Press release
CMAJ is taking advantage of the holiday season to offer readers a journal with a more reflective tone. In addition to several tongue-in-cheek research articles, the issue presents features and articles that strive to provide an interesting look at the uniqueness of Canadian medicine and Canadian life in general.
Happy holidays!
Preventing injuries in the "coolest game on earth"
p. 1535 Two unusual penetrating injuries from playing ice hockey — R. Barter, MD [full article]
In his role as team physician for the St. John's Maple Leafs, farm team for Toronto's NHL squad, Dr. Richard Barter has seen his share of injuries. In this report, Barter highlights 2 incidents in which skate blades caused potentially life-threatening injuries to players in Newfoundland. The issue is not new. Ten years ago Clint Malarchuk, then one of the NHL's premier goaltenders, narrowly escaped death when a skate opened a gash in his neck. That incident led the governing body of junior hockey in Canada to mandate that all junior hockey players wear neck protection. For his part, Barter recommends increased vigilance on the part of referees to make sure equipment is adequate.
Medicine in Canada
p. 1505 Medicine and the art of methadone treatment — P.H. Mark, MD [full article]
p. 1559 The evolution of the Yukon Medevac Program in an environment of fiscal restraint — V.L. Cunningham, BSc, MD [full article]
These 2 articles serve as examples of the vast reach of the Canadian medical experience.
Dr. Patricia Mark describes her experience as a family physician trying to help heroin addicts beat their habit. Meanwhile, Dr. Valorie Cunningham relates how several individuals pressed the Yukon government to establish a medical evacuation system to provide air transport for patients from distant communities. Until 1998, no formal program governed these medical evacuations.
Really Original Research
p. 1520 Bubble bubble, abdominal trouble: a new test to chew on — G. Worrall, MB, BS; Peggy Holmes, MASPsy; MeganRobbins, BSc [full article]
p. 1525 Fetal sex determination: the predictive value of 3 common myths — S. Ostler, MD; Anna Sun, MD [full article]
The first study involves the use of bubble gum in the diagnosis of abdominal pain, while the latter looks at the accuracy of certain old wives' tales in predicting a baby's sex. We are sure that these are the only studies of their type ever done in Canada.
