Gac Med Mex
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The population living in conditions of poorness has a heavier pathological burden than social strata with better economic possibilities. ⋯ The evidence generated should lead to decisions aimed at improving the quality of life of the population with social deprivations and vulnerabilities, which needs to be protected against the consequences of current COVID-19 pandemic.
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Head and neck cancer patients are at high risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection; surgery in them involves risk for patients, surgeons, health personnel, medical institutions and society, since it is associated with prolonged and inadvertent production of aerosols and emergency procedures that facilitate the breach of protective measures by health personnel. ⋯ Chest tomography is not useful as the only preoperative screening procedure for COVID-19, since its findings are nonspecific, with a high rate of false-positive results. Clinical evaluation, with PCR and tomography, is the best form of preoperative screening.
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SARS-CoV-2 infection has, in most cases, a mild course, although acute respiratory distress syndrome is associated with higher mortality. ⋯ Mortality was higher in the public sector, and this could be due to the overcrowding of services, which determined a scarcity of resources.
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Professional medical liability is the result of medical malpractice, which may be due to negligence, incompetence or carelessness. Lex Artis is the set of skills and knowledge that have been universally accepted by peers, which must be diligently applied in the specific situation of a given patient. ⋯ Judicially speaking, the practice of medicine in Mexico is an obligation of means, but not of results. Therefore, adherence to clinical practice guidelines recommendations is the most effective way to defend oneself against a malpractice lawsuit.
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The Royal Philanthropic Vaccine Expedition (1803-1813) becomes relevant in these pandemic times due to the breadth of its geographical dimension and its nature of a health expedition inspired by a pioneering public health objective of its time: to spread the newly discovered vaccine against smallpox. Undertaken by a small number of participants, the expedition was directed by Francisco Xavier Balmis, who was accompanied, among others, by Antonio Gutiérrez Robredo, his favorite disciple. ⋯ The study of previous correspondence and late resolution of the lawsuit filed by Balmis against Gutiérrez allows us to delve into their biographical profiles. As a direct consequence of that litigation, Gutiérrez never went back to Spain, although he became a professor in Mexico; in contrast, Balmis enjoyed honors and recognition in Madrid.