Stronger warnings on opioids
WARNINGS over the risk of dependence and addiction in opioid medicines are to be toughened up, the regulator MHRA has announced.
Patient confidentiality after death
Patient confidentiality extends beyond death – and as COVID-19 continues to take its toll, access requests for the medical records of those who died in the pandemic will likely increase from those involved in their care.
Vignette: Frances Hoggan (1843-1927)
Pioneering physician, researcher and social reformer
Book choice: Dear NHS 100 - Stories to Say Thank You
Book review by Dr Greg Dollman
Ethics: "Know your place"
Professor Deborah Bowman looks at how hierarchy among medical professionals can create a structure within which asking questions and challenging practice may be perceived as risky or even ‘inappropriate’
Wellbeing: You are not alone
Dr Zaid Al-Najjar, deputy medical director of NHS Practitioner Health, discusses how the service can help
Case study: Repeating risk
...It transpires that Mrs H had been prescribed diclofenac on repeat for 12 years...
Case study: Earwax troubles
...Mrs L complains that the drops are obviously not working and asks why Dr M cannot syringe the ears...
Case study: Head lump
...Dr N receives a letter of claim alleging clinical negligence in failing to refer Mrs J immediately to a consultant neurologist to investigate the bony lump...
Human factors: Beyond blame
Professor Peter McCulloch describes the benefits of a human factors approach to investigating medical error.