International Journal of Risk & Safety in Medicine - Volume 1, issue 4 - Journals

The American medical malpractice system: impediments to effective change

Authors: Kapp, Marshall B.

Article Type: Review Article

Keywords: Medical malpractice, U.S.A., Law reform, Compensation

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1990-1401

Citation: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 239-253, 1990

Price: EUR 27.50

Safety and risk in a context of culture

Authors: Sachs, Lisbeth

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The question of safety and risk in people's ideas about health and care is approached here from an anthropological perspective. One strength of such an interpretive approach which seems especially important in this context, is that, although the researcher provides an account of the beliefs and actions of other people, the exercise is undertaken with an awareness that the interpretation is itself a product of particular historical and cultural determinants. Cultures, including those of industrial-capitalistic societies like Sweden, form systems of meanings which provide explanations of how the world works, of what is thought of as real and what …is designated as natural and inevitable as well as what is morally right. These meanings link people to one another and form the basis for social action. It is thus within this framework that the notion of risk and safety get their content and meaning. In this line of thought a description is provided of what happens when people meet in joint health care encounters where their interests do not coincide, their understanding of what is going' on is not the same, or their expectations of what the other should or should not do differ. How considerations of safety and risk in our health care may be interpreted by people with other health theories and views or other understandings about such things as what life is, what is a person, what is good health, a good life or a normal body, and what death means, are also discussed. An attempt is made to profile the need to define variations in the notions of risk and safety in health care over cultural boundaries with examples from cross-cultural studies. Show more

Keywords: Safety, Risk, Transcultural differences

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1990-1402

Citation: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 255-265, 1990

Price: EUR 27.50

Treatment of hypertension as a risk factor in a prospective study

Authors: Thürmer, Hanne L. | Lund-Larsen, Per G. | Tverdal, Aage | Thelle, Dag S.

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: The association between blood pressure treatment, blood pressure level and mortality, taking other cardiovascular risk factors into account was studied. A 12-year follow-up of a cardiovascular risk factor screening performed by the Oslo study group in Oslo and by ambulatory teams from the National Health Screening Survey in three counties in Norway was done. All men in Oslo and all men and women in the three counties, (age 40–49) participated, of these 33154 men and 16407 women have complete data on blood pressure and treatment, including subjects reporting previous myocardial infarction or stroke. Mortality from coronary heart disease, stroke and …all causes by blood pressure treatment and blood pressure level were studied. At the initial screening 1058 men and 817 women reported taking blood pressure medication, of which 201 and 41 died during follow-up. Total number of deaths were 2341 in men and 421 in women, of these 131 deaths in men and 47 in women reporting previous infarction or stroke. Those reporting blood pressure treatment had a marked excess mortality from cardiovascular disease and all causes of death. A J-shaped association between blood pressure and mortality was marked in the treated group, but weak in those not on treatment. It is concluded that blood pressure treatment is associated with excess mortality from all causes. This may indicate that “real life” treatment outcomes are inferior to those reported from controlled clinical trials. There is a J-shaped association between all cause mortality and blood pressure in men on treatment. Show more

Keywords: Hypertension, Mortality, Iatrogenic risk, Blood pressure treatment

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1990-1403

Citation: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 267-277, 1990

Price: EUR 27.50

The use of prescribed medications for suicide

Authors: Lester, David

Article Type: Research Article

Abstract: Data from the U.S.A. indicate that the relative availability of barbiturates was associated with their use for suicide. Recommendations are made for reducing the use of medications for suicide.

Keywords: Barbiturates, Suicide, Prescribing

DOI: 10.3233/JRS-1990-1404

Citation: International Journal of Risk and Safety in Medicine, vol. 1, no. 4, pp. 279-281, 1990

Price: EUR 27.50