Euthanasia and assisted suicide, also labeled “Medical Aid in Dying” (MAID), have been popular topics in the field of medical ethics for several decades. Typically, the conversations surrounding this subject have limited the definition of the terms as assisting in death of patients who are suffering and terminally ill. In the few areas of the world where this medical practice is legally permitted, it usually is restricted to those with a terminal illness. As if this concept has not been controversial and emotive enough, Canada’s senate passed a bill, C-7, on March 17th, 2021, to further expand access to …

Keziah Babu, Selma Hot, Warveen Othman, Fawzia Shirzad, Zuzanna Niewiadomska Throughout history, health disparities have plagued minority groups across the nation. The infamous “Tuskegee Study of Untreated Syphilis in the Negro Male” of 1932, conducted on 600 African American men without their consent, is a major component of the much larger discussion on healthcare disparities based on race and socioeconomic status.  In the Tuskegee Study, the goal was to observe the effects of untreated syphilis. However, the subjects of the experiment were deceived into thinking that the researchers were treating them for any conditions they had. Even when penicillin was …

What differences do you note between the H&Ps? My notes have become more thorough in the physical exam portion, as we have learned more throughout our PD course over the year. However, I noticed that my histories became a bit more concise, as I learned to mostly include just the pertinent information. I’ve also learned to go more in-depth in the ROS and physical exam portions of the particular body system(s) that the patient is complaining of. In what ways has your history-taking improved? Are you eliciting all the important information? Now that we have gone over even more diseases …

Identifying Data: Patient: Mr. GB Age: 48 y/o Sex: Male Date & Time of encounter: November 30, 2021            9:10AM Location: NYP – PreAdmission Testing. Queens, NY Race: African American Source of Information: Self Reliability: Reliable Source of Referral: Self Chief Complaint: “I have to get this hernia fixed” x several years History of Present Illness: 48 y/o male with PMHx of HTN and OSA, presenting to PreAdmission Testing for clearance for an umbilical hernia repair scheduled for 12/16/2021. Patient states that he has had this umbilical hernia for several years now (cannot recall when it exactly started), and noticed …

Identifying Data: Patient: Mr. DY Age: 75 y/o Sex: Male Date & Time of encounter: November 16, 2021            9:00AM Location: NYP Emergency Department. Queens, NY Race: Asian Source of Information: Self Reliability: Reliable Source of Referral: Self Chief Complaint: “I think I had a stroke” starting at 3AM History of Present Illness: 75 y/o male with PMH of CAD s/p PCI x5, HTN, complete heart block s/p PPM, GI bleed, b/l knee replacement, depression, BIBA with complaints of moderate right upper and lower extremity numbness that began at 3AM and has been constant since. He complains of associated weakness …

What differences do you note between the two H&Ps? I went into more detail for the last H&P because my patient had more issues and I was seeing him in the Pre-Admission Testing site, so I wanted to cover any issues he had that could possibly interfere with his upcoming surgery. Therefore, the HPI was longer in my last note, but I now realize that I unnecessarily included information (like his chronic rash) that could’ve been left out of the HPI and just mentioned in the ROS. In my first hospital encounter, my patient had one major complaint (back pain), …

Warveen Othman Physical Diagnosis Lab Spring 2021 Identifying Data: Patient: Mr. AF Age: 78 y/o Sex: Male Date & Time of encounter: May 18, 2021         9:22AM Location: NYP Pre-Admission Testing. Queens, NY Race: Caucasian Source of Information: Self Reliability: Fair – pt was unable to provide specific details due to memory deficit Source of Referral: Surgeon Chief Complaint: “I have to get this thing drained on June 1st” History of Present Illness: 78 y/o male former smoker with PMH of ESRD (HD on Tu/Th/Sat), renal CA s/p right nephrectomy, COPD, CAD s/p PCI x1, CHF, gastric ulcer s/p repair, …

Warveen Othman Physical Diagnosis Lab Spring 2021 Identifying Data: Patient: Mr. JL Age: 54 y/o Date & Time of encounter: March 23, 2021      9:20AM Location: NYP Emergency Department, Queens, NY Source of Information: Self Reliability: Reliable Source of Referral: self Mode of transport: drove self Chief Complaint: “My back is hurting” x 2 days History of Present Illness: 54 y/o male, last tested COVID negative 2 weeks ago, with PMH of vertigo, chronic b/l knee pain, presenting to the ED today c/o 3 months of intermittent, non-radiating, mid back pain which became worse yesterday. Pain has become constant in …

Sample Case 1: CC: Sudden onset substernal chest pain that “woke me up” and lasted until now (about 45 mins)  HPI: 70 y/o man with h/o hypertension, hyperlipidemia, 40 pack-years smoking history, and brother who died of MI at 60y/o brought in by ambulance to the ED with c/o substernal chest pain.  The pain is described as pressure-like and radiating to the left arm and jaw, accompanied by nausea, diaphoresis, and shortness of breath.  Nitroglycerin was administered sublingually, but only provided temporary relief.  Aspirin was given to the patient to chew in the ambulance. PE: VS: BP 150/70, HR 110, …

Example of the patient-centered interview portion of medical interviewing.