Archiwum medycyny sa̧dowej i kryminologii
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Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol · Apr 2007
[Opinionating difficulties in cases concerning the use of psychoactive agents by traffic participants].
In recent years, there has been observed an increasing number of traffic participants being under the influence of drugs or other than alcohol agents that affect the central nervous system. In the period from 1997 until June 2006, 435 blood samples collected from traffic participants suspected of having ingested psychoactive agents were examined in the Forensic Medicine Department, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice. Eighty-five blood samples were positive.
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Arch Med Sadowej Kryminol · Apr 2007
[On the causes of medical errors in life-threatening conditions--a medico-legal assessment based on the material of the chair and Department of Forensic Medicine, Medical University of Silesia, Katowice, collected between 2000 and the end of June, 2006].
The authors analyzed the medico-legal opinions on medical management issued by the Chair and Department of Forensic Medicine Katowice between 2000 and the end of June 2006. Among 101 cases, in which medical errors were recognized, in 82 instances inappropriate medical management was associated with direct life-threatening conditions, such as acute cardiac syndrome, cerebrocranial injuries, cerebral an aortic aneurysms, pulmonary embolisms, acute abdominal diseases, such as perforated gastric and duodenal ulcers, appendicitis, post-traumatic rupture of the spleen, and acute metabolic disorders. The majority of errors was diagnostic in character and involved the staff of emergency services, admission rooms and detoxification centers. The investigators also drew attention to factors affecting the degree of risk of medical error commission and the most common causes of inappropriate medical in life-threatening conditions.