• Acknowledgements; About the editors; Prologue: breaking the silence; Letter to a young doctor Richard Selzer; Part I. On Caring for Patients: Introduction; Section I. Performing Procedures: 1. The responsibility of informing; 2. Treating despite discomfort and self doubt; 3. Blaming the patient; 4. Breaking the code: is a promise always a promise? 5. The newly dead; 6. Asking for help: who is listening?; Section II. Problems in Truthtelling: 7. Omissions: failing to come forward; 8. Commissions: deliberate deception; Section III. Setting Boundaries: 9. From professional to personal; 10. Losing empathy; 11. The limits of compassion; Part II. On Becoming a 'Team Player': Introduction; Section IV. Abuse and Mistreatment: 12. Psychological: subjected to humiliating and belittling behavior; 13. Physical abuse: actual physical harm; 14. Sexual abuse: sexist slurs and sexual advances; Section V. Argot, Jargon, and Questionable Humor: 15. Comedians: mordant humor and cynicism; 16. What's in a name?; Section VI. Making Waves: 17. Personal identity; 18. Duties to treat?; 19. Hierarchy and the dynamics of rank; 20. Conflicts of interest; Section VII. Perceiving Misconduct and Whistleblowing: 21. Abusing alcohol or drugs; 22. Mistreating patients; 23. Covering up; 24. Misrepresenting research; Epilogue: using this book; Glossary; Index.

'The book addresses a huge range of topics that will be familiar to many readers from performing procedures and the place of humour on the ward round to whistle blowing on colleagues - the list is exhaustive.' British Medical Journal