Virtual Mentor. June 2008, Volume 10, Number 6: 355-424. Full Issue PDF

June 2008 Contents

Quality of Life and Geriatric Patients

Ethics Poll

The media frequently carry stories of injuries, deaths, and property damage caused by impaired elderly drivers. One response to the problem might be mandatory revocation of drivers' licenses. If this were done, what do you think is the best occasion for doing so?
When drivers reach 65.
When drivers reach 72.
When drivers reach 80.
When a person aged 65 or more has been found to be at fault in a motor vehicle accident.
When a physical exam shows cognitive or functional impairment that could pose a hazard to safe driving.
Never.

Medicare is projected to go bankrupt within the next 10 years, as the number of workers contributing to the federal entitlement program declines in relation to the number of elderly drawing upon the funds. Which of the following actions would, by itself, make the most beneficial contribution to restoring Medicare's fiscal solvency?
A universal health care system with some age-related rationing of services.
Raising the age at which seniors become eligible for benefits.
Refusal to cover expensive treatments that have marginal benefits.
A sliding scale of deductibles and copayments based on the financial status of the care recipient.
Cuts in physician and hospital reimbursements.

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From the Editor

Autonomy and Quality of Life for Elderly Patients
Jeanne Lee
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:357-359.

Educating for Professionalism

Clinical Cases

Family-Centered Decision Making
Commentary by Muriel Gillick
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:360-364.

Assessing Senior Patients’ Ability to Drive Safely
Commentary by Richard A. Marottoli
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:365-369.

When Home Care Is Not Enough
Commentary by Mitchell T. Heflin
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:370-374.

Medical Education

Geriatrics in Primary Care Residency Training
Mukaila A. Raji
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:375-378.

Journal Discussion

Managing Difficult Behaviors in Patients with Dementia
Richard Hwang
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:379-382.

Clinical Pearl

Differentiating among Depression, Delirium, and Dementia in Elderly Patients
Jane P. Gagliardi
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:383-388.

Preventing and Detecting Elder Mistreatment
Solomon Liao
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:389-392.

Law, Policy, and Society

Health Law

Physicians' Legal Responsibility to Report Impaired Drivers
Lee Black
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:393-396.

Policy Forum

The Strains and Drains of Long-Term Care
Richard W. Johnson
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:397-400.

Medicine and Society

Physician Responsibility for Patients' Quality of Life
Philip M. Rosoff
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:401-403.

Op-Ed and Correspondence

Op-Ed

Medical Care for the Elderly: Should Limits Be Set?
Daniel Callahan, and Kenneth Prager
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:404-410.

Resources

Suggested Readings and Resources
PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:411-422.

About the Contributors
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Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:423-424.