Legalizing Marijuana: Is it as Safe as we Think?
Marijuana refers to the dried leaves, flowers, stems, and seeds from the hemp plant Cannabis sativa, which contains the psychoactive (mind-altering) chemical delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), as well as other related compounds. This plant material can also be concentrated in a resin called hashish or a sticky black liquid called hash oil (DrugFacts). There’s been a lot of back-and-forth talk about the medical...
Physician Ethics: Common Doctor Dilemmas
Deciding what’s best for your patient can be extremely difficult. This is because the line between what is morally “right” or “wrong” is often blurred in healthcare. Each day, doctors and other practitioners must evaluate cases and make tough decisions quickly. To examine their experiences, Medscape surveyed 10,000 healthcare professionals. The results of this physician ethics study show that most of them...
Nurse Practitioners Curing Primary Care Shortages
Primary care services are struggling right now to find enough qualified physicians to provide treatment. Factors like increased healthcare coverage in the U.S. are adding to the severe need for these specialists. So what is the magic solution to this need for more professionals capable of giving seeing patients for minor visits? It may actually become a matter of state policy. The debate rages on. On one side of the fence, some argue...
Common Things Physicians Overlook
Everyone makes mistakes. But, for physicians, mistakes can be earth shattering. Misdiagnosing a patient or simply overlooking something can lead to deadly implications. To avoid risking the harm of a person or the hell on earth brought by a malpractice suit, be on the look out for some of the most commonly overlooked medical problems. A little more care to check for these problems, can help avoid far more time consuming and extreme...
Intoxicated Patients: Doctors Dealing with Drunks
Heavily intoxicated individuals are difficult to deal with in any situation. However, the funny drunk dad at the neighborhood BBQ with some questionable dance moves is far less of a problem than a belligerent inpatient admitted to a healthcare professional’s care equipped with both a serious attitude…and injuries. Taking care of the medical needs of patients under the influence of drugs or alcohol poses a threat to...