Junior doctors in England have gone to the High Court to try to stop the government imposing a new contract.
The group Justice for Health, which is mounting the legal challenge, says the contract is “unsafe and unsustainable” and it accuses Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt of acting outside his powers.
The Department of Health says the case is without merit.
Ministers insist the new contract is needed to improve levels of medical cover in hospitals at weekends.
The hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London will run for two days.
The medics are arguing that, although Mr Hunt is entitled to “recommend” a new contract, he is attempting to go significantly further even though he has no power to decide the terms and conditions under which the NHS and other bodies should employ junior doctors.
For full story see BBC News 19 September 2016