Resolution of neonatal hypertrophic cardiomyopathy presumed secondary to acquired maternal ribonucleoprotein and smith autoantibodies.

Severe asymmetrical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy without heart block accompanied by neuromuscular hypotonia and feeding difficulties was evident shortly after birth in the second child of a mother with systemic lupus erythematosus who had no indication of gestational diabetes. High-level anti-ribonucleoprotein (RNP) and Smoth (Sm) antibodies arising from transplacental transfer of maternal antibodies were detected in the child's serum. The cardiac abnormalities improved with a commensurate decline in antibody titers.

Personal protection: vicarious liability as applied to the various business structures.

Within the field of midwifery, the issue of vicarious liability has become an emerging issue. The doctrine of respondeat superior imputes liability to an employer without direct negligence. While the issue of vicarious liability has been explored in the past, those studies were focused on the vicarious liability of certified nurse-midwives/certified midwives (CNMs/CMs) for the negligence of their employees.

Diagnostic omission errors in acute paediatric practice: impact of a reminder system on decision-making.

Background: Diagnostic error is a significant problem in specialities characterised by diagnostic uncertainty such as primary care, emergency medicine and paediatrics. Despite wide-spread availability, computerised aids have not been shown to significantly improve diagnostic decision-making in a real world environment, mainly due to the need for prolonged system consultation. In this study performed in the clinical environment, we used a Web-based diagnostic reminder system that provided rapid advice with free text data entry to examine its impact on clinicians' decisions in an acute paediatric setting during assessments characterised by diagnostic uncertainty.

Old age medical patients screening positive for depression.

Objective: The aim was to observe whether medical inpatients screening positive for depression using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) continue to screen positive following hospital discharge.

Method: Participants aged 65 or over, were recruited from consecutive admissions to a city teaching hospital. Subjects had an Abbreviated Mental Test Score (AMTS) of seven or above and a GDS-15 score of five or above.

The role of healthcare delivery in the outcome of meningococcal disease in children: case-control study of fatal and non-fatal cases.

Objective: To determine whether suboptimal management in hospital could contribute to poor outcome in children admitted with meningococcal disease.

Design: Case-control study of childhood deaths from meningococcal disease, comparing hospital care in fatal and non-fatal cases.

Setting: National statistics and hospital records.