BMJ : British medical journal
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Positive and negative factors in defensive medicine: a questionnaire study of general practitioners.
(a) To investigate defensive medical practices among general practitioners; (b) to compare any such practices with general practitioners' understanding of certain aspects of the terms of service and medical negligence and practitioners' concerns about the risk of being sued or having a complaint lodged. ⋯ General practitioners are practising defensive medicine. Some defensive practices such as increased patient explanations or more detailed note taking are clearly beneficial. However, implementing the findings of the Wilson report may increase negative defensive medical practices.
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To monitor young people's knowledge and experience of illicit drugs between 1969 and 1994 at intervals of five years. ⋯ In the past five years in particular young people's exposure to illicit drugs has increased dramatically. Despite more education about drugs, pupil's knowledge remains limited. Social pressures remain the first perceived reason for taking drugs. The media have a responsibility not to glamorise drugs.
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A consultant anaesthetist gave a diclofenac suppository for postoperative pain to a patient having four teeth extracted under general anaesthesia in the dental surgery. He did not seek the patient's specific consent preoperatively for use of the suppository but told her afterwards what he had done. Charged before the professional conduct committee of the General Medical Council with failure to obtain informed consent and assault, the anaesthetist was found guilty of serious professional misconduct and admonished. This decision has far reaching implications and has caused great concern.