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Legal duty to nonpatients: Driving accidents
Question: Driver D strikes a pedestrian after losing control of his vehicle from insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Both Driver D and pedestrian were seriously injured. Driver D was recently diagnosed with diabetes, and his physician had started him on insulin but did…
What I learned from Navy SEALs about resilience
In 2017, the National Academy of Medicine recognized the urgent need to address burnout, wellness, and resilience in physicians. A consortium was subsequently put together comprising many cosponsoring organizations, including the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME), and the…
Terminating an employee
I’ve written more than once about the private practitioner’s least favorite task. Most physicians find it so objectionable that they will tolerate marginal employees rather than fire them. And that hurts the efficiency and morale of your good employees –…
Understanding the terminology of gender identity
TRANSforming Gynecology is a column about the ways in which ob.gyns. can become leaders in addressing the needs of the transgender/gender-nonconforming population. We hope to provide readers with some basic tools to help open the door to this marginalized population.…
Physician value thyself!
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines value as “the regard that something is held to deserve; the importance, worth, or usefulness of something” and “relative worth, utility, or importance.” We usually assess our professional worth by how we are treated at work.…
Should toe amputation be delayed in diabetic patients with osteomyelitis?
Amputation: Resistance is not futile! What’s in a toe you may ask? Why worry about saving it? Just amputate and move on … Dr. Issam Koleilat Not so! I implore you to resist the desire. We vascular surgeons are accustomed…
Antibiotic resistance remains a challenge for hospitals
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention just released a surveillance report describing national estimates of antimicrobial resistance among health care–associated infections (HAIs) in hospitals. The report compiles HAI data submitted to the CDC’s National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) from…
Idle intravenous catheters are associated with preventable complications
Intravenous catheters (ICs) are common and necessary for inpatient care. However, peripheral and especially central venous catheters (CVCs) are associated with increased risk for local and systemic complications, including bloodstream infections and endocarditis. University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and…
Law & Medicine: Which doctors get sued?
Question: Doctors are more prone to lawsuits if they: A. Have been sued before. B. Spend fewer dollars per hospitalized patient. C. Show poor communication skills. D. A and C only. E. A, B, and C. Answer: E. Two very…
Analysis finds 28.8% prevalence of depression in residents
The estimated prevalence of depression or depressive symptoms was 28.8% among residents and interns worldwide in a meta-analysis of 54 studies of the issue, according to a report published online December 8 in JAMA. The depression rate ranged from 20.9%…