I’m a little late getting to this because I am still trying to wrap my brain around the recent election here in the US. If you know me at all, have been a reader here on the site for more than a minute, then you are well aware of how I feel about the results. I am still processing and am not ready to write a lot about the outcome because my household is queer, female and will definitely feel the impacts of the new regime both personally and professionally. But suffice it to say, if you are uncomfortable with more discussions over here on the importance of caring for society’s most vulnerable, racial and reproductive justice, and why forensic healthcare is so much more than collecting samples for an evidence collection kit and cataloging injury, you definitely don’t have to enjoy my free labor. Smash that unsubscribe button.
For those of you sticking around, here’s this month’s Articles of Note, our monthly waltz through the recently published peer-reviewed science. As always, links take you to PubMed abstracts except where noted. I’d like to direct your attention to a couple of interesting articles on burns this go-round: Bista, et al. and their examination of burn-related deaths; Lorenzo, et al. looking at reducing burn and bruising injury diagnostic errors in pediatric populations; and Wayne, et al. and their article on burns and IPV in the US. I would also be remiss if I didn’t point out I contributed to one of the articles on the list this month on genital injury (Crawford, et al.).
Next week is Thanksgiving in the US–I am hosting 15 in my tiny little row house. It’s my family’s big holiday, so our one major get-together for the year. My dad is battling bladder cancer, has been for several years now, and I lost my brother 2 years ago, so these things feel all the more precious. It is the thing to which I am so looking forward. We can seriously bang some pots in this tiny space. Here’s hoping those of you celebrating have a peaceful and joyous celebration, wherever you are. I’ll be back in December with our final post of the year.
Jen
[BTW, I gave up Twitter/X. You can now find me at Bluesky: @forensichealth.bsky.social]
Photo by Tim Mossholder on Unsplash
One reply on “Articles of Note: November 2024 Edition”
While I am horrified and still processing, I was not nearly as surprised as I was back in 2016. I don’t know what that says about me or my belief in this country but it’s difficult to be hopeful when they literally hold all the cards. They have chipped away at our Democracy for years and many of the guardrails that were present the last time around are no longer there. They have a plan this time and if they are able to follow through with even half of it that will be the end of any semblance of freedom or so-called democracy in this country. It remains to be seen whether non-MAGA Republicans will stand up for the constitution or fall in line. I hate to say it, but it seems they may be our only hope.