Volume 2
Obesity – The New Frontier of Public Health Law – An NEJM Health Policy Report
M. M. Mello et al., NEJM, June 15 2006, Vol 354 (24)
Since the past century, legal action has steadily taken more central roles in the maintenance of public health. Public-health-minded laws have appeared in legislation from the Federal Trade Commission to local school districts. A heated debate, however, has been especially prominent in public legislation aimed at reducing obesity, drawing protests from not only the food industry, but also the consumer groups concerned with the limitation of civil liberties.
One Disease, Two Epidemics – AIDS at 25 – An NEJM Perspective Article
K. A. Sepkowitz, NEJM, June 8 2006, Vol 354 (23)
Twenty-five years after the appearence of the disease, AIDS has taken drastically different courses between wealthy nations and the rest of the world. In the former, current much scientific attention and clinical resources are devoted to treating predictable side-effects, while the latter still scrambles to cover for basic care of not only HIV/AIDS patients, but also those suffering from related, opportunistic diseases such as tuberculosis.
Condom Use and the Risk of Genital Human Papillomavirus Infection in Young Women – An NEJM Original Article
R. L. Winer et al., NEJM, June 22 2006, Vol 354 (25)
Using detailed computer-assisted questionnaires, Winer et al. studied a sub-population of female students at the University of Washington, examining whether condom use by their male partners reduced the female student’s risk of infection from Human Papillomavirus (HPV). The results offer encouraging evidence on the effectiveness of condoms usage by male partners in thwarting HPV transmission; and show further elements that may decrease HPV infections through sexual intercourse.
Pathways Through Medicine: Careers in Medicine – Medicine in Developing Countries
The Ninth Installment of Nextgen’s “Pathways Through Medicine” Series
One of the most challenging and personally rewarding paths a physician can pursue is to practice medicine in the developing world. Dr. Louise Ivers, a member of the Boston-based global health organization Partners In Health, reflects on her experiences working in the Third World.
Pathways Through Medicine: Careers in Medicine – Health Policy
The Eighth Installment of NextGen’s “Pathways Through Medicine” Series
How can doctors breach the divide between public health policy and clinical work? Dr. Josh Sharfstein of the Baltimore City Health Department gives his thoughts on the role of the physician in policymaking.
The Progress and Promise of Tissue Engineering
Fueled by a growing demand for organ transplants, the interdisciplinary field of tissue engineering has steadily matured. What have been the successes? What are the challenges? Dr. Joseph Vacanti from the Center for Regenerative Medicine at Massachusetts General Hospital gives some of his thoughts.
International Health Experience
With global health problems more and more entering the public awareness, medical schools and students are beginning to recognize the importance of international experiences. A number of students have chosen to embark on International Health Experiences. What have they gained from it? What advice do they have to give?
Congress, Controlled Substances, and Physician-Assisted Suicide – Elephants in Mouseholes – An NEJM Legal Issues in Medicine Article
G. J. Annas, NEJM, March 9 2006, Vol 354 (10)
An Oregen statute permits physicians to prescribe lethal doses of drugs to terminally ill patients. Recently, the U.S. Supreme Court decided in the Gonzales v. Oregon case that the U.S. attorney general cannot forbid this practice based on national law, raising questions on the role of physicians in end-of-life care and national standards for the practices of physicians.
When Law and Ethics Collide – Why Physicians Participate in Executions – An NEJM Perspective Article
A. Gawande, NEJM, March 23 2006, Vol 354 (12)
Execution by lethal injection presents an ethical dilemma for physicians: in order for lethal injections to occur effectively and smoothly, the presence of doctors and nurses is necessary, but does this participation violate the medical code of ethics? The quandary only grows as physicians are required to attend executions by state laws. How should the medical community approach physician participation?
Who is at Greatest Risk for Receiving Poor-Quality Health Care? – An NEJM Special Article
S. M. Asch et al., NEJM, March 16 2006, Vol 354 (11)
Differences in health in different societal groups are often attributed to differences in health care delivery, but the problems might be more fundamental and larger in scope. This study showed that disparities between groups are relatively small compared to the gaps between the needed and received level of care in each population group.
