ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: There are deficits in the completeness, accuracy and timeliness of death certification internationally. In April 2023, England implemented a statutory Medical Examiners system primarily aiming to improve the quality of certification of death data. We sought to assess the current quality of death certification among general practitioners and medical examiners. METHODS: An online survey was conducted with general practitioners and medical examiners in the Yorkshire region to determine how Medical Certifications of Cause of Death (MCCD) are completed and commonly experienced sources of errors (e.g., a lack of a reported time frame, absent or inadequate reporting of comorbidities, incorrect underlying cause-of-death, and an inaccurate sequence of events). RESULTS: The survey was completed by general practitioners (n = 95) and medical examiners (n = 9). Participant responses, including to a hypothetical case, confirmed the quality of the certification was less variable among MEs compared to GPs, but still below international standards. CONCLUSIONS: Efforts to enhance the quality of death certification require further consideration. Mandating a medical examiner system may not lead to intended improvements in the quality and cause of death data that form a critical component of mortality statistics that underpin health planning and monitoring.
ABSTRACT
Medication errors are common. Electronic Health Records (EHR) reduce some of the roots with some while they create others. EHR need to evolve. A suggestion is made to deal with prescriptions that are new. being titrated, to support the process of prescribing and hopefully correcting errors linked to it.
Subject(s)
Electronic Prescribing , Humans , Medication Errors/prevention & control , Electronic Health RecordsSubject(s)
Eugenics , Morals , Achievement , Female , Genetic Engineering , Humans , Pregnancy , Socioeconomic FactorsABSTRACT
After anterior decompression and interbody fusion with biocompatible osteoconductive polymer (BOP) for cervical degenerative disease it is common practice to perform early radiography to evaluate the results, as a questionnaire sent to 136 consultants neurosurgeons in UK demonstrated. Radiographs of 39 patients following the procedure were analysed and it was concluded that the practice is of no value.
Subject(s)
Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Postoperative Care , Prostheses and Implants , Spinal Fusion/methods , Biopolymers , Cervical Vertebrae/surgery , Humans , Radiography , Retrospective Studies , Spinal Diseases/surgeryABSTRACT
We report two patients in whom suprasellar extension of pituitary tumours resulted in a motor deficit, in one case as the clinical presentation and in the other one as a consequence of trans-sphenoidal surgery. We emphasize the importance of the involvement of the initial segment of the anterior cerebral artery in pituitary tumours.
