend to interested core trainees
and students. It is well-organised, well-written,
concise but detailed, up-to-date research with
no real weaknesses. This is an excellent book on
an extremely common symptom within the field
of child and adolescent psychiatry associated
with many diagnoses. This book provides an
excellent synthesis of the most up-to-date
research concerning epidemiology, neuroscientific
background, clinical presentation and management
of irritability in children and adolescents. The
authors are eminent clinician-scientists in the field
and their considerable experience is evident in
the tone of the text. The authors encourage the
new way of thinking of irritability as a ‘coherent
dimension of disturbed emotional development’
which will impact on the clinical management of
patients and stimulate future research. The book
is well-organised into chapters, very thorough
and research based and easy to read. I will be
recommending this book to fellow clinicians and
others working in the field.”
Enabling Recovery: The Principles and Practice
of Rehabilitation Psychiatry 2nd ed.
Frank Holloway, Sridevi Kalidindi, Helen
Killaspy and Glenn Roberts – Royal College of
Psychiatrists, 2015 ISBN: 9781909726338 £35
All psychiatrists especially those who work within
rehabilitation psychiatry and allied professions
within the whole multidisciplinary mental health
team and service users, carers and medical students
How can people with severe mental health
problems be supported in their personal recovery?
This question lies at the heart of rehabilitation
psychiatry, and perhaps of mental healthcare as a
whole. Our understanding of recovery has evolved
rapidly since the first edition of this core text
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
was published in 2006 – so this book comprises
31 entirely revised or newly commissioned
chapters, giving readers a comprehensive overview
of contemporary practice within psychiatric
rehabilitation services. It takes a practical approach,
guiding the reader logically and systematically
from conceptual foundations to clinical practice
and service development. The final section of the
book covers special topics including rehabilitation
in specific disorders and international perspectives.
This book offers an up-to-date comprehensive
overview of contemporary practice within
psychiatric rehabilitation services. The recovery
approach is now firmly established in mainstream
mental health: this is a practical and operational
guide to service development. It takes the reader
logically and systematically from foundation to
clinical practice to service development, through
the four parts of the book and also includes special
issues such as risk management and expanding
the evidence base. The second edition has been
completely revised and contains several new
chapters.
Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology
4th ed.
“This is an excellent text on this burgeoning field.
It gives a good account of the history followed by
a comprehensive examination of the treatment
approaches, the important elements for a service
and a look to the future. A very helpful text to gather
resources in these times of austerity with a longer
view of cost benefit. It also evidences the need to
look after staff so they can look after patients. Its
strengths are its clarity and the breadth and depth
of the subject matter it covers. Its detailed account
of the need to take time and build relationships
and not give up if it doesn’t work straight away is
very important. With my interest in psychoanalysis
I am slightly disappointed this is not covered in
detail but as the authors point out they do have a
chapter on creative therapies most of which come
from the psychoanalytic fold. There could also be
a more nuanced discussion of ethics to balance
the positive psychology which seems to come with
assumptions that, for example, everyone wants to
be independent. Also a more nuanced discussion of
making treatments very personal, which does need
to be countered with the bigger picture of all the
patients/society, limited resources etc which is not
the same as the other consideration that sometimes
a more personalised treatment plan will be more
cost effective/time effective in the long term. It is
excellent that it starts to consider the tricky problem
of a drug free trial, something I remember as much
more common when I started work but that seems to
have disappeared in these risk averse days. This is an
excellent text on an important subject with evidence
to help resource this important area in times of
austerity.”
Ian M Anderson and R Hamish McAllisterWilliams – CRC Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781498718943
£29.99
Psychiatrists in training and registered practitioners
updating their knowledge (CPD), Medical students
and non-medical professionals
Fundamentals of Clinical Psychopharmacology
provides up-to-date, evidence-based and unbiased
information about psychopharmacology. It spans
the range of the discipline, from mode of action
and side effects of drugs to meta-analyses of
clinical trials. It is anchored to practice guidelines
produced by the UK National Institute for Health and
Care Excellence (NICE) and the British Association
for Psychopharmacology (BAP). Care has been
taken to provide an international perspective that
makes it equally useful to practitioners in the US
and other countries. The Fundamentals of Clinical
Psychopharmacology has grown out the renowned
British Association for Psychopharmacology (BAP)
courses which have set the standard for professional
psychopharmacological education in the UK. This
latest edition has been fully updated and provides,
in a concise and easy-to-read format, the important
facts about currently used psychotropic drugs, set
in the context of the neuroscience of the disorders
they treat. It incorporates the latest evidence-based
treatment guidelines from NICE and the BAP, and
there is a new chapter on the principles of psychiatric
prescribing. This book provides an essential and
handy resource for psychiatrists, psychiatric trainees
and specialist and non-specialist prescribers, who
wish to consolidate and update their knowledge
about psychotropic drugs, and to use them safely
and effectively. It will also be invaluable for nonprescribers, including students and non-medical
professionals who need an authoritative summary of
the current science of psychopharmacology. Care has
been taken to take an international perspective so
that it will be equally useful to practitioners in the US.
“This book Is a well-designed, well-written and
well-edited reference book. As it will address the
CPD needs of the senior practitioner, it may have
more information than a trainee will initially require
but the accessible style will allow a discriminating
approach to using the text. It is a concise reference
that achieves its stated aim of delivering an up-todate review of the most current understanding of the
state of psychopharmacology to meet the needs of
the busy senior practitioner but also trainees. I really
enjoyed reviewing this book and I am looking forward
to continuing to refer to the book in the course of my
clinical practice.”
BMA research grants
The BMA has a long history of supporting medical
research and academic medicine, and is the oldest
medical organisation in the world to award grants
and prizes to encourage and further medical
research. Through the research grants, the BMA
champions medical science and its applications,
publicises key medical evidence to a wide
audience, and influences public health policy for
the benefit of both clinicians and patients.
Each year, approximately 10 research grants totalling
£500,000 are awarded under the supervision of the
BMA’s board of science, all funded by past bequests
to the BMA. The grants fund basic and clinical medical
research, covering a diverse range of research topics,
from heart disease to neurological disorders to
cancer. The grants are awarded to clinical academic
doctors and research scientists, and aim to support
grant winners in their research aims and career
development.
The grant supported a PhD student
to undertake experiments for their
research. This led to oral presentations
at conferences as well as two direct
publications from the work
Dr Philip McTernan, Reader, University
of Warwick
The award provided funding to me
at an early career stage... established
my reputation for the ability to
attract research funding, which I am
sure contributed to my subsequent
success in attracting personal research
fellowships.
The project has garnered international
recognition, with multiple groups
now making use of the screening
questionnaire items developed.
Dr Kristin Laurens, Senior Lecturer,
King’s College London
Past winners
We believe the work funded by the HC
Roscoe grant will be of international
significance to those working in the
fields of influenza evolution and
epidemiology, and for those planning
vaccination development and strategies
to manage public health.
Professor Jeremy Day, Professor of
Tropical Medicine, University of Oxford
How to apply
The BMA research grants are advertised widely in the
British Medical Journal, on the BMA website (www.bma.
org.uk) and externally. Details of the grants on offer
are made available from September each year. The
online application system opens in December, and the
deadline for submitting applications is in mid-March.
Grants are available for a maximum period of three
years.
Full details can be found on the BMA website or by
contacting [email protected]
www.bma.org.uk/researchgrants
Tel: 020 7383 6341
68
British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Obsessive-Compulsive and Related Disorders
2nd ed.
provide a foundation for the book, which offers
new paradigms for understanding mental illness in
families. The impact of various parental psychiatric
disorders on children and family relationships are
summarised, including coverage of schizophrenia,
depression, anxiety, substance abuse disorders, eating
disorders, personality disorders and trauma. Multiple
innovative interventions are outlined, targeting
children, parents and families, as well as strategies
that encourage workforce and organisational
development. Incorporating different theoretical
frameworks, the book enhances understanding
of the dimensions of psychiatric disorders from
a multigenerational perspective, making this an
invaluable text for students, researchers and clinicians
from many mental health disciplines. It covers a
wide range of parental psychiatric disorders and the
underlying processes that suggest how a parent’s
mental illness might impact on children and vice
versa. It also provides an overview of the different
theoretical frameworks that identify the processes
involved in the transmission and alleviation of mental
illness in families. Numerous case studies are included
that describe how students and experts have worked
with individuals, families and organisations to enable
learning from mistakes and successes.
Samar Reghunandanan, Naomi A Fineberg and
Dan J Stein – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780198706878 £19.99
Psychiatrists, trainee psychiatrists and other mental
healthcare professionals, including specialist nurses
and some general practitioners
Providing clinicians and patients with the latest
developments in research, this new edition is a
succinct and practical introduction to the diagnosis,
evaluation and management of OCD and other
related disorders. Obsessive-compulsive disorder
(OCD) and obsessive-compulsive-related disorders
(OCRDs) are anxiety disorders characterised by
obsessions and compulsions, and varying degrees
of anxiety and depression. OCRDs are considered to
be one of the most disabling of psychiatric disorders
and they present a tremendous economic and
social burden, both for the affected individual, their
family, and for society at large. In contrast to other
psychiatric conditions of a comparable or lesser
prevalence and patient burden, relatively little is
understood about the aetiology, and cognitive effects
of OCRDs. Part of the Oxford Psychiatry Library series,
this resource includes individual chapters on the
phenomenology, pathogenesis, pharmacotherapy
and psychotherapy of OCD and other related
disorders, and features fully updated content and
research. The book also includes a helpful resources
chapter, and an Appendix with summaries of the
major rating scales used to assess patients with OCD,
which will be of use to both clinicians and patients.
“This is an excellent guidebook into OCD. It is
compact and to the point and includes research into
the treatment. I welcome that it is so portable.”
Parental Psychiatric Disorder 3rd ed.
Andrea Reupert, Darryl Maybery, Joanne
Nicholson, Michael Göpfert and Mary V
Seeman – Cambridge University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9781107070684 £69.99
Students, researchers and clinicians from many
mental health disciplines
Parental Psychiatric Disorder presents an innovative
approach to thinking about and working with families
where a parent has a mental illness. With 30 new
chapters from an internationally renowned author
team, this new edition presents the current state of
knowledge in this critically important field. Issues
around prevalence, stigma and systems theory
“This is a comprehensive book covering wide ranging
aspects and so this offers a one stop reading for
professionals interested to know more about this
field. It is well-referenced with a detailed reference
list. This excellent book has a variety of chapters and
is a multi-author book with each chapter written
by experts in the field. It is a good reference source
in an important area for practitioners to consider
and improve their knowledge. Parental Psychiatric
Disorder presents an innovative approach to thinking
about and working with families where a parent
has a mental illness. With 30 new chapters from
an internationally renowned author team, this new
edition presents the current state of knowledge
in this critically important field. Issues around
prevalence, stigma and systems theory provide a
foundation for the book, which offers new paradigms
for understanding mental illness in families. The
impact of various parental psychiatric disorders on
children and family relationships are summarised,
including coverage of schizophrenia, depression,
anxiety, substance abuse disorders, eating disorders,
personality disorders and trauma. Multiple innovative
interventions are outlined, targeting children, parents
and families, as well as strategies that encourage
workforce and organisational development.
Incorporating different theoretical frameworks, the
book enhances understanding of the dimensions
of psychiatric disorders from a multigenerational
perspective, making this an invaluable text for
students, researchers and clinicians from many
mental health disciplines.”
Programme and Award Winners
69
Textbook of Evolutionary Psychiatry and
Psychosomatic Medicine: The Origins of
Psychopathology 2nd ed.
Martin Brüne – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780198717942 £44.99
Students of psychology, medicine and psychotherapy
Why is the human mind vulnerable to dysfunction?
The Textbook of Evolutionary Psychiatry and
Psychosomatic Medicine updates and expands the
previous edition to provide answers to this question
by emphasising an evolutionary perspective on
psychiatric and psychosomatic conditions. It
explains how the human brain/mind has been
shaped by natural and sexual selection; why
adaptations to environmental conditions in our
evolutionary past may nowadays work in suboptimal
ways; and how human cognition, emotions, and
behaviour can be scientifically framed to improve
our understanding of how people try to attain
important biosocial goals pertaining to one›s
status in society, mating, eliciting and providing
care, and maintaining rewarding relationships.
It aims to explore why the human mind is
vulnerable to dysfunction, and provide readers
with an understanding of the evolutionary issues
surrounding health and disease. Few books consider
the evolutionary origins of psychopathology.
“I would recommend this book because even
though it is a textbook, it is compact and can be
used as a reference. I think it gives importance
to a subject that previously was just considered a
special interest, rather than a necessary interest in
adequately diagnosing and treating mental illness.
This is a second edition book and I think the change
of the original title was a good idea, as it will expand
the readership.”
The Psychoanalytic Model of the Mind.
Elizabeth L Auchincloss – American
Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2015
ISBN: 9781585624713 £39
Mental health clinicians, undergraduate and
graduate students of philosophy, neuroscience,
psychology, literature, and all academic disciplines
outside of the mental health professions who want
to learn more about what psychoanalysts have to
say about the mind.
In addition to providing the theoretical
scaffolding for psychodynamic psychotherapy,
the book emphasises the critical importance
of forging a strong treatment alliance, which
requires understanding the transference and
countertransference reactions that either disrupt
or strengthen the clinician-patient bond. The book
is respectful of Freud without being reverential,
it considers his contribution as founder of
psychoanalysis in the context of the historical and
conceptual evolution of the field. The final section
is devoted to learning to use the psychoanalytic
model and exploring how it can be integrated with
existing models of the mind. Important features
include an extensive glossary of terms, a series of
illustrative tables, and appendixes addressing libido
theory and defences.
“This is a good starting point for someone new to
the field or a great assistance in systematising one’s
knowledge. It has a clear style, measured approach,
cautious and accurate approach to scientific
modelling and awareness of its limitations and aims.
Interesting and accurate attempt to bring together
various concepts within the field that is notorious
for its lack of common ground and subjectivity.”
Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide to
DSM-5®.
American Psychiatric Association – American
Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2015
ISBN: 9781585624911 £16.99
Understanding Mental Disorders: Your Guide
to DSM-5® is a guide for anyone who has been
touched by mental illness. This book helps those
who may be struggling with mental health problems,
as well as those who want to help others achieve
mental health and well-being.
The common language for diagnosing mental illness
used in DSM-5® for mental health professionals
has been adapted into clear, concise descriptions
of disorders for non-experts. In addition to specific
symptoms for each disorder, readers will find: Risk
factors and warning signs; Related disorders; Ways
to cope; Tips to promote mental health;
Personal stories; important points about the
disorders and treatment options; A special chapter
dedicated to treatment essentials and ways to get
help and helpful resources that include a glossary,
list of medications and support groups. Based on the
latest, fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual of Mental Disorders – known as DSM-5® –
Understanding Mental Disorders provides valuable
insight on what to expect from an illness and its
treatment, and will help readers recognise symptoms,
know when to seek help, and get the right care.
Featured disorders include depression, schizophrenia,
ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, post-traumatic
stress disorder, and bipolar disorder, among others.
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
Understanding Mental Disorders is a unique resource
that serves as a tool for communication between
mental health professionals, patients, and families.
It translates information from DSM-5 into simple
language that can empower those who need mental
healthcare to understand disorders and seek help.
It educates in a way that allows patients to take an
active role in their care.
in 33 years has not disproportionately increased
in size. The layout assists the user in locating
information, and the figures and tables contribute
to the text and have improved in clarity. It remains
perhaps the definitive test for UK undergraduate
medical study, and when examinations are
concluded and practice beckons it deserves to
retain an accessible position upon the bookshelf.
This text has risen to the challenge of providing
accessible knowledge in a range of developing
fields, whilst retaining the underpinning information
supporting understanding.”
“This is an outstanding book that not only clearly
and cleverly explains the presentation and
management of all diagnosable mental health
disorders but also offers self-help tips and offers
up-to-date resources to promote mental wellbeing.
It is a great read for anyone interested or affected
by mental illness and also for professionals wanting
an easy-to-read comprehensive guide to DSM5® without complicated language and with tricky
concepts well-explained.”
Public health – the winner of this
category will be announced from this
shortlist
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy 7th ed.
Peter Davey, Mark Wilcox, William Irving and
Guy Thwaites – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780199689774 £44.99
Undergraduates and graduates requiring a thorough
grounding in the scientific basis and clinical
application of these drugs.
Antimicrobial Chemotherapy is an essential guide
to the principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy,
the problem of resistance and its control through
policies, antimicrobial stewardship and surveillance.
The book provides an aid to informed, rational
prescribing for common bacterial, fungal, parasitic
and viral infections. It is an essential guide to the
principles of antimicrobial chemotherapy, providing
an aid to informed, rational prescribing, which
covers the basic properties of antibacterial,
antifungal, antiparasitic and antiviral (including
antiretroviral) drugs. Divided in five parts, the
book cover issues specific to both the developed
and developing world. It includes new agents and
therapeutic insights including HIV/AIDs and the
treatment of malaria.
“The material is presented in an easily assimilated
layout with suitable subdivision. Users are unlikely
to be frustrated in accessing the information they
seek, provided they use both the overview and the
specific chapters. In comparison with the 1983 first
edition, this book has matured, and despite the
considerable expansion in knowledge and practice
Forensic Toxicology: Principles and Concepts
Nicholas T Lappas and Courtney M
Lappas – Elsevier/Academic Press, 2016
ISBN: 9780127999678 £51.84
Upper-level undergraduate and graduate students
studying forensic toxicology and/or forensic
chemistry
Forensic Toxicology: Principles and Concepts takes
readers back to the origins of forensic toxicology,
providing an overview of the largely unchanging
principles of the discipline. The text focuses on
the major tenets in forensic toxicology, including
an introduction to the discipline, fundamentals of
forensic toxicology analysis, types of interpretations
based on analytical forensic toxicology results, and
reporting from the laboratory to the courtroom.
Forensic Toxicology also contains appendices
covering the principles of pharmacokinetics
and pharmacodynamics, immunology and
immunological assays, toxicogenomics and
case studies. This text puts significant emphasis
on the fundamental principles and concepts of
forensic toxicology and provides students with an
introduction to the discipline, focusing on
the concepts, strategies and methodologies used by
professionals in the field. The book was co-authored
by forensic toxicologist, Dr Nicholas Lappas, who
has more than 40 years of experience as a professor
teaching graduate courses in forensic and analytical
toxicology. Dr Lappas felt very strongly that there
was a gap in this area and set out to work with his
daughter Courtney to write the best text for forensic
toxicology.
“This is great for a novice on the subject, or
someone wanting to revise and refresh their
knowledge, reviewing historical aspects and getting
up-to-date information on the latest laboratory
procedures, for example toxicogenomics (appendix
D). A range of sources is used, from historical
accounts of murder investigations to latest lab
technology and methods. Drug information is
Programme and Award Winners
71
very current, for example designer drugs and their
detection. It is well-written, with a clear and easily
digestible text. Well-laid-out with boxes and colours
to add to the clarity of flow. It is enjoyable to read as
a whole or in parts with clear text and line drawings
to illustrate the subject.”
Guidelines for the Treatment of Malaria 3rd ed.
World Health Organization – World Health
Organization, 2015 ISBN: 9789241549127
£28
Policy-makers in ministries of health who formulate
country-specific treatment guidelines and health
professionals and public health and policy specialists
that are partners in health or malaria control and the
pharmaceutical industry
This third edition of the WHO Guidelines for
the treatment of malaria contains updated
recommendations based on a firmer evidence base
for most antimalarial drugs and in addition include
recommendation on the use of drugs to prevent
malaria in groups at high risk. The Guidelines
provide a framework for designing specific,
detailed national treatment protocols, taking into
account local patterns of resistance to antimalarial
drugs and health service capacity. It provides
recommendations on treatment of uncomplicated
and severe malaria in all age groups, all endemic
areas, in special populations and several complex
situations. In addition on the use of antimalarial
drugs as preventive therapy in healthy people living
in malaria-endemic areas who are high risk, in order
to reduce morbidity and mortality from malaria.
Malaria remains an important cause of illness and
death in children and adults in countries in which it
is endemic. Malaria control requires an integrated
approach, including prevention (primarily vector
control) and prompt treatment with effective
antimalarial agents. The authors are
Sannath Merbs, Serge Resnikoff, Amir Bedri Kello,
Silvio Mariotti, Gregory Greene and Sheila K West.
“The management of malaria and policy making
is very extensively covered and I would definitely
recommend it. The book is also easy to read, the
information is presented in a clear and logical
manner making it easy to access. The book has
certainly helped me to understand the subject. It
has recommendations based on evidence about
the management of malaria in different situations
and covers a very wide range of situations. I did not
realise a book addressed to policy makers could
be made so interesting and easy to read. The book
is attractive and split up very nicely into sections.
There is a full coloured page to indicate the topic
before each section. Within the section there are
several boxes giving the recommendations. All
this makes the book easy-to-read and understand.
The material itself is well-researched and GRADE
(Grading of recommendations Assessment,
Development and Evaluation) is used for assessing
the quality of evidence. This makes the information
contained in the book robust. It is not a single
author book but prepared by a panel of members
who are experts in the field. This makes it more
attractive to the reader.”
Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare
Agents 2nd ed.
Ramesh C Gupta – Elsevier/Academic Press,
2015 ISBN: 9780128001592 £155
Biologists, toxicologists, pharmacologists, forensic
scientists, analytical chemists, local/state/federal
officials in the Department of Defense, defense
research establishments, Department of Veterans
Affairs, physicians at medical and veterinary
emergency care units of hospitals, poison control
centres, medical and veterinary diagnostic
laboratories, environmentalists and wildlife interest
groups, researchers in the areas of nuclear,
chemical, and biological agents, and college and
university libraries
Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare
Agents, Second Edition covers every aspect of
deadly toxic chemicals used in conflicts, warfare
and terrorism. Including findings from experimental
as well as clinical studies, this essential reference
offers in-depth coverage of individual toxicants,
target organ toxicity, major incidents, toxic effects
in humans, animals and wildlife, biosensors and
biomarkers, on-site and laboratory analytical
methods, decontamination and detoxification
procedures, and countermeasures. Expanding
on the ground-breaking first edition, the second
edition has been completely updated, presenting
the most recent advances in the field. Brand new
chapters include a case study of the Iran-Iraq war, an
overview of chemical weapons of mass destruction,
explosives, ricin, the human respiratory system,
alternative testing methods and brain injuries. This
first edition of Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical
Warfare Agents offered the most comprehensive
coverage of every aspect of the deadly toxic
chemicals that can be used as chemical warfare
agents (CWAs) and chemical weapons of mass
destruction (CWMD). In addition to the chapters
on radiation, several chapters were included on
deadly biotoxins (ricin, abrin, strychnine, anthrax,
and botulinum toxins) that can be weaponised in
chemical, radiological, and biological warfare. Many
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
special and unique topics were offered that were
not covered in other books. This was the first book
to offer detailed target organ toxicity in the area of
toxicology. In every chapter, all factual statements
were substantiated with appropriate references.
Since the publication of the first edition of this
handbook, concerns regarding the use and misuse
of CWAs and biological warfare agents (BWAs) are
greater than ever before. The second edition of
the Handbook of Toxicology of Chemical Warfare
Agents meets today’s challenges of academics
and lay persons alike. The format is user-friendly
and easy to understand, and it provides a broad
and comprehensive examination of the use and
effects of toxins in warfare including recent and
historical information. This is a most comprehensive
reference book in the area of chemical warfare
agents and chemicals weapons of mass destruction.
The contributors of this book are nationally and
internationally recognised and most qualified in
toxicology and pharmacology. The book is enriched
with the most recent references and examples,
including references to the Iran-Iraq war, use of
chemical weapons in Syria, and recent advances
in disposing of chemical weapons. It is written by
the foremost experts in the field, and along with
the new chapters, each chapter from the previous
edition has been fully revised and updated. Standalone chapters on individual chemical and biological
agents, target organ toxicity, biosensors and
biomarkers, risks to humans, animals, and wildlife,
and prophylactic and therapeutic countermeasures
are just a few of the many novel topics covered
in this volume. The chapters are enriched with
historical background as well as the latest
information and up-to-date references. This is the
only recent book on the market to address both the
current state of chemical weapons and provide a
comprehensive history and analysis of their use.
Health Inequalities: Critical Perspectives
“This book would be great for someone wishing to
pursue a career in toxicology, or who was planning
to teach on a course about CBRN agents. It would
be useful to anyone carrying out postgraduate work
in this field. Toxicology of Chemical Warfare Agents
is a very useful textbook for anyone interested
in CBRN medicine. It functions as a definitive
reference book with complete coverage of the
field of Chemical Warfare agents. I would highly
recommend it to anyone in this field. I found this
to be an extremely good textbook. It is well-written,
well-edited, and covers almost all of the field in
great detail, combining clinical, pathological and
toxicologic elements well. I will use it in my own
practice to guide revision of a series of lectures on
CBRN agents for a course that I teach on. I will also
be recommending it to the director of the course
for purchase for our institution.”
Katherine E Smith, Sarah E Hill and Clare
Bambra – Oxford University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780198703358 £34.99
Researchers, postgraduate students, policy makers,
public health practitioners, and research funders
With contributions from established, international
health inequalities experts and newer, up-andcoming researchers in the field, as well as individuals
working on health inequalities in policy, practice
and civil society settings, this book addresses and
summarises important findings and suggestions
for distinct audiences in research, advocacy, policy
and practice which allows the readers working in
different contexts to easily identify messages/ideas
of most relevance to them.
“This edited volume provides an introduction to the
field of health inequalities, with a predominantly
UK perspective, but drawing on contributions
from international authors for context. It provides
concepts and theory that are needed for
researchers and practitioners new to the field in
a lively, engaging and thoughtful way. Important
strengths include the consideration of several
dimensions of health inequalities (beyond just
socioeconomic), excellent engagement with a
diverse range of disciplines and a lively writing
style. Furthermore, the book seeks to bridge the
gap between the worlds of research and policy/
practice. This is an excellent addition to the health
inequalities field. It presents a timely update on a
major policy priority in an accessible manner which
is well-suited to the introductory reader. The edited
volume has also been designed to be useful for
those engaging with policy and practice.”
How AIDS Changed Everything – MDG6: 15
Years, 15 Lessons of Hope from the AIDS
Response
UNAIDS – UNAIDS, 2015 ISBN: 9789292530693
free
Policy makers, public health officials, healthcare
decision makers, epidemiology experts and
researchers
We have reached a defining moment in the AIDS
response. Against all odds, we have achieved the
AIDS targets of Millennium Development Goal 6.
AIDS changed everything. In 2000, the world was
witnessing an extraordinary number of new HIV
infections. Every day, 8,500 people were becoming
newly infected with the virus and 4,300 people
Programme and Award Winners
73
were dying of AIDS-related illnesses. How AIDS
changed everything describes how, against all odds,
huge rises in new HIV infections and AIDS-related
deaths were halted and reversed. This document
provides valuable insights and ground-breaking and
heart-warming experiences from the innovative
and exciting work that partners, communities and
countries have done and are doing in the AIDS
response. There are also heart-breaking stories
about the challenges that still remain. This report
documents how the response to HIV became the
only disease effort to not only have met its timebound targets but exceeded them. It shows how
since the AIDS target of MDG6 was set the numbers
of people on treatment doubled every five years to
reach an astonishing 15.8 million by June 2015 and
how the numbers of new HIV infections reduced
dramatically since the goal was set in 2000. It
looks at the important lessons learned in the AIDS
response from Millennium Development Goal 6 and
recounts how it has shaped the response to AIDS.
The report gives a vivid and insightful description
of the impact the AIDS response has had on global
health and development over the past 15 years
and of the incredible importance of the lessons
learned for ensuring the success of the Sustainable
Development Goals. It is both a look back on the
journey of the last 15 years and a look forward to
the future of the AIDS response and the path to
ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
“This is an excellent book, written and presented to
a high standard. It contains a comprehensive history
of AIDS, its prevention and the suggested plans
for the future. It is an engaging read with plenty
of facts and figures and illustrations to back it up.
There is a treasure cove of information upon each
page, truly an excellent read. The book presents
a good range of statistics related to the topic of
AIDS, it comprehensively covers the different
aspects of AIDS including women empowerment
and how children have been affected by the crisis.
The images, fonts and layouts used in the book
are excellent and keep the reader engaged. Overall
this book has certainly helped me understand the
topic of AIDS further, it is an excellent read and I
would recommend it to anyone who has an interest
in the topic. This is an excellent book, written
and presented to a high standard. It contains a
comprehensive history of AIDS, its prevention and
the suggested plans for the future. It is an engaging
read with plenty of facts and figures and illustrations
to back it up. There is a treasure cove of information
upon each page, truly an excellent read.”
Infection Prevention and Control: Perceptions
and Perspectives
Paul Elliott, Julie Storr and Annette Jeanes –
CRC Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781846199899 £32.99
Health professionals but especially those with
primary responsibility for preventing and managing
the spread of infection in healthcare settings
This book presents a variety of perceptions of and
perspectives on infection prevention and control. In
doing this, the chapters will reflect upon challenging
and controversial new ways of looking at infection
prevention and control aimed at generating both
discussion and debate as well as practical solutions.
With this in mind, the book will aim not only to
challenge the existing status quo but also push the
frontiers of knowledge, thinking and practice where
infection prevention and control is concerned.
This is vital when considered in the light of cross
infection rates, the number of healthcare providers
who are being identified by the Care Quality
Commission as falling below acceptable standards
of infection prevention and control and the almost
compulsive persistent non-adherent behaviours
of those involved in the provision of medicine,
health, social care and other disciplines related to
caring with regards to the undertaking of safe and
appropriate standards of infection prevention and
control. There is no doubt that this book will be
challenging with regards to the readers’ perceptions
and perspectives of infection prevention and
control. Where this topic is concerned however,
such a challenging approach is vital if the health,
safety and well-being of individuals is to be positively
promoted among all those involved in the health
and wellbeing of others. The goal of the book is to
use realities to motivate and therefore enhance
health professional’s ability to influence behaviour
in healthcare settings in order to minimise the
preventable transmission of infections. While there
are many solid technical manuals on infection
prevention and management, the ‘what to do
when…,’ this book seeks to modify behaviour and
teach thought processes that can prevent infection
transmission in the first place!
“This is a useful learning tool but also to review
the practice of infection control and gain new
insight. It is easy to pick up and read in small
sections, includes learning (reflection exercises). It
is an interesting approach to the subject as goes
beyond the pure science and introduces other
aspects of infection control: psychology, marketing,
empowerment. It has good assessment and
reflection opportunities, made to get the reader to
think not just do!”
Are you interested in medical
publishing and would like to take
part in the reviewing process?
All entries are individually reviewed and appraised by doctors and
educators who are interested in medical publishing. Reviewers can
stipulate the topic, level and number of books they wish to review.
We welcome reviewers with specialist interests.
Preliminary reviewing takes place during March and April. Reviewers
complete a structured appraisal form and are asked to consider
accuracy, currency, originality, book production quality and whether the
title meets the needs of its audience.
Reviewers are assessed by two simple criteria: length of review and
speed. These assessments are used to determine allocations in future
years. Reviewers are able to keep the books which they appraise.
If you would like to volunteer then go to bma.org.uk/librarybookcomp
and follow the link in the How the awards are judged section.
If you have any specific enquiries then contact the awards director,
Richard Jones, on [email protected]
Programme and Award Winners
75
Nutrition for Developing Countries 3rd ed.
Felicity Savage King, Ann Burgess, Victoria J
Quinn and Akoto K Osei – Oxford University
Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780199685226 £35
Health workers including doctors, nurses, midwives
and nutritionists, home economists, social and other
development workers and their trainers, academic
staff and students and staff and volunteers of local
and INGOs and UN agencies
December 2013 WHO guidelines on Severe Acute
Malnutrition well-reflected in the chapter on this. It
also contains lots of links to important websites. This
is an extremely welcome new edition of an already
classic textbook and strongly deserves to be praised
and highlighted as will make a real contribution to
global public health. It brings the subject right up-todate and will be an excellent resource for a wide
readership.”
Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health 6th ed.
Explains in clear simple language, and practical
detail, how nutrition workers can help families
with nutrition problems, including many ideas for
exercises for training nutrition workers. Nutrition
is an essential component of the work of all health
and community workers, including those involved
in humanitarian assistance, and yet it is often
neglected in their basic training. Drawn from the
experiences of an international editor team with
extensive field experience, Nutrition for Developing
Countries brings together the essential basics
of nutrition in an easily accessible form which is
accurate, up-to-date and practical, and suitable
for a wide range of readers at different levels.
The book covers the whole life cycle, including
pregnancy, breastfeeding, complementary
feeding, older children, adolescents, adults and the
elderly, with an emphasis on the most vulnerable
women and children. It has been fully revised and
updated to include important developments in
the area of nutrition, including the rise in ‘noncommunicable diseases’ in the developing world,
new understanding of the links between nutrition
and HIV/AIDS, and the realisation of the prime
importance of the first 1,000 days of life. The new
edition covers in more detail, the nutrition-related
management of non-communicable diseases;
how to feed children exposed to HIV and people
with HIV/AIDS; the essential nutrition actions that
improve health and survival, and the strategies
that reach important target groups (eg women and
children under two) during critical times during the
life-cycle; and optimal nutrition practices for girls
and women.
Roger Detels, Martin Gulliford, Quarraisha
Abdool Karim and Chorh Chuan Tan – Oxford
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780199661756
£325
“This is an excellent book both as an introduction
to the subject but also as a refresher or source of
‘latest in the field’ information to those already
working in this area. Multiple strengths are that: it
brings an already classic text completely up-to-date
but will appeal to a wide audience and is clearly
written/easy to follow/excellently formatted and
presented. It addresses a subject of high global
public health importance and hence has great
potential to play a important role in making a
positive public health impact. I was delighted to see
“This is a very comprehensive book and thus not
really suitable for readers with little or no previous
knowledge. But it is very suitable for a generalist
who wishes to dip in to specific chapters to gain
more knowledge of individual topics and areas
of interest. The editors have managed to ensure
that the whole book, with many and varied
chapters and contributors, demonstrates passion
and enthusiasm for improving the health of the
population, with a particular emphasis on the needs
of the disadvantaged. They have also successfully
Students and practitioners in public health and
epidemiology
The sixth edition, available both in print and online,
retains its approach of dividing the complex,
dynamic subject of public health into three
topics. ‘The Scope of Public Health’ discusses
the development of the discipline, determinants
of health and disease, public health policies, and
law and ethics. Next, the textbook focuses on
‘The Methods of Public Health’, including the
main science behind the discipline epidemiology.
Finally, ‘The Practice of Public Health’, examines
specific public health problems and the options
for prevention and control. As well as identifying
these issues by system or disease, there is also
an awareness of the unique needs of particular
population groups. This is the most comprehensive
and accessible text in the fields of public health
and epidemiology. The sixth edition has been
thoroughly revised and updated, offering a global
and comprehensive perspective on wide ranging
public health needs and priorities in modern
healthcare. New topics in this edition include:
climate change, genetic testing and epidemiology;
new methods for measuring the burden of disease;
life course approaches to epidemiology, behavioural
economics; and physical activity, health and
wellbeing.
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
managed to show the ‘global’ nature of public
health. Public health is a speciality which combines
theoretical knowledge with practical skills, and the
balance of these two areas will vary greatly between
different specialists. Some chapters concentrate
almost entire on theoretical knowledge whereas
others are much more practical. I would have
preferred a more consistent line between the two.
I really enjoyed reading this book and it is better
than recent previous editions. My own area of public
health practice is rather specialist but I found areas
outside my work remit easy-to-read and of great
benefit to my work.”
for instructors (including cutting-edge topics such
as genomics and “hot” fields such as forensics or
radiation).
Principles of Toxicology 3rd ed.
Karen E Stine and Thomas M Brown – CRC Press,
2015 ISBN: 9781466503427 £49.99
Undergraduate or early postgraduate level
predominantly studying or employed in public
health
Reflecting the broad and interdisciplinary nature
of toxicology, this third edition of Principles of
Toxicology explores the biochemical, physiological,
and environmental aspects of the subject. This
new edition is updated and revised to include
reference to several major new directions in the
science of toxicology, including significant changes
in thinking about cancer and carcinogenesis as
well as the rapid expansion of toxicogenomics. The
book also includes new chapters on topics of timely
interest such as radiation, food safety, and natural
toxins. As in previous editions, chapters combine
background material in the appropriate discipline
– which helps readers review and remember the
basics – with new information on toxicology to
stress important principles and concepts. Also
included is a selection of updated case studies
through which principles and concepts are applied
to real-world issues. The book features an extensive
cross-referencing system linking all sections
and enhancing the integration of material, thus
helping readers tie it all together. It also includes
an appendix of selected toxicants that describes
chemical structure, category of use, and toxicity.
These features make specific information quick and
easy to find. The easy-to-follow format and clear
presentation of information in this book will make
this one of the most useful references on your
shelf. It follows a logical “levels of organization”
approach which is easy for students to follow and
presents background information on the basic
physiological and biochemical concepts needed to
understand toxicological concepts. It includes case
studies illustrating the application of toxicology to
current issues and a wide choice of applied topics
“This book in my view, is well-targeted by the
authors for the intended purpose and intense
audience and may well extend further than
that suggested by the authors. An example of
the wider remit of this book is the chapter on
immunotoxicology. I greatly enjoyed this chapter
as it acted as a refresher course for my own
understanding of immunology. It also reminded
me that alteration of immunological function is not
always associated with patient harm, and the clinical
role of immunosuppressant drugs, themselves quite
reasonably regarded as toxicants, as far as this book
is concerned, can have a beneficial effect. In this
regard the activity of the immunosuppressants and
their mechanisms of action provided a refreshing
form of revision that was easy to understand.
Information is sourced appropriately with access
to primary reference materials where appropriate.
Online access to material is employed where
appropriate. I liked the case study example at the
conclusion of the genomics chapter providing the
wherewithal to access online genetic databases:
this brings to reality the very real potential of
tailoring therapeutic treatments to individual
patients. Where relevant the text includes historical
examples to assist or amplify the subject matter,
for example the historical perspective associated
with the Thalidomide case study is well-placed
in the reproductive toxicology and teratology
chapter. Some of the facts contained in various
chapters are thought provoking: the impact of
pesticide use in the USA is estimated to reduce
the lifespan of US inhabitants by 3.2 minutes! It is
gratifying that, at last we are realising the full impact
of mistakes of the past as far as environmental
pollution is concerned: The case report of the
Love Canal as a long forgotten repository of toxic
waste is mind chilling, with additional information
about water pollution with chemicals and drugs
discussed in a well-chosen case study concluding
the environmental toxicology and pollution
chapter. One of the strengths of the book is the
considerable cross referencing which provides
useful assistance to the user to fully understand
the wider ramifications of what might at first sight
appear relatively isolated or limited problems.
Furthermore the case-studies achieve exactly
what they are intended to do, namely highlight the
important points and place them in a context which
is relevant and illustrative of the principles discussed
in the chapter.”
Programme and Award Winners
77
Sex by Numbers: What Statistics Can Tell Us
About Sexual Behaviour.
David Spiegelhalter – Profile Books, 2015
ISBN: 9781781253298 £12.99
General readership with an interest in sexual
behaviour or statistics.
Sex by Numbers aims to explore two questions:
What can statistics tell us about sex? And what can
measuring sexual behaviour tell us about statistics?
Here, David Spiegelhalter unpicks what we’re all
up to, including number of partners, foreplay, gay
sex, celibacy, conception rates and illegitimacy, and
explores the hazards that statisticians encounter
when measuring something as wrapped in secrecy
as sexual behaviour, and the clever ways they have
found around it. It also includes biographies and
evaluations of the works of sexologists such as
Magnus Hirschfeld and Alfred Kinsey. This book aims
both to introduce readers to statistics in a lively
and interesting way, and to explore the reality of
sexual behaviour in the twenty-first century, busting
media manipulations and misunderstandings of
statistics, and explaining the reality behind common
misconceptions. This is no other book available
which fulfils this function or has the same amount of
accurate data on sexual behaviour. It is also a highly
original synthesis of sociology and statistics, making
the latter engaging and easily understandable in the
context of the former.
“This is well-written and makes an often difficult
to discuss subject easy to understand and as such
provides resources to physicians who may struggle
to answer specific questions from patients. It is a
good resource for public health, sexual health and
sexual medicine physicians. It is very much up-todate with the UK data and some other leading
studies from overseas (English speaking).”
World Report on Ageing and Health.
World Health Organization – World Health
Organization, 2015 ISBN: 9789241565042
CHF 40
Policy makers, planners and geriatric services
The World report on ageing and health outlines a
framework for action to encourage Healthy Ageing
built around the new concept of functional ability.
This will require a transformation of health systems
away from disease based curative models and
towards the provision of older-person-centred and
integrated care. It will require the development,
sometimes from nothing, of comprehensive
systems of long term care. It will require a
coordinated response from many other sectors and
multiple levels of government. And it will need to
draw on better ways of measuring and monitoring
the health and functioning of older populations.
These actions are likely to be a sound investment
in society’s future. A future that gives older people
the freedom to live lives that previous generations
might never have imagined.
“I shall recommend this book to public health
professionals and general readers. The strength of
this book lies in it outlines a framework for action
to encourage Healthy aging is built around the
new concept of functional ability. Aging and Health
are the talk of the day worldwide. Her Majesty the
Queen just had 90th Birthday in April 2016 and
HRH the Duke of Edinburgh had his 95th Birthday;
yet they are going strong in reigning the UK. I have
been watching them both since 1986, walking from
their Palace in Windsor to the St George’s Chapel in
Windsor on the Knights of Garters Day, 2nd Monday
in June every year. HRH the Duke of Edinburgh
missed only once when he was admitted to hospital.
He would be walking with Her Majesty the Queen on
Monday 13 June 2016 and I shall watch them again
for the 30th time. They are the example of Ageing
and Health. This book is suggesting a road map to
bring such good health to every citizen worldwide.
It may be a dream but the authors have tried to do
their best in this excellent book. I recommend this
book for a prize.”
Radiology – the winner of this category
will be announced from this shortlist
Abdominal X-Rays for Medical Students.
Christopher Clarke and Anthony Dux – WileyBlackwell, 2015 ISBN: 9781118600559 £22.99
Medical students, junior doctors, trainee
radiographers, nurses and nurse practitioners
Abdominal X-rays for Medical Students is a
comprehensive resource offering guidance on
reading, presenting and interpreting abdominal
radiographs. Suitable for medical students,
junior doctors, nurses and trainee radiographers,
this brand new title is clearly illustrated using a
unique colour overlay system to present the main
pathologies and to highlight the abnormalities in
abdomen X-rays. It covers the important knowledge
and skills necessary for practical use; provides
an effective and memorable way to analyse and
present abdominal radiographs – the unique
‘ABCDE’ system as developed by the authors;
presents each radiograph twice, side by side: the
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
first as seen in the clinical setting, and the second
with the pathology clearly highlighted; and includes
self-assessment to test knowledge and presentation
technique. With a systematic approach covering
both the analysis of radiographs and next steps
mirroring the clinical setting and context, Abdominal
X-rays for Medical Students is a succinct and up-todate overview of the principles and practice of
this important topic. Abdominal X-rays for Medical
Students is a resource to teach students and junior
doctors a basic understanding of the principles
of abdominal and pelvic radiology. It teaches: A
systemic approach for analysing and presenting
abdominal radiographs; How to recognise basic
signs and pathology; The radiological signs
and patterns associated with common medical
conditions. Using a unique colour overlay system
to highlight anatomy and pathology, this book
avoids the main problem with many radiology titles
by clearly presenting the images and indicating
what they show, whilst including only facts relevant
to everyday practise (avoiding ‘information
overload’). This book adopts the design and
presentation approach that has been successful in
the preceding publication Chest X-rays for Medical
Students and that also appears in the forthcoming
Musculoskeletal X-Rays for Medical Students. The
abdominal x-ray is an important topic as it covers
a huge amount of cases that students and junior
doctors see during their rotations through clinical
departments. Abdominal x-rays are one of the
most common diagnostic tools seen in trauma
departments and quick, sound interpretation skills
are important in order to effectively manage a
patient’s condition.”
Diagnostic Imaging: Spine 3rd ed.
“This is very good learning tool for medical students
and ancillary healthcare professionals. Other
books on this topic exist but I have never seen
such a well-presented book. The examples and
pictographic explanations are the best I have seen.
Demonstration of the sometimes bewildering array
of descriptive terms with excellent images and
diagrams is the most memorable feature of this
book. This is a really excellent book that will help the
doctors of tomorrow have a sound understanding of
abdominal X-rays and will likely spark an interest in
radiology among its readers.”
“I would definitely recommend this text. It serves
as a very comprehensive, evidence-based guide to
diagnostic spinal imaging, with both revision areas
and current developments. This book is useful for
those with good knowledge of spinal imaging as well
as the less experienced practitioner. This edition
showcases the latest research with updated, fully
revised images and text. Diagnostic imaging Spine
serves as a comprehensive reference text but also
as an integral adjunct to everyday use. It covers
every aspect of spinal imaging including normal
anatomy, congenital and acquired spinal disorders,
trauma, arthropathies, cord and peripheral nerve
abnormalities, inflammatory and neoplastic spinal
disorders, as well as a detailed section on the
postoperative spine. This current and relevant
text fills a gap in the market with high-quality
graphics and imaging, easy-to-follow text and
updated references. To assist in understanding,
each diagnostic entity is correlated with a range of
high-quality illustrations, radiographic, sonographic,
and/or cross-sectional imaging including CT
myelography. Images are clearly annotated to
Jeffrey S Ross and Kevin R Moore – AMIRSYS,
2015 ISBN: 9780323377058 £220
Radiologists
With constant improvements to MR image quality,
it’s important to have a resource reflecting the
most recent developments. Diagnostic Imaging:
Spine, now in its third edition, showcases the latest
cutting-edge research from Dr Jeffrey Ross and
his team of experts in the field. Expanding upon
the core of the highly popular second edition, this
updated reference is fully revised to provide the
best spine-related diagnostic support available.
Covers the latest advancements in imaging the
postoperative spine, including bone morphogenetic
protein (BMP) utilisation. It includes additional
genetic information, such as OMIM entry numbers,
where appropriate and highlights updates to new
classification and grading schemes. Hundreds of
full-colour pathology images are carefully annotated
to help pinpoint the most relevant factors, Bulleted
lists provide guidance through the intricacies of the
spine. Five years since the last edition is a long time
in medicine. Many diagnoses that were previously
cryptic in origin have been defined as having a
genetic basis. MR image quality is always improving.
Updates include 1) new images and cases, 2)
additional genetic information, including OMIM #
where appropriate, 3) Updates or new classification
schemes, or grading schemes, and 4) pathology
images where appropriate. The hot topic of postop
spine, including BMP usage, is also discussed.
Programme and Award Winners
79
show pathology, important anatomical structures
and their relations. It includes a useful section on
measurement techniques supplemented with clear
tables and pictorial examples.”
Learning Radiology: Recognizing the Basics
3rd ed.
William Herring – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9780323328074 £38
Medical and PA students, nurse practitioners/
Jr. residents, radiology technicians, assistants and
primary care staff
A must-have for anyone who will be required to
read and interpret common radiologic images,
Learning Radiology: Recognizing the Basics is an
image-filled, practical, and easy-to-read introduction
to important imaging modalities. Skilled radiology
teacher William Herring, MD, masterfully covers
exactly what you need to know to effectively
interpret medical images of all modalities. Learn
the latest on ultrasound, MRI, CT, patient safety,
dose reduction, radiation protection, and more,
in a time-friendly format with brief, bulleted text
and abundant high-quality images. Then ensure
your mastery of the material with additional online
content, bonus images, and self-assessment
exercises at Student Consult. Learning Radiology is
an introductory radiology text for medical students,
Interns, physician assistants, nurse practitioners,
and other healthcare practitioners (rad tech
students, rad assistants, etc), who will be required
to read and interpret common radiologic images.
The 1st edition exceeded initial sales forecast, and
in less than 2.5 years, the 2nd edition has surpassed
previous edition sales by more than 20%. This
has become a favourite among medical students,
frequently recommended via student blog sites,
and also an adopted text among many medical, NP,
and PA student programs. Dr Herring, the residency
program director at Einstein Hospital and faculty
at Thomas Jefferson University, has been teaching
students and residents for more than 20 years. The
bulleted format, numerous illustrations, and useful
tables and teaching boxes provides a text that is
short enough for time-starved students yet detailed
enough to provide complete coverage. Interpreting
diagnostic imaging studies is a critical skill for
all in-training physicians and other healthcare
professionals, as imaging has become such an
integral part of the diagnosis.
“This is a fantastic book and i have already
recommended it to numerous colleagues. It is the
first radiology book I have found that teaching the
basics of image interpretations to recognising like
threatening signs in a bite-size manageable format
without being too overwhelming. The book is very
good for light reading. I read this book at night
time post work and found it very relaxing and a
great source of learning especially in a field which
is missed a lot in the majority of medical schools
in England. The simple language which is used
add to this effect. The pictures used in this book
as ‘textbook’ enabling students to remember what
normal looks like thus by seeing something out of
the normal enables then to dig deeper and find the
correct diagnosis. The scope of this book is vast. I
would not just recommend this book to students
but to the majority of all trainees whether they are
perusing a career in surgery medicine emergency
medicine or even for a career in radiology. There is
something to take home for all. it is truly a universal
book. The online videos also really help in learning
and help stimulate different aspects of the brain to
aid in the retaining of information and also provides
a welcome break from a few hours of staring at
words on a page. The downloadable copy of the
book enables the reader to make this book portable
and thus enables them to learn on the go whether
that be on the bus/train or plane it makes the book
truly portable. The take home messages at the
end of each chapter enables the reader not only
to remember the important points of each section
but also enables them to reflect on what they have
learnt making the learning experience that more
enjoyable and rewarding. I am a surgical trainee and
found this book to be very useful for my learning. It
is suitable for so many students and I hope to see it
on the shelves in the library soon.”
MRI at a Glance 3rd ed.
Catherine Westbrook – Wiley-Blackwell, 2015
ISBN: 9781119053552 £28.99
Student radiographers (eg diagnostic
radiographers) and technologists practicing in MRI
at an introductory level, especially US students
undertaking the American Registry of Radiation
Technologist (ARRT) MRI examination; medical
physicists, medical or applied physics students,
therapeutic radiographers, junior doctors,
nursing professionals, advanced practitioners,
MRI technicians, researchers, and other health
professions involved in MRI.
MRI at a Glance encapsulates essential MRI physics
knowledge. Illustrated in full colour throughout,
its concise text explains complex information, to
provide the perfect revision aid. It includes topics
ranging from magnetism to safety, K space to
pulse sequences, and image contrast to artefacts.
This third edition has been fully updated, with
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British Medical Association
BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
revised diagrams and new pedagogy, including 55
important points, tables, scan tips, equations, and
learning points. There is also an expanded glossary
and new appendices on optimising image quality,
parameters and trade-offs. A companion website
is also available at www.ataglanceseries.com/mri
featuring animations, interactive multiple choice
questions, and scan tips to improve your own MRI
technique. MRI at a Glance is ideal for student
radiographers and MRI technologists, especially
those undertaking the American Registry of
Radiation Technologist (ARRT) MRI examination, as
well as other health professionals involved in MRI.
A concise, highly visual, full colour guide to MRI
physics with images and diagrams accompanied by
succinct, explanatory text.
“I would definitely recommend this book to anyone
about to embark on their neuroradiology rotation
or take the Neuroradiology FRCR 2A exam. The
cost may be slightly prohibitive to many trainees,
and thus would become more targeted to those
who are interested in undertaking a neuroradiology
fellowship. The combination of excellent images,
summary tables and easy-to-read short sections
on each pathology make this an excellent book
for trainees. It is a really nice well-written book
that clearly maintains its focus on being a book for
trainees.”
Surgery
Atlas of Surgical Techniques in Trauma.
“This book is very good as it takes on the complex
subject of MRI and provides a good overview in
a concise format. This makes it easily readable
compared to other texts on this subject matter. It
is an excellent place to start in order to learn more
about MRI and the physics behind it.”
Demetrios Demetriades, Kenji Inaba and George
Velmahos – Cambridge University Press, 2015
ISBN: 9781107044593 £95
Trainee trauma surgeons, as well as those in
civilian or military practice and trauma fellows and
emergency medicine physicians
Neuroimaging: The Essentials.
Pina Sanelli, Pamela Schaefer and
Laurie Loevner – Wolters Kluwer, 2015
ISBN: 9781451191356 £92
Ideal as an efficient learning tool for residents as well
as a quick refresher for experienced radiologists
This radiology reference covers brain and spine
neuroimaging as well as otolaryngologic imaging,
putting indispensable information at your fingertips
in a compact and practical, high-yield format.
It allows readers to master nuances of imaging
interpretation through a pattern-recognition
approach and apply the latest techniques for the
assessment of traumatic brain injury; neoplastic,
vascular, infectious, and inflammatory diseases
of the brain; neurodegenerative and cognitive
disorders; traumatic injuries, degenerative disorders,
and neoplastic and vascular diseases of the spine;
imaging of cystic lesions of the head and neck;
imaging of the cranial nerves; evaluation of the acute
neck, ventral and central skull base, and salivary,
thyroid, and parathyroid glands; mucosal cancers; and
much more. The reader can avoid diagnostic pitfalls
with valuable chapters on how to approach mimics
and look-alikes and successfully absorb important
concepts through behaviourally based learning
objectives and superb imaging examples. Image-rich,
case-based multiple-choice questions at the end
of each chapter and a 75 question self-assessment
examination at the end of the text can be used to test
knowledge and prepare for exams.
Using high-quality intra-operative photos of fresh,
ventilated and perfused human cadavers, this
atlas of surgical techniques creates a unique new
resource for trauma surgeons. The critical aspects
of each surgical exposure and procedure are clearly
demonstrated step-by-step in these realistic models,
allowing the reader rapidly to understand technical
important points which can be complex to describe.
With more than 600 illustrations, it provides a
highly visual summary of the critical anatomy,
procedural sequencing, and pitfalls associated
with trauma procedures. The first atlas of surgical
trauma techniques to be published, filling a need
identified by the editors in their experience teaching
trainees, Hundreds of photos of fresh, perfused and
ventilated human cadavers provide the operating
surgeon with a highly realistic visual guide to
procedures. Rapid overviews of anatomy, procedure
and pitfalls for each procedure will aid both trainees
and practising surgeons when preparing for the
operating room
“I think that this book should be a standard work
for general surgeons in the UK. Abdominal and
vascular trauma is not common in the UK and
most surgeons will not have seen many cases. This
text would also be excellent for military surgeons
who will see penetrating and blast injuries unlike
their civilian counterparts. The strengths of this
book are the quality of the illustrations; cadaver
and operative photographs are much more useful
than line drawings. The surgical anatomy sections
are combined with the operative technique help
Programme and Award Winners
81
to understand the problems discussed. The tips
and pitfalls sections would help trainees and
established surgeons who may not have performed
the procedure many times. This is an excellent
book that would be best suited to trainee general
surgeons and military surgeons.”
in the field of cleft care. It is written in an extremely
easy to digest style. What is most attractive about
it is that it covers the whole spectrum of cleft care
from antenatal diagnosis right through to adult life
whilst simultaneously updating the readership on
evidence-based management.”
Comprehensive Cleft Care, Two Volume Set
2nd ed.
Enhancing Surgical Performance: A Primer in
Non-technical Skills.
Joseph F Losee and Richard E Kirschner – CRC
Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781482240894 £230
Rhona Flin, George G Youngson and Steven Yule
– CRC Press, 2015 ISBN: 9781482246322 £49.99
Plastic surgeons, both trainees and practitioners;
paediatric surgeons, oral and maxillofacial surgeons;
paediatric nurses and all members of the cleft team.
Surgeons in all specialties and at all levels
Comprehensive Cleft Care, Second edition is
a complete clinical reference that addresses
every aspect of the life-long care required by
patients with orofacial clefting. It is supported by
a handsome full-colour presentation, it features
heavily-illustrated chapters that provide unmatched
coverage of all aspects from prenatal diagnosis to
final orthognathic surgery. The inclusion of topics
such as basic science research, mission work, and
outcome measures make this an all-in-one clinical
companion with coverage that cannot be found
anywhere else. With its distinct holistic approach
and perspectives from skilled specialists in a
variety of disciplines, Comprehensive Cleft Care
presents an unmatched overview of cleft repair and
management. The book includes an ebook version
surgical video clips to aid operative understanding. It
is the most comprehensive reference now available
on the topic and is intended to be the definitive
resource.
“The multiple authors contributing to this
two volume text are highly respected in their
field internationally. The book is extremely
comprehensive and follows a logical and wellthought layout. All cleft-related disciplines are
represented in the authorship. The availability of
digital content is easily recognised with the clear
DVD symbol in the contents list and the quality
of the DVD is excellent. Both volumes are very
attractively presented in hardback and the cost of
£230 represents extremely good value for money
for a two volume set of this calibre. It caters equally
well for the trainee or specialist in this field or for
those who wish to use it as a reference source. I can
imagine all members of the cleft multidisciplinary
team learning from its content and accessing it for
personal CPD and teaching and training purposes.
This two volume set really does achieve what it sets
out to do in providing a very solid foundation for
guiding clinical services and multidisciplinary teams
Enhancing Surgical Performance: A Primer in NonTechnical Skills explains why non-technical skills
are vital for safe and effective performance in the
operating theatre. The book provides a full account,
with supporting empirical evidence, of the NonTechnical Skills for surgeons (NOTSS) system and
behavioural rating framework, which helps identify
the important elements involved in successful
operative surgery. The editors spent the last twelve
years as part of the team developing and testing
the NOTSS system and delivering presentations and
workshops across the world. Readers will benefit by
having, in one accessible handbook, a description
of the NOTSS system and how it can be used for
training, assessment, self-reflection and event
analysis. The book also examines human error,
performance limitations, and global safety initiatives
in surgery. Because it encourages surgeons to
reflect on their own performance and behaviour,
it is suitable for surgeons in all specialties and at
all levels. This book provides a full account, with
supporting empirical evidence, of the Non-Technical
Skills for surgeons (NOTSS) system and behavioural
rating framework, which helps identify the important
elements involved in successful operative surgery.
“This book describes very well the process of
thought, judgement, analysis and evaluation of risk
by surgeons. It emphasises the role of the surgeon
as a leader and setting up and maintenance of
standards. Importance of good communication, the
role of giving clear instructions and supporting other
staff and members of the team are emphasised.
The need for discussion of cases with other team
members and co-operating with the team to achieve
goals are well-described. This book explores a new
dimension in the operating theatre environment. It
is therefore a unique book. The book also has a full
chapter on What Next? in the development of nontechnical skills. It gives guidelines for introduction
of the concept at undergraduate teaching level. It
brings together patients’ safety measures which have
been adopted in all UK hospitals eg WHO checklist to
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avoid never never surgical errors and team working
with leadership aspects of surgeons, anaesthetists
and stub practitioners who are working for patient
safety. The book therefore achieves its objective of
enhancing surgical performance.”
Lecture Notes: General Surgery 13th ed.
Grabb’s Encyclopedia of Flaps: Head and Neck
5th ed.
Berish Strauch, Louis O Vasconez, Charles K
Herman and Bernard T Lee – Wolters Kluwer,
2015 ISBN: 9781451194609 £232
Still the most comprehensive reference available
on surgical flaps, this classic text remains your
go-to source for practical, authoritative guidance
on achieving the best possible outcomes for
your patients. The thoroughly revised 4th Edition
features an all-new, full-colour format that greatly
enhances its visual appeal and usefulness in
your everyday practice. Dozens of internationally
recognised experts describe every clinical proven
flap option available for repairing both routine and
unusual problems, lavishly illustrated with clinical
photographs and diagrams of anatomy, blood
supply, flap design, and operative procedures.
Extensively indexed and organised by anatomic
region, chapters follow a logical format that clearly
presents all the information you need to know:
indications, anatomy, flap design and dimensions,
operative technique, clinical results, and summary.
This comprehensive, clinically relevant information
allows you to select the best flaps for safe,
predictable, and aesthetically desirable results for
every patient.
“I would recommend this book wholeheartedly
to all specialties who deal with head and neck
pathology to junior doctors, residents as well as to
established consultants as a reference book as it
would be useful for teaching. This book provides a
comprehensive reference source on surgical flaps
for reconstructing defects in the head and neck. It
has clearly organised chapters with a simple format
which is well-illustrated. The simplicity of the format
giving important clinical information is its strength.
I have found this an easy-to-read textbook and I
feel it definitely meets the needs of its intended
audience and provides more to the reader in terms
of references. This is a particularly good reference
book on flap reconstruction in the head and neck
region and will appeal to many specialties.”
Harold Ellis, Sir Roy Calne and Christopher
Watson – Wiley-Blackwell, 2016
ISBN: 9781118742051 £29.99
Medical students, junior doctors (including those
studying for MRCS) and surgical nurses
This is the ‘golden jubilee’ edition of a classic
textbook, first published in 1965. General Surgery
Lecture Notes continues to be an invaluable,
appealing and approachable resource for thousands
of medical students and surgical trainees
throughout the world. This comprehensive guide
focuses on the fundamentals of general surgery,
and systematically covers all the clinical surgical
problems that a student may encounter and about
which they need to know. Fully revised and updated
to reflect the rapid changes which are taking
place in surgical practice, this 50th anniversary
edition: it includes principles of treatment written
at student level to aid understanding and features
full colour illustrations throughout as well as
electronic access to a range of extra material
including case studies, images and photographs,
and biographies. Additionally it includes free access
to the Wiley e-text and a companion website at
www.lecturenoteseries.com/surgery featuring
MCQs, SAQs, case studies, images, photographs, and
biographies. It is a perfect review text for medical
students as well as junior surgeons taking the
MRCS examination and other postgraduate surgical
examinations. Trusted by generations of medical
students, the clinical emphasis of General Surgery
Lecture Notes makes this an essential purchase
for all those wishing to learn more about general
surgery.
“This classic book is extremely up-to-date. The
chapters are well-edited and the writing style and
tone of the book is extremely clear with good
chapter headings and learning objectives. The
illustrations and figures are very useful to aid
understanding. It is the first time for an e-resource
and it includes hyperlinks for photos. I would highly
recommend this book for or medical students and
FY1 doctors.”
Programme and Award Winners
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Review of Plastic Surgery
Trauma for the FRCS (Tr + Orth) Examination.
Donald W Buck II – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9780323354912 $99.99
Alex Trompeter and David Elliott – Oxford
University Press, 2015 ISBN: 9780198749059
Residents, fellows, and attendings studying for in
service exam and written boards medical students
and nurses.
Postgraduate Orthopaedic Surgery trainees in the
UK, EU, and Australasia/Asia and junior trainees and
surgeons in the USA
This first edition Review of Plastic Surgery is the
perfect study guide for plastic surgeons preparing
for the American Board of Plastic Surgery Exams. The
primary goal of the book is to help readers quickly
review and score high on the plastic surgery in service
and written board exam but it will also help users to
be prepared to answer commonly asked questions
in the wards, conferences, and the OR. Unlike
ordinary reference texts that generally force the
reader to wade through paragraph after paragraph
of extraneous material, this review manual uses a
streamlined outline and list format. This makes it
easier for the user to find the essential points on each
topic. This title allows the reader to spend more time
studying the important facts and less time searching
for them. Whilst the content is presented in a simple
manner, it still includes all topics found in the exams
– from basic science to clinical knowledge in plastic
surgery including the subspecialties. The reader
can zero in on more than 40 essential topics found
on in-service, board, and certifying exams in plastic
surgery and test their mastery of the material with
self-assessment sections that mimic questions
encountered on board exams. It includes superb,
full-colour illustrations throughout. Important
information is presented in a concise, high-yield
manner – through bulleted text, detailed illustrations,
and easy-to-digest lists. Review of Plastic Surgery, by
Dr Donald W Buck II, provides essential information
on more than 40 topics found in certification exams
for Plastic surgeons as well as the challenges you face
in everyday practice. It is unique in its use of detailed
illustrations, bulleted text; and use of lists covering
basic science to clinical knowledge in plastic surgery,
including subspecialty topics. Multiple choice test
yourself questions are also included making it the allround review and self-assessment tool for the soon
trainee plastic surgeon.
Trauma for the FRCS (Tr+Orth) Examination is a
dedicated revision resource for trauma that provides
candidates with high quality self-assessment in order
to maximise exam success. This book features over
100 Single Best Answer Questions, over 70 Extended
Matching Questions, and 70 Vivas specialising in
trauma. This books aims to help exam candidates to
self-assess their knowledge effectively and to help
them revise successfully. It achieves this because
each answer contains an up-to-date explanation, and
helpful sources for further reading to ensure quick
candidates are fully prepared for this difficult exam
Trauma for the FRCS (Tr + Orth) Examination is the
only book on the market to focus specifically on
orthopaedic trauma in the FRCS exam. Other more
general FRCS titles tend to cover only the basics of
trauma, and tend to underestimate the significance
and difficulty of this section of the exam. This book
is written by expert consultants and senior trainees/
fellows to ensure it is accurate and close to the
experience of the real exam.
“I hope this becomes a must for surgical trainees
in plastics or breast surgery or orthopaedics. I will
certainly use this as a go to textbook. It includes bitesized information for all important plastics topics,
good use of diagrams, clear tone, easy to follow text,
covers theory and practical application eg triage,
clinical assessment and surgical techniques. This
great text is comprehensive yet not too detailed. It
is a great companion for any plastic trainee use of
questions at the end of the book is very helpful and a
great addition particularly as written by experts.”
“This book is worthy for shortlisting as it is definitely
going to be of use for candidates sitting the FRCS
exam. It is well-written and easy to pick up and read
in short sections. It is in depth and will easily cover
enough to pass the trauma section of the FRCS
exam. Well written and easy to read. It has a useful
introductory section with hints and tips about the
exam in general, eg exam technique. It covers a topic
which is covered briefly in other FRCS revision books
but trauma is often assumed to be a strong point of
candidates but they tend to do not so well for this
reason. This book is good as it will build confidence
with the questions the candidate already knows but
also has complex subjects the candidate may not
have thought of. Definitely recommended. I wish I
had it when I was sitting the exam (some years ago).”
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Surgical specialties – the winner of this
category will be announced from this
shortlist
figures, illustrations and photographs. My only
disappointment is the lack of associated online
content for the purchaser. While chapters are
viewable online through the Access surgery website
this was not accessible via Athens and offered
nothing in addition to the owner of the book such
as downloadable figures. However this is a worthy
successor to the first edition and truly is the gold
standard text for thoracic surgeons. An excellent
book in every respect.”
Adult Chest Surgery 2nd ed.
David J Sugarbaker, Raphael Bueno, Yolanda
Colson, Michael Jaklitsch, Mark J Krasna and
Steven Mentzer – McGraw-Hill Education, 2015
ISBN: 9780071781893 £244.99
Thoracic surgery researchers and practicing thoracic
surgeons general surgery residents practicing
general surgeons cardiac surgeons seeking
recertification
Adult Chest Surgery is a thorough, hands-on guide
to the modern practice of general thoracic surgery.
Broad in scope and straightforward in style and
presentation, this classic is an outstanding reference
for any clinician in need of a comprehensive
description of the clinical nature of general thoracic
surgery. Like its award-winning predecessor, the
second edition of Adult Chest Surgery focuses
on providing concise descriptions of current
techniques and surgical principles for the most
common thoracic surgical problems encountered
in the clinic and the operating room. This edition is
enhanced by 40 new chapters devoted to a range
of topics including new endoscopic techniques for
antireflux surgery; percutaneous thoracic tumour
ablation; peroral esophageal myotomy; robotic
techniques for lobectomy, esophagectomy, and
thymectomy; and other new minimally invasive
approaches to standard thoracic resections. It
is also enriched by more than 250 new detailed
illustrations of procedures, bringing the total
number to 850. An authoritative and user-friendly
guide to operative techniques in thoracic surgery in
a single all-inclusive volume. This classic text covers
all of the concepts and procedures that comprise
the core of the discipline making it unique among
all other general surgery textbooks.
Campbell-Walsh Urology 11th ed.
Alan J Wein, Louis R Kavoussi, Alan W
Partin and Craig A Peters – Elsevier, 2015
ISBN: 9781455775675 £380
Urologists, OB/GYNs, oncologists, nephrologists and
plastic surgeons.
Internationally lauded as the preeminent text in the
field, Campbell-Walsh Urology continues to offer
the most comprehensive coverage of every aspect
of urology. Perfect for urologists, residents, and
practicing physicians alike, this updated four volume
set highlights all of the essential concepts necessary
for every stage in a medical career, from anatomy
and physiology through the latest diagnostic
approaches and medical and surgical treatments.
“Brilliant reference book for those who want to
get into more detail on a particular subject within
urology. Also good when looking up topics when
getting close to exams. Excellent editorial and
production. Comprehensive reference text book for
urologist or basic scientists in this area. This is an
excellent modern book using online digital media
and comprehensive use of colour with modern
contemporary production. A must have book for a
practicing urologist. Recommend shortlist.”
Eye Surgery in Hot Climates 4th ed.
“This is the second edition of one of the premier
standard texts in thoracic surgery. The book is
superbly produced with very many excellent quality
colour illustrations and operative photographs
which are beautifully reproduced. The authors are
all world class thoracic experts and the content is
both comprehensive and up-to-date. For example
there are excellent chapters on robotic surgical
techniques, lung transplantation and artificial
lung technology. All chapters are well-written with
a consistent and authoritative style. Indexing is
comprehensive. Overall this is a superb reference
for thoracic surgeons and the second edition brings
excellent new chapters and very high production
values in terms of very high quality colour tables,
William Dean and John Sandford-Smith – JP
Medical Ltd, 2015 ISBN: 9781909836235 £30
Eye surgeons, ophthalmologists, nurses and
healthcare assistants practicing or teaching in low
income countries
Introductory chapters on basic principles such as
theatre equipment and anaesthesia are followed
by chapters devoted to specific procedures such
as cataract surgery, eyelid surgery and enucleation.
Also included are chapters on paediatric surgery
and trauma. This well-known guide to eye surgery
in resource poor countries focuses on the
Programme and Award Winners
85
management of common and blinding diseases,
notably the surgical treatment of cataract, glaucoma
and the eyelid complications of trachoma. The goal
of the book is to describe simple, cost effective
procedures appropriate to low income countries;
these include intra-ocular lenses, the use of which
has become more widespread since the previous
edition. Drawing on the direct clinical experience of
the authors, both of whom have worked extensively
in Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, Eye Surgery in Hot
Climates Fourth Edition continues to provide the
most relevant and practical advice for healthcare
providers caring for eye patients in nations where
blindness and visual impairment remain prevalent.
All the chapters in the 4th edition have been revised
and updated to reflect latest best practice while
two completely new chapters have been added on
surgical training and paediatric surgery. Unique to
the book is a DVD featuring instructional videos of
cataract surgery, trabeculectomy and lid surgery for
trachoma.
“This book is a must-read for any ophthalmology
healthcare professional who would like to take part
in charity work in developing countries. This book
is an inspiration. It has helped me to realise that the
dream of charity work in ophthalmology, a dream
which I had in medical school, is a very definite
possibility, and it is within my reach. It is both a
practical guide in how to go to a developing country,
giving up-to-date, helpful advice and sources of
information, in addition to being a surgical textbook
that explains the differences between surgery in a
low versus high-resource environment.”
Logan Turner’s Diseases of the Nose, Throat and
Ear: Head and Neck Surgery 11th ed.
S Musheer Hussain – CRC Press, 2015
ISBN: 9780340987322 £49.99
Practicing otolaryngologist, ENT specialists
in training and those undertaking specialty
examinations, GPs, doctors considering ENT as a
career, and medical students will also find the book
a valuable resource.
First published more than 100 years ago, Logan
Turner’s Diseases of the Nose, Throat and Ear: Head
& Neck Surgery covers the whole of otolaryngology
in 70 chapters. This classic textbook has been
completely updated and expanded to reflect
the increasing sophistication of diagnostic and
management skills. All sub-specialties are covered.
Each chapter in this new edition includes important
learning points, up-to-date references, and
suggestions for further reading. The contributors
are leaders in their respective fields – a virtual list
of ‘who’s who’ of British otolaryngology head and
neck surgery. The book is essential reading for
the practicing otolaryngologist, ENT specialists
in training and those undertaking specialty
examinations. General practitioners, doctors
considering ENT as a career, and medical students
will also find the book a valuable resource.
“This is a very good day-to-day textbook to
complement a comprehensive reference text. It
covers all subspecialties. It is a welcome addition
as a day to day text for students, trainees and
consultants in ENT and allied specialties.”
Pediatric Neurosurgery: Tricks of the Trade.
Alan R Cohen – Thieme Publishers, 2015
ISBN: 9781604068696 £164
Paediatric neurosurgery fellows and paediatric
neurosurgeons
The book’s purpose is twofold: 1) to present a
concise overview of the current state-of-the-art of
operative paediatric neurosurgery elaborated by
expert colleagues from around the world and 2) to
provide the reader with a blueprint for enhancing
performance and achieving excellence in the
operating room. Much of what separates a great
neurosurgeon from a good neurosurgeon is nuance.
Many times a subtle operative manoeuvre here or
there can simplify a difficult procedure or prevent a
dangerous or catastrophic event later on. This book
is a collection of paediatric neurosurgical operations
written by masters from around the world who share
their personal surgical pearls, operative nuances,
procedural refinements and techniques for avoiding
pitfalls and for dealing with them should they occur.
The hope is that these nuances from the masters
will inspire readers to improve their skill sets, to set
higher expectations for themselves leading them
to pursue intense, focused deliberate practice in
an effort to achieve excellence in the operating
room. This is a book about the art of paediatric
neurosurgery. There are numerous publications
about the details of paediatric neurosurgical
disorders, including journal articles, didactic texts
and atlases of anatomy and surgery. What is missing
is the personal wisdom of the masters, a tricks of the
trade of paediatric neurosurgery, in which experts
share what they have learned from past experiences,
both their successes and their mistakes.
“I think this will become a favourite among
paediatric neurosurgeons. This is a comprehensive
surgical technique textbook, up-to-date,
experienced surgeons passing on the benefits of
their experience, beautifully illustrated, excellent
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web-based operative videos, Kindle / iPad
downloadable version. This is an excellent book
which does fill a niche and is likely to become a
favourite with paediatric neurosurgeons. The ability
to download the book to a reader such as an iPad
makes it very portable and the web-based operative
videos are generally good. As expected from
Thieme, the quality of the publication is superb. It
is not intended to be a comprehensive textbook
on paediatric neurosurgery but does provide a
comprehensive guide to surgical techniques in
children. It is up-to-date and contains useful ‘tips
and tricks’.”
manner. I would recommend supplementing it
with a clinical observership/placement in the field
to understand the dynamic aspects of voice and
swallow assessment which cannot be taught by
static pictures of reading a book. This book is unique
in the breadth of laryngology covered in a simple
way. It caters to a broad readership at all levels of
laryngological training and I particularly like that
it is more than an operative manual as much of
laryngology is about assessment and non-operative
interventions. I think this would be a useful addition
the library of any ENT/OMFS trainee or consultant
as well as speech and language therapists. This
is a very good textbook that fills a niche in ENT
surgery that other textbooks cater to poorly. My
one suggestion would be to add videos and online
resources sound, VFS, FEES, Barium swallow, intraop microlaryngoscopies etc as laryngology is a very
visual/auditory specialty.”
Practical Laryngology.
Declan Costello and Guri Sandhu – CRC Press,
2015 ISBN: 9781444183665 £85
Higher trainees preparing for their final exit
examinations and consultants both in general ENT
and the subspecialty of laryngology.
Practical Laryngology is an invaluable guide to
laryngology. It covers all the relevant areas in
the field, from basic science to disorders and
diseases to in-clinic procedures and the future
of laryngology. In an easy-to-read format, the
book discusses a wide variety of topics including
neurological diseases of the larynx, swallowing
disorders, laryngeal trauma, stenosis, reflux, acute
infections, inflammatory disorders, paediatrics,
benign vocal cord lesions and dysplastic lesions.
Colour drawings, clinical photographs, and imaging
support the text throughout, making it an excellent
reference to help the clinician find information
quickly and easily. Essential information is presented
in a succinct and readable style, making it vital
for higher trainees preparing for their final exit
examinations and for consultants both in general
ENT and the subspecialty of laryngology. This book
is the ultimate guide for those wanting to learn
more about the larynx, its disorders, therapeutic
interventions, and other challenges which may
impact patients and their families. It covers all the
relevant areas in the field, from basic science to
disorders and diseases to in-clinic procedures and
the future of laryngology. In an easy-to-read format,
the book discusses a wide variety of topics including
neurological diseases of the larynx, swallowing
disorders, laryngeal trauma, stenosis, reflux, acute
infections, inflammatory disorders, paediatrics,
benign vocal cord lesions and dysplastic lesions.
“Laryngology is often an afterthought in most
ENT textbooks and this book is excellent in
providing both practical and clinical knowledge
of laryngology in a concise and easy-to-read
The Eye: Basic Sciences in Practice 4th ed.
John Forrester, Andrew Dick, Paul McMenamin,
Fiona Roberts and Eric Pearlman – Elsevier,
2015 ISBN: 9780702055546 £84.99
Ophthalmologists and optometrists in training; early
career vision scientists
Highly accessible, concise coverage of all
the essential basic sciences that underpins
ophthalmology, optometry and vision science. Fully
updated for this edition, it succinctly incorporates
the massive strides being made by genetics
and functional genomics based on the Human
Genome Project, the new understanding of how
the microbiome affects all aspects of immunology,
the remarkable progress in imaging technology
now applied to anatomy and neurophysiology, as
well as exciting new molecular and other diagnostic
methodologies now being used in microbiology
and pathology. All this and more collectively
brings a wealth of new knowledge to students
and practitioners in the fields of ophthalmology
and visual science. It aims to provide accessible,
practical, engaging and up-to-date coverage at
an appropriate level for the three core readership
groups (Ophthalmologists and optometrists in
training and early career vision scientists.) No other
single resource covers this breadth of information,
fully up-to-date and at a level appropriate for the
core readership.
Programme and Award Winners
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“This is a unique detailed book which covers
how basic sciences relate to the eye, especially
in pharmacology and physiology. This was the
original book for part I exam and reference on
basic sciences for ophthalmology. No other
book has replaced it: the American Academy of
Ophthalmology do a much less detailed version
that cannot surpass this text. The anatomy could be
more detailed, but I have no criticism of the content
of the rest of the book. It has done the hard work in
putting all this information into one place, so that
ophthalmologists don’t have to use multiple texts to
find the relevant information related to the eye. This
is the fourth edition, so it continues to be improved.
It has a nice feel is easy to navigate and has nice
contrast of blue for subheading and to tab the
pages. The illustrations break up the text regularly,
which helps keep up concentration, as though
written well the facts and figures can become tiring.
This is a seminal textbook that can’t be beaten.”
Transplantation of the Liver 3rd ed.
Ronald W Busuttil and Gøran BG Klintmalm –
Elsevier, 2015 ISBN: 9781455702688 $355
Liver transplant surgeons; hepatologists, liver
transplant teams; liver transplant programs; GI/
hepatobiliary surgeons
Drs Busuttil and Klintmalm present Transplantation
of the Liver, 3rd Edition, which has been thoroughly
revised to offer you the latest protocols, surgical
approaches, and techniques used in this challenging
procedure. Encompassing today’s expert knowledge
in the field, this medical reference book is an ideal
single source for authoritative, up-to-date guidance
on every imaginable aspect of liver transplantation.
Access valuable pearls, pitfalls, and insights from
Dr Ronald Busuttil and Dr Goran Klintmalm, two
of the world’s preeminent experts in liver surgery.
Understand today’s full range of transplantation
techniques with complete step-by-step descriptions
of each, and access the background information
and management options for each hepatic disease
entity. Take advantage of detailed discussions of
everything from pathophysiology and patient and
donor selection, to transplantation anaesthesia
and operative procedures; immunosuppression;
postoperative care; and ethical issues. Stay current
in the field and optimise patient outcomes with
coverage of the most recent advances in living
donor transplantation, paediatric transplantation,
and gene and stem cell therapy. Access the latest
information on anti-rejection/immunosuppressive
drugs, as well as comprehensive discussions
of each drug or combination of drugs used to
suppress immune system. Provides comprehensive,
authoritative guidance on every aspect of this
complex procedure
“The first edition in 1996 and the follow-up
second edition in 2005 established this volume
as the best in the field of liver transplantation
both medical and surgical practice as befitting
the leading position and experience of the two
editors. The exciting new results being obtained
with machine preservation of marginal organs for
transplantation are discussed and how polyclonal
antibody preparations can be used as adjunctive
therapy in immunosuppressive regimes. With the
greater number of patients now surviving 20, 30
or more years after a liver transplant, long-term
problems of immunosuppression and co-morbidity
are going to become increasingly important in
the management. These are well-covered in the
new edition as are the many issues around NASH
and its treatment by transplantation including the
complex interrelationships between liver disease,
obesity and the Metabolic Syndrome. The latest
for allocation system for cadaver organs and
priority decisions within the MELD system aimed
at getting organs to those with the greatest need
are considered in some depth. One would hope
though that with the greater use of DCDs coupled
with organ preservation techniques more donor
organs will become available allowing the present
strict guidelines in selection to be relaxed and
the mortality of the patients on the waiting list
to be reduced. This third edition will enhance the
position even further the only drawback being
the size to which it has grown! The number of
chapters has been increased from 89 to 107. It has
top rate authorship and is right up-to-date in the
comprehensive reviews.”
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BMA Medical Book Awards 2016
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