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Aims In England and Wales, doctors are charged with a responsibility either to report a death to the coroner or issue a medical certificate specifying cause of death. A lack of formal prescriptive or presumptive oversight has resulted in the promulgation by individual coroners of local reporting regimes. The study reported here identified overall and gendered variations in local reporting rates to coroners across the jurisdictions of England and Wales, consistent over time. Methods Analysis was performed on Ministry of Justice (MOJ) data pertaining to the numbers and proportions of deaths reported to the coroner by jurisdiction over a 10-year period (2001-2010). Office of National Statistics (ONS) data provided the numbers of deaths registered in England and Wales over the same period to serve as a denominator for the calculation of proportions. Where coroner jurisdictions (and local authorities) had been amalgamated during this period, the combined reported and registered death figures have been included in line with the current jurisdiction areas. Results While reporting rates for individual jurisdictions were found to be stable over the 10-year period, wide local variations in reporting deaths to coroners were found with no obvious demographic explanation. The gender of the deceased was identified as a major factor in local variation. Conclusions The decision to report a death to the coroner varies across jurisdictions. Implications for coronial investigations are discussed and the need for wider research into coroners' decision-making is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Focuses on experiences of former student editors of the journal 'studentBMJ' and their future projects in Great Britain. Experiences of managing director of Critical Care Pritpal Tamber in London; Projects taken up by medical student Sian Knight in Nottingham; Experiences of senior house officer in psychiatry Simon Kirwin.

Editorial. Focuses on the emergence of an electronic-learning (e-learning) program for medical education of students in England. Basis of the learning on hard drives of computers; Accessibility of the e-learning program; Benefits of e-learning.

Editorial. Discusses the effects on medical students of witnessing unethical conduct of medical personnel. Percentage of students surveyed in the United States who have witnessed unethical behavior; Possibility that such an experience may make students cynical about whether the culture of medicine is indeed a compassionate one; Suggested solutions on how to foster team work and ethical conduct among the students.

Editorial. Urges medical schools in Great Britain to teach their students stress management. Causes for psychological distress; Benefits of having active coping styles; Selection of medical schools.

Reviews the motion picture "The Island," directed by Michael Bay, starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson.

Details the day-to-day experiences of a British medical students while on training. Speculum examination; Work attitudes; Obstetric examination; Conduct in a gynecology clinic.

Reviews several web sites dealing with consumerism and its affects on public demand for health services. Flexibledoctors.net; Uhce.ox ac.uk/ukmcrg/Papers.htm from the United Kingdom Medical Careers Research Group; Ific.org, web site of the International Food Information Council Foundation.

Reports the annual death rate from injury among children aged under 15 years in developed countries. Percentage of child death from traffic accidents; Data from the World Health Organization; Need for research on the effect of decreased death on disability; Disparity between poor and rich section of population in Great Britain.

Provides information on Internet resources related to depression for use by the medical community. Publications available at the web site of the Royal College of Psychiatrists; Online depression quiz which gauges mental health; Other information.

Reports that Great Britain's House of Lords' select committee on Science and Technology has called for increased regulation of the complementary medicine sector. Indications that professional bodies involved in various fields of complementary medicine suffer from administrative problems; Laws surrounding the practice of complementary medicine and the lack thereof; Need for standardized training and compulsory accreditation; Suggestion of strategies to implement a more structured industry.

Reports on the recommendations of Great Britain's National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) regarding the use of zanamivir in the treatment of influenza in adults. Definition of patients at risk for the disease; Impact of the pooled analysis of eight clinical trials on the decision of NICE to reverse its 1999 ruling regarding the efficacy of zanamivir.

Discusses a report, published by the Voluntary Services Overseas (VOS) charity, which outlines a campaign for the treatment of opportunistic infections among people with HIV and AIDS in developing countries. Public health importance of priority medical access in such areas; Socioeconomic factors affecting the lack of access to treatment in the developing world; Statistics for the potential health benefits of improved drug access.

Editorial. Focuses on the issue of whether there should be better systems in place to monitor deficiencies in clinical performance of medical students. Failure of students below required standards; Proposal of retaking an entire academic year to improve clinical performance.

Comments on the cheating incident at the Royal Free & University College London Medical School in England. Criticism over the school management's decision to pardon the cheater; Concerns that the practice could endanger medical practice in the country.

Reviews the Steppenwolf Theatre Company's production of 'One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest,' adapted by Dale Wasserman from the novel by Ken Kesey, performed at the Barbican Center in London, England during July-August 2000.

Discusses the pros and cons of corporate sponsorship for `student BMJ.' Advantages of having advertisements in the publication; Impact of sponsorship on the publication's content and independence.

Highlights discussions at an Association for the Study of Medical Education conference on the failure of medical schools to ensure adequate service to the community. Efforts to widen access to medical schools; Health care condition in rural areas.

Reveals that one child in six children in countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development live in relative poverty. Definition of relative poverty; Contrast with absolute poverty; Societal consequences of denial and deprivation in childhood.

Reports that a government inquiry has blamed management within the National Health Service in Great Britain for allowing the malpractice of Rodney Ledward, a consultant gynecologist as of June 2000. Evidences of some patients to the inquiry; Criticisms on his manner and attitude to patients.

Reports on the campaign of the Global Forum for Health Research to improve global health. Call for the reallocation of health research budget from private and public sectors; Evidence of a mismatch on disease burden and funding for research and development.

Presents details on improvements in the web site studentbmj.com. Accessibility of the medical student forums; Addition of a section about unpublished materials in the paper journal.

Editorial. Invites additional contributors to the medical publication, `student BMJ.' Original intent of the publication; Process for choosing articles for publication; Guidelines for articles; Suggested rules of writing.

Reviews the drama `Blue/Orange,' written by Joe Penhall.

Reports on the Milton Keynes, England-based Open University's plan to open its Centre for Education in Medicine as of April 2000. Impact on the school's medical education programs.

Reports on the decision of the Court of Appeals in London, England to award compensation to Tracey Kent who claimed brain damage from the failure of an ambulance to arrive. Establishment of the ambulance's duty to respond to the call of Kent; Effect of the ruling on ambulance services.