The morbidity and mortality conference serves an important educational role for physicians and underscores the importance of error disclosure in improving patient safety.
The relatively new phenomenon of releasing President George W. Bush's medical records to the public also serves the purpose of boosting his political image.
Three reports considered by the Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs are described, along with the process for revising the AMA's Code of Medical Ethics and trivia about contraceptive use.
Contemporary medicine has been the subject of many televisions shows. Whether intensely dramatic or humorous and comical, each gives the public a small piece of the picture of American medicine today.