Arch Intern Med
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Severe hyperphosphatemia resulting from the use of laxatives and enemas with high levels of phosphate has been the subject of many case reports. These have generally focused on the hypernatremia and hypocalcemia that develop and become life-threatening. Less attention has been paid to the metabolic acidosis of phosphate intoxication. ⋯ Among high-risk patients, including the elderly and debilitated, the presence of metabolic acidosis, hypernatremia, an increased anion gap, and low plasma calcium levels or a prolonged QT interval on the electrocardiogram should raise suspicion of phosphate intoxication.
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To examine the health-related behaviors of women physicians compared with those of other women of high and not high socioeconomic status and with national goals. ⋯ Women physicians report having generally good health habits even when compared with other socioeconomically advantaged women and report exceeding all examined national goals for personal screening practices and other personal health behaviors. Women physicians' behaviors may provide useful standards for other women in the United States.
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Despite concerns about its prevalence and ramifications, harassment has not been well quantified among physicians. Previous published studies have been small, have surveyed only 1 site or a convenience sample, and have suffered from selection bias. ⋯ Women physicians commonly perceive that they have been harassed. Experiences of and sensitivity to harassment differ among individuals, and there may be substantial professional and personal consequences of harassment. Since reported rates of sexual harassment are higher among younger physicians, the situation may not be improving.
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The major health care organizations in a geographically defined area implemented an extensive, collaborative advance directive education program approximately 2 years prior to this study. ⋯ This study provides a more complete picture of death, end-of-life planning, and decision making in a geographic area where an extensive advance directive education program exists. It indicates that advance planning can be prevalent and can effectively guide end-of-life decisions.
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Since the passage of the Patient Self-Determination Act in 1991, there has been interest in urging patients to execute advance directives (ADs) for medical care. There are not much data, however, as to what the ADs that patients execute actually specify. I have investigated the percentage of inpatients and outpatients who are admitted to a community hospital who have executed ADs, and I have tabulated what preferences are actually expressed in the ADs that are in hospital records. ⋯ The overwhelming desire expressed by the patients in the ADs was not to have their lives prolonged if their medical condition were such that treatment would merely delay death. Only a minuscule number of patients, less than 0.7%, wanted everything done to prolong life regardless of the chance for improvement or the cost. Because such a small percentage of patients have ADs, it is recommended that each hospital appoint a committee on ADs to do everything possible to encourage patients to execute an AD. A second mission of this committee would be to do everything possible to encourage physicians to pay close attention to their patients' wishes for medical care at the end of life.