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While ICU clinicians understand that prognostic uncertainty is a normal part of critical care, it is unclear if surrogates hold similar views. In this study, Evans et al conducted semi-structured face-to-face interviews with 179 surrogates who had an adult patient in the ICU.
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Editor's Note: The alpha2-receptor agonist dexmedetomidine (Precedex®), introduced for perioperative and procedural sedation and other short-term applications, is approved by the FDA for use in the ICU, although the package insert emphasizes that this approved use is for not more than 24 hours.
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Patients with acute coronary syndrome present one of the most common admission diagnoses in the intensive care unit. For non-cardiology intensivists, the ever-evolving treatment algorithms present a challenging body of literature on which to remain current.
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In the application of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) in the management of patients with acute respiratory failure, Fraticelli and colleagues at Henri Mondor Hospital in Créteil, France, sought to determine the clinical effects of using interfaces with varying dead space and other features.
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In this issue: Aspirin dose and cardioprotection; uncovering modafinil's abuse potential; proton-pump inhibitors and clopidogrel; FDA actions.
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Interactions in the clinical setting that involve sexually related comments or behavior, personal relationships, or physical examination of private areas of a patient's body must be handled with sensitivity and good judgment to avoid potential liability.
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This is the first of a two-part series on delayed diagnosis in the ED. This month, we cover general liability risks and documentation. Next month, we'll report on why legal risks involving time-dependent medications and interventions are increasing.
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Photographs of ED patients' clinical findings are being taken more frequently, due to the ubiquity of digital cameras, increasing use of electronic medical records, and their recognized value in medical education. However, patients who are to be photographed should be informed of the photography and given an opportunity for informed consent.
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The format of this article deviates somewhat from the usual style of footnotes sustaining the assertions of the article, because the purpose of this essay is to provide an introduction to alternative methods of dispute resolution in the healthcare field, which will be further examined in future articles.