JAMA : the journal of the American Medical Association
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Physicians who abuse their patients sexually cause immense harm, and, therefore, the discipline of physicians who commit any sex-related offenses is an important public health issue that should be examined. ⋯ Discipline against physicians for sex-related offenses is increasing over time and is relatively severe, although few physicians are disciplined for sexual offenses each year. In addition, a substantial proportion of physicians disciplined for these offenses are allowed to either continue to practice or return to practice.
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Breast cancer mortality is higher among African American women than among white women in the United States, but the reasons for the racial difference are not known. ⋯ Socioeconomic factors alone were not sufficient to explain the dramatic effect of race on breast cancer stage; however, socioeconomic variables in conjunction with cultural beliefs and attitudes could largely account for the observed effect.
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Sudden death in young competitive athletes due to unsuspected cardiovascular disease has heightened concern and interest in the preparticipation screening available to high school athletes in the United States. ⋯ Preparticipation athletic screening for cardiovascular disease with standard history and physical examination, as presently employed in US high schools, is highly dependent on the state-approved questionnaires, which frequently are abbreviated and may be inadequate; is implemented by a variety of health care workers with varying levels of expertise; and may be severely limited in its power to detect potentially lethal cardiovascular abnormalities. These observations should represent an impetus for change and improvement in the preparticipation cardiovascular screening process for high school athletes.