Tidsskrift for den Norske lægeforening : tidsskrift for praktisk medicin, ny række
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Apr 2004
[Therapeutic hypothermia after cardiac arrest saves more lives!].
To treat patients suffering from cardiac arrest after restoration of spontaneous circulation has been difficult and discouraging, with a high mortality rate. Two independent studies have, however, shown that early treatment with hypothermia increases survival and protects from neurological sequelae after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. Recently the International Liaison Committee on Resuscitation (ILCOR) has published an advisory statement recommending therapeutic hypothermia after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. In this paper the issue is discussed and the therapy recommended.
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Tidsskr. Nor. Laegeforen. · Apr 2004
[Of what significance are diseases, intoxication and suicide in fatal traffic accidents?].
A large proportion of fatal car accidents cannot be explained by traffic environment, technical defects or risk-taking behaviour. Driver impairment from disease, alcohol, drugs or suicidal impulses may be involved. ⋯ Drivers with fatal injuries sustained in unexplained accidents seldom show signs of cardiac disease that could have contributed to the accident. It seems that such unexplained accidents are more often due to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or to possible suicidal impulses.
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The Council for Medical Ethics of the Norwegian Medical Association was founded in 1961. The council, made up of five physicians, is elected by the Representative Body of the Association for four years. ⋯ The types of complaints and the council's response to them were not different from the pre-1985 period. 300 complaints of violations of physicians' code of ethics were reviewed, 60% of them brought before the council by physicians or by branches of the medical association. Issues related to medical certificates, confidentiality and advertisements were the most frequent. Eight physicians were expelled from the Association, all of them general practitioners, psychiatrists or gynaecologists. Financial or sexual exploitation were the most prevalent causes of expulsion.