West Nile Virus among Blood Donors in the United States, 2003 and 2004

Since its appearance in the U.S. in 1999, West Nile Virus has presented thousands of cases, including about one hundred fatalities among the elderly and patients with compromised immune systems. Discovering that the disease could spread through blood transfusions, the American Red Cross took action in 2003 to test all blood donations for West Nile virus RNA. Since then, 519 cases of West Nile Virus-positive blood donors have been discovered, but fortunately, no cases of West Nile Virus through blood transfusion have occurred.

The London Attacks - Terrorism and the Medical Response

The bombings of the public transportation system in London on July 7, 2005 and the subsequent incidents on July 21 demonstrate the value of a rapid response to large scale emergencies from the medical community. On July 7, hundreds of physicians and emergency medical personnel were deployed on cars, bicycles, and helicopters to the bombing sites to retrieve the injured, tend to the most severe cases, and sort and send patients to the appropriate facilities. Ryan and Montgomery describe the bombings and injuries from a medical perspective and explain the need for adaptation and preparedness in the medical response.

Adherence to Medication

The delivery of medicine does not rely solely on the talent of a physician to diagnose a condition and properly prescribe the suitable medication or procedure: the patient must take an active and conscientious approach to his own healing. Practitioners are becoming more aware of the difficulties patients have in taking medications properly, and they are taking more active roles in ensuring the delivery of medical care.

Introduction to "Pathways Through Medicine"

During the long process of medical training, physicians make a variety of decisions that place them in different fields of medicine, clinical practice settings, and career paths. From joint-degree programs to "the match" for residencies and later with fellowships, physicians-in-training encounter several forks in the road. However, as HMS Associate Dean Dr. Nancy Oriol explains, this process of differentiation and "composing a life" is not straightforward or easy to prepare for. Our mission is to explore these pathways and help uncover the mysteries of the process through which students of medicine become physicians in a variety of career settings.

Focus on Your Health: Antidepressants

Following a September 2004 decision by the FDA to add "black box" warning labels to the popular S.S.R.I. family of antidepressants, including Prozac, doctors are rethinking their strategies to help children and teenagers cope with depression. While these drugs have been found to increase the risk of suicidal thoughts and actions in a small percentage of young children and adolescents, many leading psychiatrists argue that these drugs are still some of the most potent and valuable tools at the disposal of physicians to manage depression and that these drugs should not be immediately dismissed as dangerous.

The First NextGen Reader Survey

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Editorial: The Aftermath of Hurricane Katrina

Advice to the Next Generation

• What are some things to look for when choosing a medical school?
• Is it possible to practice family medicine without doing obstetrics?
• Are 24-hour rotations still the norm for residents and interns?
• Other than "helping people," what are some other aspects of a doctor's job?
• How serious a problem is doctor burnout?
> View the other questions and answers here

  The next issue arrives on November 1, 2005.