Other
'Full-body' CT scans: Are they worth the cost in money and radiation exposure?
There has been an increasing trend in some countries for the use of ‘full-body’ CT scans as check-ups to screen for possible disease. However, such scans can be very expensive and can also result in unnecessary exposure to radiation. Dr Paul Allan and Jerry Williams review the evidence on the efficacy and safety of ‘full-body’ CT scans. Read…
Euthanasia today (update)
Euthanasia and physician-assisted death present a major ethical and legal challenge. Should a doctor seek to prolong life at all costs or should a doctor assist to end suffering if requested by a patient? Would a system of doctor-assisted death put unacceptable pressure on doctors or make patients feel pressured into ending their lives prematurely? Dr Lorna Campbell and Professor Kenneth Boyd provide an overview of this emotive ethical area. Read…
Mercury: answering some of the current controversies about it (update)
In recent years there has been increasing concern about mercury and its potential toxicity to humans. Concerns have focussed primarily on the safety of eating fish containing mercury and the possible risk to children, as a result of receiving childhood vaccines containing mercury. In this article Dr David Wood and Prof Alison Jones review the evidence and aim to answer some of the current controversies about mercury. Read…
Herbal medicines and the EU Directive
In 2004 a European Directive on the licensing of herbal medicines was introduced following increasing public interest in the use of herbal products and parallel medical concerns regarding the safety of such medicines. Prof Bill Dawson reviews the background to, and implications of, this EU Directive. Read…
HAMLET, BREAST MILK AND VIRAL WARTS
Results of a study suggesting that a compound based on breast milk could be used to treat viral warts have attracted media interest. How effective is this intriguing treatment and could it be developed to treat more serious, related, conditions? Dr Claire Benton reviews the evidence. Read…
