Clin Med
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Doctors deal with patient's disabilities every day but many in the profession have been nonplussed to see the focus of the disability rights lobbies shift from the recipients of care to the carers themselves. Until recently the number of practising doctors known to have significant disabilities was very low and for many reasons potential medical students were deterred from entering medical education. ⋯ Disability Discrimination Act 1995 was passed. It is a measure of the change in society's view of disability, reinforced by law, that the issue of whether there are disabilities which, in themselves, render a doctor Unfit to practise can be analysed and discussed.
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There is a broad consensus that international trade in goods is beneficial, providing of course that it is fair. Yet not all things that are traded are goods. Some can more appropriately be considered as 'bads'. ⋯ However, there are other things that are legitimately traded where restrictions may be needed, such as alcohol. Global trade is simply a means to an end. The ultimate goal must include better health for all.
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Elderly patients represent a large number of admissions to hospital, accounting for a disproportionate number of hospital bed days. Discharge planning can improve the safety and appropriateness of discharge from hospital, and can have a positive impact on length of stay and efficiency. Despite this, discharge planning is often neglected. This review, both evidence and experience based, is provided to aid with the safe discharge of elderly patients back into the community.
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Myocardial infarction (MI) and stroke are the first and third leading causes of death in the U. S. A. accounting for more than 1 in 3 deaths per annum. ⋯ Human umbilical cord blood (hUCB) appears to be a logical candidate as a source of cells. hUCB is readily available, and presents little ethical challenges. Stem cells derived from hUCB are multipotent and immunologically naive. Here is a critical literature review of the beneficial effects of hUCB cell therapy in preclinical trials.
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Comparative Study
Should we implement 'opt-out' HIV testing for patients with lymphoma?
Patients with HIV are dying due to late diagnosis and physicians are being encouraged to increase HIV testing. The uptake of opt-in HIV screening for 113 lymphoma patients was audited at University College London Hospital. Of the 113 patients, 46 were not tested (41%). Previous research in the antenatal setting suggests that adopting opt-out screening would increase testing rates.