• Our most recent State of the Art Review looks at the evidence for the role of facemasks in the prevention of infection in both community and healthcare settings. A […]
Latest articles
Michelle Rydon-Grange: Sex and intimate relationships in secure inpatient forensic settings
It seems that Britain is becoming more liberal in its approach to sex in UK prisons. Last week, the country witnessed its first same sex marriage in prison. And a […]
Bernard Merkel: Measuring the performance of health systems—a troubled history
The World Health Organization has never been the most radical or dynamic body, which—as an international, public, administrative organisation with a ferociously complex governance structure—is not entirely surprising. But in its […]
Food banks, clinical leadership, and losing touch
• Analysis: With the economic crisis and austerity measures looking to be a key focus of the election debate, this analysis article released today is a timely reminder of the […]
Samir Dawlatly: What if En Aitchess was my patient?
“Enfield Aitchess?” I called to the waiting room. A 65 year old man shuffled towards me and shook my hand. He seemed slightly out of breath. “My name is Dr Dawlatly, […]
The BMJ Today: Thinking about common and not so common conditions
• Pityriasis versicolor is a superficial fungal infection of the skin that is commonly seen in general practice. The latest practice pointer looks at its diagnosis, differential diagnosis, management, and […]
Richard Lehman’s journal review—7 April 2015
NEJM 2 April 2015 Vol 372 372 In English nursery rhyme, it is traditional for a Duke to have 10 000 men. Here is a trial from Duke University that […]
The BMJ Today: Lucentis vs Avastin, teenagers with back pain, and a maternal blood test for Down’s syndrome
• The BMJ‘s investigation looking at why UK doctors have had difficulty prescribing the drug Avastin to treat wet age related macular degeneration rather than the more expensive Lucentis has […]
Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word . . . Phonemes shmonemes
I referred my patient Pat for a specialist opinion. The consultation was not a success. “That specialist registrar you referred me to was totally useless,” said Pat. “What an insolent […]
Caroline Fryar: Risky business
A UK Supreme Court ruling has implications for the way doctors obtain consent from patients, particularly the way they tell patients about the risks of any treatment. The details of […]