Oral ulceration mimicking midline (nonhealing) granuloma.

Destructive facial or oropharyngeal lesions, or both, require aggressive diagnostic inquiry. Early differentiation of clinically similar lesions is vitally important but often difficult. Both cases presented in this report were initially diagnosed as having midline (nonhealing) granuloma. Further diagnostic efforts were required to establish a definitive diagnosis.

Teenagers, physicians, and the law in New England.

Physicians who treat teenagers are often unclear about the teenagers' legal rights and their own legal responsibility and liability. While laws may vary from state to state, certain doctrines are uniformly applicable: confidentiality, emergency treatment, and the right of the "mature minor" to consent to his or her own medical treatment. In this article, the laws pertaining to adolescent health care in the six New England states are reviewed. Guidelines for practitioners are given.

PIP: Physicians who treat teenagers are often unclear about the teenagers' legal rights and their own legal responsibilities and liabilities. While laws may vary from state to state within the US, certain doctrines are uniformly applicable: confidentiality, emergency treatment, and the right of the "mature minor" to consent to his or her own medical treatment. The emergency treatment rule holds that the existence of a life- or limb-threatening emergency where there is no time to obtain parental consent always obviates the need for parental consent. The authors believe that if a physician is willing to treat a minor without parental consent, then the normal physician-patient relationship of confidentiality should apply. Many states have statutes that provide for the treatment of emancipated minors. In this article, the laws pertaining to adolescent health care in the 6 New England states are reviewed, and guidelines for practitioners are given.