Virtual Mentor. September 2008, Volume 10, Number 9: 539-610. Full Issue PDF

September 2008 Contents

Ethical Issues in Sleep Medicine

Ethics Poll

During your annual checkup, does your physician ask about your sleep habits and patterns?
Always.
Sometimes.
Never.

Some drugs used to treat narcolepsy and attention-deficit disorder have been found to increase mental alertness in people without those diagnoses. Otherwise healthy individuals who wish to enhance their mental alertness through the use of such drugs should be allowed to do so under normal prescription restrictions regarding dosage and permission for refills.
Agree.
Disagree.

People who fall asleep at the wheel--either because they are drowsy from lack of sleep or because they are taking medications that cause drowsiness--should be convicted of a felony if they crash and cause the death of another.
Agree.
Agree only if the driver was drowsy from lack of sleep.
Agree only if the driver was drowsy due to prescribed medication.
Disagree.

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From the Editor

The Importance of Paying Attention to Sleep
Meredith Broderick
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:541-543.

Educating for Professionalism

Clinical Cases

Prescribing in the Absence of Medical Need
Commentary by Eric Frenette
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:544-547.

When the Patient-Physician Relationship Is Broken
Commentary by Dennis Auckley
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:548-552.

Weighing the Duty to Inform a Patient of Possible Future Illness
Commentary by Shannon Sullivan
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:553-555.

Giving Medical Testimony in a Patient’s Behalf
Commentary by Clete Kushida
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:556-559.

Medical Education

Lack of Training in Sleep and Sleep Disorders
Christopher M. Miller
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:560-563.

Journal Discussion

Language, Print Media, and Medicalization of Sleep Disorders
Christian J. Krautkramer
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:564-567.

Clinical Pearl

Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Nitun Verma
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:568-570.

Law, Policy, and Society

Health Law

Role of the Expert Witness in Sleep-Related Violence Trials
Michel A. Cramer Bornemann
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:571-577.

Policy Forum

Keeping Sleepy People off the Road: The Responsibility of Drivers, Doctors, and the DMV
Kingman P. Strohl
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:578-584.

Medicine and Society

The Rights and Duties of the Sleeper
Robert Meadows
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:585-588.

Modern Work and the Sleepy Worker
Steve Kroll-Smith
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:589-593.

Op-Ed and Correspondence

Op-Ed

The Pharmacologically Enhanced Physician
William P. Cheshire Jr.
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:594-598.

Resources

Suggested Readings and Resources
PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:599-607.

About the Contributors
Full Text | PDF
Virtual Mentor. 2008; 10:608-610.