In this video, we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the first publication of Mason and McCall Smith's Law and Medical Ethics. It is the UK’s leading textbook in medical law and ethics, which was born and nurtured at Edinburgh Law School.

Forty years ago Professor Ken Mason and Dr Alexander McCall Smith developed the idea for a textbook that would combine their disciplines in medicine and law and offer guidance where none had been before. It broke new ground and continues to do so today.

Now in its 12th edition in 2023, and published by Oxford University Press, we wanted to look back at its origins, hear from current contributors, and understand what the future may hold for the book and the topics it covers in medical law and ethics.

The video is opened by Professor Anne-Maree Farrell, Director of the Mason Institute and Chair of Medical Jurisprudence at Edinburgh Law School. Professor Farrell then introduces Edinburgh colleague, Doctor Edward Dove, her co-lead editor and author of the textbook.

In the video, we hear from Edinburgh contributors past and present to the textbook, including past lead editor/author, Professor Graeme Laurie, as well as Dr Murray Earle, Dr Agomoni Ganguli-Mitra, Dr Emily Postan, Dr Catriona McMillan, Ms Ruby Reed Berendt and Dr Annie Sorbie.

The video is published by the The Mason Institute which is an interdisciplinary research Institute based at Edinburgh Law School, which examines law and ethics issues at the interface of health, medicine and the life sciences.

The Mason Institute would like to extend its thanks to the following:

• All Edinburgh colleagues who contributed to past and present editions of the textbook.
• A special thanks to the late Professor J Kenyon Mason and Emeritus Professor Alexander McCall Smith for their seminal contribution to initial publication of the textbook in 1983, and the many editions that followed.
• Edinburgh Law School and the University of Edinburgh, whose financial and other support is gratefully acknowledged.
• Oxford University Press, the publisher of the current 12th edition, 2023, as well as previous editions of the textbook.

 This video was produced and edited by Craig Sinclair and Kelly Crichton.