J.F.S.S. SOCIETY NEWS

Book Reviews

Edited by A. R. BROWNLIE

THINGS DONE AND LEFT UNDONE

Professional Negligence R. M. Jackson and J. L. Powell (London, Sweet 6' Maxwell, 1982, 345pp., index, E25.00)

This book, intended primarily for solicitors but designed also to be read by the professions concerned, states the modern law of professional negligence with special reference to seven professions including the solicitor and the doctor but without mention of the scientist. This is an age in which the con- sumer is encouraged to complain, and all professions are finding an increase in claims experience. I t is vital that the law's requirements (which are generally not too exacting) should be understood by the professionals concerned and that they should bear in mind the standards expected of them. Where there has been some falling short of standards it is important that the situation should be faced quickly and honestly so as to minimise dhress and pecuniary loss. It is also of the utmost importance that experienced men in the profession should not refuse to discuss or consider cases of alleged professional negligence against their colleagues however distasteful it may be to do so. The remedy of the injured party may be dependent upon the willingness of a professional man to give evidence of the current state of knowledge in his profession and disinclina- tion to do so can lead to injustice and justifiable criticism of the profession.

This book deals very adequately with the general principles of law and discusses recent cases and should be available to all advisers as a first line of enquiry, and to interested professionals as a reassurance that proper attention to general standards of good practice should protect against unjust accusation.

A.R.B.

PURPOSEFUL ANALYSIS

The Analysis of Cannabinoids in Biological Fluids R. L. Hawks, Ed. (Rockville, 1982, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Research Monograph 42, 141pp.,

price unknown) This book represents a collection of papers by experts on the various aspects

of analysis for cannabinoids in biological fluids. The analytical approaches concentrate on chromatography, both High Pressure and Gas Liquid, the latter usually in conjunction with mass spectrometry using ion monitoring, and immunoassays, both radio immunoassays (RIA) and the enzyme multiplied immuno technique (EMIT). A further paper concentrates on the stability of dB Tetrahydrocannabinoid in stored blood serum and a review is presented which reports on the disposition and metabolism of the cannabinoids. The message of which analytical procedures should be used is quite clear. Where the purpose of such analyses is a mass screening for a yeslno answer on cannabis misuse then immunoassay testing is to be recommended although some improve- ments on the kits at present available are to be encouraged. When the purpose is for the analysis of few samples especially in research and legal situations