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I didn't ask about natural substance use. Am I liable?
April 25th 2017Dr. Derm recently performed a fairly simple excision, discussed blood thinners, but failed to ask his patient about “natural” herbal intake. The patient did not take any prescription blood thinners, but did take high daily dosages of garlic and ginkgo. A lawsuit was brought against Dr. Derm. Can he really have liability for all the things people ingest these days?
Impact of childhood atopic dermatitis
April 6th 2017Instructional handouts help caregivers stick to complicated treatment plans for pediatric AD patients. Historically effective AD treatments are being augmented with new phosphodiesterase inhibitors and biologics. Gentler approaches such as massage, light therapy, and melatonin may also be of value for children with AD.
TNF inhibitor treatment tactics
April 6th 2017With a long history in dermatology and rheumatology, TNF inhibitors can not only improve psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, but they also may reduce comorbid cardiovascular risks and work better combined with methotrexate. Low doses of cyclosporine may be effective at treating the psoriasis reaction when topicals have proven ineffective. Aggressively managing TNF-induced reactions can help patients stay on drugs that are working for other challenging diseases.
Genetic testing for melanoma risk
April 5th 2017Patients who carry a high-penetrance melanoma predisposition gene can often benefit from screening for other cancers. Patients who receive a positive genetic test result are more likely to embrace prevention and detection measures. A new “Rules of Three” proposes a point-based guideline to help determine who should be referred for genetic counseling and testing.