On the part of the patient, healthcare demands unconditional trust in the professional. But what is the nature of this trust, and to what extent is it justified? How significant is the fallout when it is abused?

Incorporating sociological, psychological and philosophical approaches, this book examines notions of trust in the self, others and systems in
the field of healthcare. The text explores:
- Rational and emotional aspects of trust power balances between the patient and healthcare professional
- Historical crises of trust in healthcare, considering the impacts and
- The lessons learned means of strengthening public trust in the healthcare system and its workforce
- Distinctive in its breadth and coverage, Examining Trust in Healthcare
- Provides a multidisciplinary perspective of a key element of patient care. This makes the book fundamental reading for students, academics and professionals across all branches of healthcare, as well as an important resource for those with professional and academic interests in the psychology and sociology of health.

DAVID PILGRIM (BSc, MSc, MPsychol (Clin), PhD) is a Clinical Psychologist and Medical Sociologist. Currently is Clinical Dean Teaching Primary Care Trust for East Lancashire, UK, Visiting Professor, Department of Primary Care, University of Liverpool and Honorary Professor, Lancashire Postgraduate School of Medicine and Health, University of Central Lancashire. He has published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and several books. For Palgrave the latter include Mental Health and Inequality (2002) and Mental Health Policy in Britain (2001). Also he has published Key Concepts in Mental Health and A Short Introduction to Clinical Psychology (with Katherine Cheshire) (for Sage). He is also the co-author with Anne Rogers of A Sociology of Mental Health and Illness now in its third edition for Open University Press, which won the 2006 BMA book competition in the mental health category.

FLORIS TOMASINI (BA(Hons), PGCE, MA, PhD) is a Medical Ethicist. Currently he is Research Associate Lancaster University, UK (2005-2007); De facto Co-ordinator on EU project - Institutionalising Ethics in Science Policy involving 12 European partners. His previous roles were as Research Associate IPPP, Lancaster University (2003-4) in association with English Heritage - strategies in the regeneration of blighted urban areas and Research Fellow (2002-3) in association with Royal Preston Hospital& the disablement services centre. Exploring the experience of amputees with phantom limb - a phenomenological approach. Teaching Assistant (2002-7) mainly on the undergraduate philosophy programme. Publications include: M. Levitt& F. Tomasini 'Bar-coded children; the England and Wales National DNA database' Genomics, Society& Policy submitted Feb/Mar 2006; F. Tomasini 'Imagining Human Enhancement: whose rationality, which justice?' Theoretical Medicine& Bioethics Forthcoming 2006/7; F. Tomasini 'Exploring the ethical justification for self-demand amputation' Ethics& Medicine. Forthcoming Spring 2006;F. Tomasini 'The case of self demand amputees: a dilemma for professional bioethics?' in Arguments& Analysis in Bioethics Eds. Matti Hayry et al., Rodopi, Fothcoming 2006.

IVAYLO VASSILEV (BA, MA, PhD) is a Political Sociologist and currently Research Associate in the Teesside Business School, University of Teesside, UK. Whilst completing his PhD (on the sociology of trust) at Lancaster University he was a tutor in sociology. Forthcoming publications include: Globalisation and Industrial Change in the Clothing Industry of Transcarpathia, Western Ukraine: A Micro-Level View, co-authored with Christos Kalantaridis and Svitlana Slava, Environment and Planning; 'Risk', 'Trust' and the Myth of 'Mental Health Services co-authored with David Pilgrim, Journal of Mental Health; and Ambiguities of Trust: Postsocialism, Markets and Underdevelopment, East European Politics and Societies .
DAVID PILGRIM (BSc, MSc, MPsychol (Clin), PhD) is a Clinical Psychologist and Medical Sociologist. Currently is Clinical Dean Teaching Primary Care Trust for East Lancashire, UK, Visiting Professor, Department of Primary Care, University of Liverpool and Honorary Professor, Lancashire Postgraduate School of Medicine and Health, University of Central Lancashire. He has published over 60 articles in peer reviewed journals and several books. For Palgrave the latter include Mental Health and Inequality (2002) and Mental Health Policy in Britain (2001). Also he has published Key Concepts in Mental Health and A Short Introduction to Clinical Psychology (with Katherine Cheshire) (for Sage). He is also the co-author with Anne Rogers of A Sociology of Mental Health and Illness now in its third edition for Open University Press, which won the 2006 BMA book competition in the mental health category.

FLORIS TOMASINI (BA(Hons), PGCE, MA, PhD) is a Medical Ethicist. Currently he is Research Associate Lancaster University, UK (2005-2007); De facto Co-ordinator on EU project - Institutionalising Ethics in Science Policy involving 12 European partners. His previous roles were as Research Associate IPPP, Lancaster University (2003-4) in association with English Heritage - strategies in the regeneration of blighted urban areas and Research Fellow (2002-3) in association with Royal Preston Hospital& the disablement services centre. Exploring the experience of amputees with phantom limb - a phenomenological approach. Teaching Assistant (2002-7) mainly on the undergraduate philosophy programme. Publications include: M. Levitt& F. Tomasini 'Bar-coded children; the England and Wales National DNA database' Genomics, Society& Policy submitted Feb/Mar 2006; F. Tomasini 'Imagining Human Enhancement: whose rationality, which justice?' Theoretical Medicine& Bioethics Forthcoming 2006/7; F. Tomasini 'Exploring the ethical justification for self-demand amputation' Ethics& Medicine. Forthcoming Spring 2006;F. Tomasini 'The case of self demand amputees: a dilemma for professional bioethics?' in Arguments& Analysis in Bioethics Eds. Matti Hayry et al., Rodopi, Fothcoming 2006.

IVAYLO VASSILEV (BA, MA, PhD) is a Political Sociologist and currently Research Associate in the Teesside Business School, University of Teesside, UK. Whilst completing his PhD (on the sociology of trust) at Lancaster University he was a tutor in sociology. Forthcoming publications include: Globalisation and Industrial Change in the Clothing Industry of Transcarpathia, Western Ukraine: A Micro-Level View, co-authored with Christos Kalantaridis and Svitlana Slava, Environment and Planning; 'Risk', 'Trust' and the Myth of 'Mental Health Services co-authored with David Pilgrim, Journal of Mental Health; and Ambiguities of Trust: Postsocialism, Markets and Underdevelopment, East European Politics and Societies .