Medicine and Science from The BMJ

Corporations as vectors of disease

This month the UK parliament has been looking at the big accountancy firms' involvement in drafting tax laws. Conversely, the Department of Health has hidden the involvement of tobacco lobbyists in proposed plain packaging legislation.Jeff Collin, professor of global health policy at the University of Edinburgh, argues that this culture of industry participation is worrying, but the lack of transparency by government is even worse.Also this week, what day of the week is safest for surgery? Paul Aylin, a clinical reader in epidemiology and public health at Imperial College London, explains his research.

Bias in clinical guidelines, and giving birth at home

Despite repeated calls to prohibit or limit conflicts of interests among authors and sponsors of clinical guidelines, the problem persists. Jeanne Lenzer explains what's going wrong.And is giving birth at home as safe for the mother as giving birth in hospital? New research from the Netherlands suggests that it is, and that risk assessment is key.

Tackling violence against women

This week, the World Health Organisation called for healthcare providers to be more aware of intimate partner and sexual violence against women, calling it a "global health problem of epidemic proportions." We look into what doctors need to know.And we discuss advice on diagnosing and treating first trimester miscarriage.

NSAIDs update

Recent research shows that some non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs increase cardiovascular risk in some patients. Given their widespread use, and breadth of indications for prescription, should clinicians be more circumspect about their practice?In this podcast, Mabel Chew BMJ's practice editor, talks to Richard O'Day, professor of clinical pharmacology at the University of New South Wales and author of a recent therapeutics article, about the latest research on NSAIDs

Surgical outcome data

Last week saw the start of a campaign to publish patient death rates for individual surgeons. Bruce Keogh, medical director of the NHS in England, talks to BMJ editor in chief Fiona Godlee about the initiative and the background to it.Also, the WHO has launched its Guidelines and Global Progress in HIV/AIDs report. Anne Gulland interviews Gottfried Hirnschall, a Director of the WHO’s HIV/AIDS Department, and his his scientist colleague, Philippa Easterbrook.

Antibiotics in agriculture

This week a head to head article asks: "Does adding routine antibiotics to animal feed pose a serious risk to human health? The authors David Wallinga, a physician member of the steering committee of Keep Antibiotics Working: the Campaign to End Antibiotic Overuse in Animal Agriculture, and David Burch, a veterinarian and consultant on antibiotic use in agriculture from Octagon Services, argue their sides.Also this week, a BMJ investigation looks at changes in rationing patterns in the new NHS in England. News editor Annabel Ferriman talks Gareth Iacobucci, who carried out the investigation, about the squeeze on access to hospital care.

Dying at home

This week, we look at how to help patients have better deaths at home.BMJ assistant editor Sophie Cook talks to Emily Collis, a consultant in palliative medicine and the author of a recent clinical review about caring for dying patients in the community.BMJ columnist Des Spence, a GP in Glasgow, explains why the dying deserve better from GPs.

Lost in transfusion?

Blood transfusion is an essential part of modern healthcare and can be lifesaving when used appropriately. In this podcast, Sophie Cook, The BMJ's clinical reviews editor, talks to Michael Murphy, consultant haematologist and professor of blood transfusion medicine at NHS Blood and Transplant at the John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, about best practice for the safety of patients receiving blood; including ways to reduce unnecessary transfusion, and the warning signs of an adverse reaction.

Plain Packaging

Plain packaging on tobacco products is the latest strategy aimed at reducing smoking. Campaigners had hoped the UK would follow Australia’s example. But they have been disappointed as the UK government postpones the plans until “more evidence” is available.We hear from Linda Bauld, professor of public policy at the University of Stirling, about why she thinks the current evidence is convincing enough.Also this week, one of the most difficult consultations a doctor can have doesn’t involve a complex diagnosis, but rather a statement of intent: suicide. Richard Morriss, professor of psychiatry and community mental health at the University of Nottingham, explains how to have that conversation.