It was winter 1983, while doing obstetrics at medical school, that I witnessed the sterilisation of a young woman with mental disability. We met her at the hostel one day and she was operated on the next. This always felt questionable, but it was only while reading this book that I understood why.

Drawn from the Catholic tradition, this collection of essays explores contemporary ethical problems, which are instantly recognisable to those involved in clinical practice. All the contributions examine aspects of care for people without capacity. There are profound insights into PEG feeding in dementia; research on those who lack capacity; sterilisation of people with intellectual disability; and the Mental Capacity Act. The chapter on nonvoluntary euthanasia is a mine of information on the Dutch experience, unequivocally exposing the 'slippery slope'.

The contributions are of a uniformly high academic standard, giving integrity to the arguments crafted. The authors each explain the rationale for Christian values which we otherwise grasp only intuitively much of the time. This book takes one by surprise. Not obviously a best seller, but giving the reader a new perspective on human dignity and worth framed by the love of God. Worth the read. Steve Sturman is a consultant neurologist in Birmingham