Dawn of the diagnostic age
	Kamran Abbasi
	BMJ  2003;327, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.0-g [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

This week in the BMJ

This week's This week in the BMJ

	Ranking of health systems varies according to measures used [Full text] FREE

	Women feel unprepared for operative deliveries [Full text] FREE

	Many investigative tests are not evidence based [Full text] FREE

	Adverse pregnancy outcomes are more likely with change in partner [Full text] FREE

	Two questions can help detect depression [Full text] FREE

	Booking system challenges NHS [Full text] FREE

	All age groups benefit from new management of sickle cell disease [Full text] FREE

Editorials

This week's Editorials

	How many conditions can a GP screen for?
	Chris Del Mar, Paul Glasziou
	BMJ  2003;327:1117, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1117 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	The criminalisation of fatal medical mistakes
	Jon Holbrook
	BMJ  2003;327:1118-1119, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1118 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Shock in polytrauma
	Paul E Pepe
	BMJ  2003;327:1119-1120, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1119 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Intensive education for lifestyle change in diabetes
	Charles Fox, Anne Kilvert
	BMJ  2003;327:1120-1121, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1120 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Genomic imprinting as a cause of disease
	Jill Clayton-Smith
	BMJ  2003;327:1121-1122, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1121 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

Letters

This week's Letters

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Finding was not surprising
	Bob Bury
	BMJ  2003;327:1166, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1166 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Use of chest radiography as standard comparator is flawed
	Andrew C Downie
	BMJ  2003;327:1166, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1166-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Just tell them the dose
	Matthew L Grove
	BMJ  2003;327:1166, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1166-b [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Ignorance is surprising
	Daniel P Edgcumbe
	BMJ  2003;327:1166, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1166-c [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Radiation protection should be taught as a priority
	Sarah J Gorse
	BMJ  2003;327:1166, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1166-d [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Doctors need to be aware of possible radiation injury from fluoroscopy
	Simon S Lo
	BMJ  2003;327:1167, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1167 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Doctors' knowledge of exposure to ionising radiation: Doctors' exposure to ionising radiation may be cause for concern
	Eleftherios Tsiridis, Patrick J Lusty, Ali A Narvani, Eva M Tsapakis
	BMJ  2003;327:1167, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1167-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Diagnosing pigmented skin lesions in general practice: Objective assessment of skin lesions is possible
	M Dalvi Humzah
	BMJ  2003;327:1167, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1167-b [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Diagnosing pigmented skin lesions in general practice: Authors' reply
	D R English, C B Del Mar, R C Burton
	BMJ  2003;327:1167-1168, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1167-c [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Cumulative effects of soccer heading are not fully known
	Rosanne S Naunheim, John Standeven, Philip Bayly
	BMJ  2003;327:1168, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1168 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Risk of suicide in twins: Intelligence of twins and singletons may explain risk
	Martin Voracek
	BMJ  2003;327:1168, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1168-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Risk of suicide in twins: No protective effect is needed to explain the findings
	Thomas J Verberne
	BMJ  2003;327:1168, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1168-b [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Risk of suicide in twins: Suicide has social side
	Gerald D Sack
	BMJ  2003;327:1168-1169, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1168-c [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Risk of suicide in twins: Authors' reply
	Kaare Christensen, Cecilia Tomassini, Knud Juel
	BMJ  2003;327:1169, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1169 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Sex difference in infant mortality in India is reflected in England and Wales
	Ian Dawson
	BMJ  2003;327:1169, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1169-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] [extra: Complete data] FREE

	Don't blame religion for poor funerals
	Anthony E J Fitchett
	BMJ  2003;327:1169, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1169-b [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

News

This week's News

	Fertilisation authority recommends a ban on sex selection
	Zosia Kmietowicz
	BMJ  2003;327:1123, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1123 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	New angiotensin receptor blocker is as effective as ACE inhibitor
	Scott Gottlieb
	BMJ  2003;327:1123, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1123-a [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	In brief
	BMJ  2003;327:1124, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1124 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	Doctor gave "woeful" evidence
	Owen Dyer
	BMJ  2003;327:1124, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1124-a [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	UK and Italy have low MMR uptake
	Fiona Fleck
	BMJ  2003;327:1124, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1124-b [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	Government faces pressure to tackle obesity
	Amanda Elliott
	BMJ  2003;327:1125, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1125 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	WHO launches initiative to encourage eating fruit and vegetables
	Lynn Eaton
	BMJ  2003;327:1125, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1125-a [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	Sports expert defends "chocolate for equipment" scheme
	Amanda Elliot
	BMJ  2003;327:1125, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1125-b [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	French government announces new plans for elderly care
	Brad Spurgeon
	BMJ  2003;327:1127, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1127-b [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	Trial shows no clear benefit from cannabis for patients with MS
	Owen Dyer
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

	Another US healthcare giant is hit by scandal
	Ray Moynihan
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-a [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] FREE

News roundup [abridged versions appear in the paper journal]

This week's News roundup

	Local governments in US buy cheaper prescription drugs from Canada
	Janice Hopkins Tanne
	BMJ  2003;327:1126, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1126 [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

	WHO tries to tackle problem of counterfeit medicines in Asia
	Stephen Pincock
	BMJ  2003;327:1126, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1126-a [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

	Congresswomen protest at partial abortion bill
	Lynn Eaton
	BMJ  2003;327:1126, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1126-b [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

	Foundation hospital plan defeated in Lords
	Katherine Burke
	BMJ  2003;327:1126, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1126-c [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

	Demand exceeds capacity for NHS Direct
	Roger Dobson
	BMJ  2003;327:1126, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1126-d [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

	German government shortens medical training
	Annette Tuffs
	BMJ  2003;327:1127, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1127 [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

	NHS too target driven
	Mark Gould
	BMJ  2003;327:1127, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1127-a [Extract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] FREE

News extra [these stories appear only on the web]

This week's News extra

	Medact report highlights aftermath of Iraq conflict
	Jocalyn Clark
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-b [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	US advisory panel's chairman calls for reversal of breast implant decision
	Fred Charatan
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-c [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	Patients are at risk because of nurses' long hours, says report
	Scott Gottlieb
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-d [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	Women with heart attacks have characteristic symptoms, says new study
	Fred Charatan
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-e [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	Germany considers relaxing strict embryo research laws
	Jane Burgermeister
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-f [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	Antibiotic use varies widely across intensive care units
	Roger Dobson
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-g [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	Steroids slow progression of chronic lung disease
	Deborah Josefson
	BMJ  2003;327:1128, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-h [Extract] [Full text] FREE

	Police in Israel launch investigation into deaths of babies given formula milk
	Judy Siegel-Itzkovich
	BMJ  2003;327:i, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1128-i [Extract] [Full text] FREE

Papers

This week's Papers

	Measuring the health of nations: analysis of mortality amenable to health care
	Ellen Nolte, Martin McKee
	BMJ  2003;327:1129, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1129 [Abstract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Women's views on the impact of operative delivery in the second stage of labour: qualitative interview study
	Deirdre J Murphy, Catherine Pope, Julia Frost, Rachel E Liebling
	BMJ  2003;327:1132, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1132 [Abstract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: List of key themes] FREE

	Retrospective analysis of evidence base for tests used in diagnosis and monitoring of disease in respiratory medicine
	Z Borrill, C Houghton, P J Sullivan, P Sestini
	BMJ  2003;327:1136-1138, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1136 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Effects on pregnancy outcome of changing partner between first two births: prospective population study
	Lars J Vatten, Rolv Skjærven
	BMJ  2003;327:1138, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1138 [Abstract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Hyperkalaemia and impaired renal function in patients taking spironolactone for congestive heart failure: retrospective study
	Morten Svensson, Finn Gustafsson, Søren Galatius, Per R Hildebrandt, Dan Atar
	BMJ  2003;327:1141-1142, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1141 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Increasing hospital admissions for systemic allergic disorders in England: analysis of national admissions data
	Ramyani Gupta, Aziz Sheikh, David Strachan, H Ross Anderson
	BMJ  2003;327:1142-1143, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1142 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

Primary care

This week's Primary care

	Screening for depression in primary care with two verbally asked questions: cross sectional study
	Bruce Arroll, Natalie Khin, Ngaire Kerse
	BMJ  2003;327:1144-1146, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1144 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

Quality improvement report

This week's Quality improvement report

	Booking patients for hospital admissions: evaluation of a pilot programme for day cases
	Hugh McLeod, Chris Ham, Ruth Kipping
	BMJ  2003;327:1147, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1147 [Abstract] [Abridged text] [Abridged PDF] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: Extra tables] FREE

Clinical review

This week's Clinical review

	Managing sickle cell disease
	Susan Claster, Elliott P Vichinsky
	BMJ  2003;327:1151-1155, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1151 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	ABC of subfertility: Further advances and uses of assisted conception technology
	Susan Pickering, Peter Braude
	BMJ  2003;327:1156-1158, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1156 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

Education and debate

This week's Education and debate

	Making consent patient centred
	John Bridson, Clare Hammond, Austin Leach, Michael R Chester
	BMJ  2003;327:1159-1161, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1159 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Communicating risks at the population level: application of population impact numbers
	Richard F Heller, Iain Buchan, Richard Edwards, Georgios Lyratzopoulos, Patrick McElduff, Selwyn St Leger
	BMJ  2003;327:1162-1165, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1162 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] [extra: corrected formula and corrected table 2] FREE

Obituaries

This week's Obituaries

	Douglas Roy
	George Parks, Hector Cameron, David Sellu
	BMJ  2003;327:1170, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1170 [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	John Alexander Barlas
	Pamela Barlas
	BMJ  2003;327:1170, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1170-a [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	Patrick David Blade
	Diana Blade
	BMJ  2003;327:1170-1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1170-b [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	John Stanislaus Guinan
	Michael J Guinan
	BMJ  2003;327:1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1171 [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	Ian Alfred Horton
	G D P Wallen
	BMJ  2003;327:1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1171-a [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	William Jones Owen
	Ian McColl
	BMJ  2003;327:1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1171-c [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	Altaf Hussain Syed
	Tahir A Mahmood
	BMJ  2003;327:1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1171-d [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

	John Frederick Watkins
	J R Morgan, D Westmoreland
	BMJ  2003;327:1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1171-e [Extract] [Full text] [extra: Longer version] FREE

reviews

This week's reviews

	Book: The Abuse of Man: An Illustrated History of Dubious Medical Experimentation
	Paul Weindling
	BMJ  2003;327:1172, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1172 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Book: Die Krankheitserfinder: Wie wir zu Patienten gemacht werden [Disease Mongers: How we all become Patients]
	Annette Tuffs
	BMJ  2003;327:1173, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1173 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Book: Pox: Genius, Madness, and the Mysteries of Syphilis
	Gavin Yamey
	BMJ  2003;327:1173, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1173-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Press: Disseminating science
	Alex Williamson
	BMJ  2003;327:1174, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1174 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Website of the week: Medical errors
	Ioana Vlad
	BMJ  2003;327:1174, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1174-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	PERSONAL VIEW: Caring for the elderly: a cautionary tale
	Pearl Hettiaratchy
	BMJ  2003;327:1175, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1175 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	SOUNDINGS: Evidence based vets
	Trisha Greenhalgh
	BMJ  2003;327:1175, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1175-a [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

Minerva

This week's Minerva

	Minerva
	BMJ  2003;327:1176, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1176 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

Fillers

This week's Fillers

	POEM*: Aspirin protects women at risk of pre-eclampsia without causing bleeding
	BMJ  2003;327, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.0-h [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Submitting articles to the BMJ
	BMJ  2003;327:1135, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1135 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	One hundred years ago: The responsibility of surgeons and their fees b.c. 2300
	BMJ  2003;327:1143, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1143 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Curiouser and curiouser
	Lesley Morrison
	BMJ  2003;327:1146, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1146 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	One hundred years ago: Nursing as an occupation
	BMJ  2003;327:1150, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1150 [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Medscape conference coverage: 18th International Diabetes Federation Congress, Paris
	BMJ  2003;327:1161, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1161 [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

	One hundred years ago: The annual meeting at Swansea
	BMJ  2003;327:1161, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1161-a [Extract] [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	Advice
	BMJ  2003;327:1171, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1171-b [Extract] [Full text] [Request Permissions] FREE

Corrections

This week's Corrections

	Parathyroid hormone alone is as effective as combination in treating osteoporosis
	BMJ  2003;327:1165, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1165 [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

	ABC of subfertility: male subfertility
	BMJ  2003;327:1165, doi: 10.1136/bmj.327.7424.1165-a [Full text] [PDF] [Request Permissions] FREE

General practitioners and occupational health professionals