Basic demographic information forms the basis of policy, planning, and public discourse. The system through which governments record vital events such as births and deaths is the civil registration system. […]
Month: October 2013
Ravi Murugesan: Open access and academic blogging
I’m not a social scientist, so it was with some anxiety that I travelled halfway across the world to attend the World Social Science Forum. The theme, “social transformations and […]
Jim Murray: The EMA’s efforts to widen access to clinical trial results
The European Medicines Agency is trying to widen access to clinical trial results for medicines that have been authorised. Its efforts have been blocked, at least temporarily, by a legal […]
Christian Duncan and Rakhee Chawla: The growing problem of dog bite injuries—a surgeon’s perspective
Over the past 10 years, dog bite related admissions in all age groups have risen, with children under the age of 10 being most commonly afflicted. A year long audit […]
Richard Lehman’s journal review—28 October 2013
NEJM 24 Oct 2013 Vol 369 1577 Two years ago I unexpectedly found myself in the USA amongst good and great people who were determined to open up hidden data […]
Richard Smith: Am I behind the times in expecting to die?
Until last weekend it never crossed my mind that I wouldn’t die. Now after conversations with my brilliant friend Alex Jadad I fear that I might be hopelessly out of […]
William Cayley: The patient’s story comes first
Once upon a time, there was a pain, a positive test, and “a possibly abnormal x-ray requiring clinical correlation.” As they travelled the world, no one could figure out where […]
Tiago Villanueva: Should medical students spend time in resource poor settings?
I believe firmly in the importance of medical students and doctors engaging in international experiences, and in the international mobility of doctors. So I decided to go along to a […]
Barbara Peters: When does a hospital’s duty of care end?
When does a hospital’s duty of care end? Great care is placed in patient pathways, but little recognition given to what happens after a patient dies. The challenge is that […]
Jane Parry: The disease of poverty is a doctor’s business everywhere
“If you miss the poor, you’ve missed the point,” said Margaret Mungherera in her recent inaugural speech as incoming president of the World Medical Association. She urged doctors around the […]