Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to D W Spicer.
Many physicians will be sued for malpractice at some time during their careers. Risk of litigation can be reduced by adopting practices that include keeping thorough medical records, educating office personnel, and fostering good patient-physician relationships. The last is important because patients who view their physicians as caring tend not to sue even if an adverse outcome occurs.
The incidence of genital herpes simplex infections has risen at a rapid rate over the past 20 years. Sexually active young adults ask whether condoms will effectively block the transmission of herpes simplex virus from one individual to another. Using a laboratory plunger model to stimulate human coitus, the authors have shown that high concentrations of HSV-2 did not cross the latex or natural membrane condoms that were tested. We have also shown that high concentrations of HSV-2 left in contact with a condom for 8 hr does not penetrate the barrier. This study gives good indirect evidence that condoms block the transmission of herpes simplex virus.