Physician Perspectives

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Domestic Violence in an Older Couple

Case Presentation

Mr. and Mrs. C are brought to the local hospital Emergency Department in an ambulance accompanied by the police. This older couple is well known to the Emergency Department staff due to their frequent visits for injuries. Mr. C is a 68-year-old retired construction worker who has been admitted several times to the hospital’s Chemical Dependency unit for alcohol withdrawal. Mrs. C is 64 years old and still works part-time as a bartender in a local pub. The couple has been married for 44 years and has three adult sons. Their youngest son, Mr. DC, frequently moves b

Central Serotonin Syndrome: Part I—Causative Agents, Presentation, and Differential Diagnosis

This is the first part of a two-part series that examines central serotonin syndrome in the elderly. Part I reviews the history and prevalence of the disorder, causative agents, presentation and diagnostic criteria, and ways to distinguish the condition from other similar states, such as neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Part II will focus on the pathophysiology, opiate and psychiatric drug interactions, and treatment approaches for central serotonin syndrome in the elderly.

INTRODUCTION
The term serotonin syndrome was first used in a case report in 1982, but study of th

2007 Annual Author/Subject Index

AUTHOR INDEX

Allen A, Segal-Gidan F. Heat-related illness in the elderly. 2007;15(7):37-45.

Baum N. Osteoporosis in elderly men. 2007;15(5):29-30, 32-33.

Benton TJ, Nixon-Lewis B. The aging urinary tract and asymptomatic bacteriuria. 2007;15(2):17-22.

Bharani N. AAGP Psychiatry Rounds. New-onset agoraphobia in late life. 2007;15(1):17-20.

Bishop TF, Morrison RS. Geriatric palliative care—Part I: Pain and symptom management. 2007;15(1):25-32. Correction: 2007;15(2):32.

Bishop TF, Morrison RS. Geriatric palliative care—Part II: Communication and goals of care. 2007;1

Time to Embrace the 2008 National Patient Safety Goals

I have found myself appreciating The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals more than ever, despite my original impression that these stated what all good doctors should already know and be following in their daily professional lives. Time and again through my frequent rounds I find patients in the hospital being discharged on the wrong medication or dosage being prescribed. Patients are not always prescribed an essential medication that they have been previously taking for a problem other than the one necessitating the hospital admission. Unnecessary urinary catheters continue to