If you're rushed into hospital, or even stumble into it, chances are you'll have your blood pressure measured. A prospective study of 171 patients in one emergency department having their blood pressure checked with manual and automated devices found that the automated device received a British Hypertension Society rating of “D” and failed to meet the criteria set by the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation. The readings diverged considerably from a reference standard, and repeated measurements showed appreciable decreases in the measured blood pressures (Academic Emergency Medicine 2004:11: 237-43

American paediatricians and family doctors are being encouraged not to prescribe antibiotics for children with ear infections, and to recommend painkillers only. The aim is to stop the rise in antibiotic resistant bugs caused by overuse of antibiotics. A spokesman for the Center for Communicable Diseases said, “Some kids may have a little bit longer course of their infection, but for society as a whole, we will be better served if we don't give them” (Albany Times Union, 2 March 2004).

If we all walked briskly for 15 minutes each day, would we really keep the obesity …