The journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh
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J R Coll Physicians Edinb · Jan 2013
Biography Historical ArticleThe ancestors of Norman Bethune (1890-1939) traced back to the Bethunes of Skye, leading members of the MacBeth/Beaton medical dynasty.
Norman Bethune became famous through his work in the Spanish Civil War, his advocacy of socialised medicine in North America and his association with Mao Zedong's revolutionary movement in China. It has been suggested that he may have been descended from the Bethune or Beaton medical dynasty, who for generations served as physicians to kings of Scotland, the Lords of the Isles and to some of the larger Scottish clans. This paper traces his lineage back to the Isle of Skye. In the absence of old parish records as aids to tracing genealogy, other available evidence has confirmed that Bethune was indeed in the direct line of descent from the Bethunes or Beatons of Husabost, in Skye, one of the largest branches of this medical kindred, who were physicians to the MacLeods of Dunvegan.
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J R Coll Physicians Edinb · Jan 2013
Likelihood of aneurysmal subarachnoid haemorrhage in patients with normal unenhanced CT, CSF xanthochromia on spectrophotometry and negative CT angiography.
Patients with suspected subarachnoid haemorrhage, a normal noncontrast computed tomography (CT) and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) evidence of haemoglobin breakdown products often undergo CT angiography (CTA). If this is normal, then invasive catheter angiography may be offered. In current clinical practice, haemoglobin breakdown products are detected by spectrophotometry rather than visible xanthochromia, and CTA is performed on multidetector scanners. The aim of this study was to determine if such patients should still have a catheter angiography, given the associated risks. ⋯ The likelihood of a clinically significant aneurysm in a patient who is CT negative, lumbar puncture positive and CTA negative is low. Double reporting of negative CT angiograms may be advisable.
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J R Coll Physicians Edinb · Jan 2013
Are newly qualified doctors prepared to provide supportive and end-of-life care? A survey of Foundation Year 1 doctors and consultants.
To establish whether Foundation Year 1 (FY1) doctors in Edinburgh are sufficiently prepared to deliver generalist palliative care, with a view to informing developments in undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. ⋯ Newly qualified doctors were not adequately prepared to deliver generalist palliative care and lacked first-hand experience of end-of-life issues. Current reviews of palliative care education should address the learning and supportive needs of our most junior doctors more effectively.
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J R Coll Physicians Edinb · Jan 2013
Biography Historical ArticleJames Taylor (1859-1946): favourite disciple of Hughlings Jackson and William Gowers.
In neurological circles today the name James Taylor (1859-1946) is probably remembered mainly for his role in editing the Selected Writings of John Hughlings Jackson, the most readily available source of Jackson's contributions to neurological knowledge. Taylors' own neurological achievements are largely or entirely forgotten, but in his day he was an influential figure whose career linked the great figures of the golden era of late nineteenth century British neurology to the neurology of the first half of the twentieth century. Not only was he a junior professional colleague and close friend of both John Hughlings Jackson and William Gowers, he also produced a substantial corpus of neurological writings in his own right, including a textbook of child neurology and the first English language account of subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord.
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J R Coll Physicians Edinb · Jan 2013
Social media: the way forward or a waste of time for physicians?
Social media is everywhere; its use has grown exponentially over recent years. The prevalence of these outlets for communication raises some interesting and potentially risky issues for physicians. On the one hand, some believe that physicians should have a strong social media presence and can benefit greatly from access to a global community of peers and leaders through blogs, online forums, Facebook, Twitter and other communication channels. ⋯ With an already time-pressured day, the priority should be patients, not tweets. Whatever your thoughts on the benefits and risks of social media, it is here to stay. Specific guidelines and guidance are needed to ensure that physicians who decide to join an online community reap the benefits of global communication, rather than regret it.