Clin Med
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Multicenter Study
Deciding when physicians are unfit to practise: an analysis of responsibilities, policy and practice in 11 European Union member states.
In 1974, the European Economic Community established mutual recognition of medical qualifications obtained in any of its member states. Subsequently, a series of directives has elaborated on the initial provisions, with the most recent enacted in 2013. However, greater movement of physicians across borders and some high-profile scandals have raised questions about how to prevent a physician sanctioned in one country from simply moving to another, without undermining the principle of free movement. ⋯ However, some key features, such as the involvement of professional peers in disciplinary panels and the involvement of courts in criminal cases, are similar in most member states studied. Given the variation in the regulatory context, individuals and processes involved that is illustrated by our findings, a common understanding of definitions of what constitutes competence to practise, its impairment and its potential impact on patient safety becomes particularly important. Public disclosure of disciplinary outcomes is already applied by some member states, but additional measures should be considered to protect medical professionals from undue consequences.
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Migraine is a common neurological disorder, characterised by severe headaches. Epidemiological studies in the USA and Europe have identified a subgroup of migraine patients with chronic migraine. Chronic migraine is defined as ≥15 headache days per month for ≥3 months, in which ≥8 days of the month meet criteria for migraine with or without aura, or respond to treatment specifically for migraine. ⋯ There is a strong need to improve diagnosis and therapeutic treatment of chronic migraine. Primary care physicians, as well as hospital-based physicians, are integral to the identification and treatment of these patients. The latest epidemiological data, as well as treatment options for chronic migraine patients, are reviewed here.
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On 23 March 2014, the World Health Organization confirmed an outbreak of Ebola virus disease in Guinea. By August 2014, a delayed international response resulted in an unprecedented humanitarian emergency occurring in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. ⋯ Médecins Sans Frontières led the emergency response on the ground treating over 5,000 confirmed cases of Ebola. This article reflects on challenges faced working in an Ebola treatment centre and what future research may offer.
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Blood transfusion is widely used in the management of acute upper gastrointestinal haemorrhage (AUGIH). Trial data suggests that excessive transfusion may be detrimental, yet overtransfusion remains commonplace. This study reports the impact of introducing a simple cross-match policy in a district general hospital, which resulted in a substantial fall in the prevalence of overtransfusion (odds ratio 0.43; 95% confidence interval 0.19-0.98), with potential patient benefits in terms of rebleeding, and a reduction in the total blood transfused from 162 to 121 units per 100 patients with AUGIH. For the cost of blood alone, this corresponds to projected savings across the NHS in England in excess of £2 million per annum.
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Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is a systemic inflammatory condition that may involve any organ in the body, including the kidneys. However, renal parenchymal lesions are not seen frequently and the treatment strategy remains unclear. We describe a case of IgG4-related renal mass, which resolved spontaneously. ⋯ A careful 'watch-and-wait' approach was taken and at six months following initial presentation, the patient's symptoms had fully resolved and inflammatory markers had normalised. Repeat MRI showed almost complete resolution of the mass. We propose that a careful 'watch-and-wait' approach could be considered as an alternative to immune suppression for IgG4-related renal masses, especially if they are not causing symptoms or organ compromise.