Asian Cardiovasc Thorac Ann 2004;12:283-284
© 2004 Asia Publishing EXchange Ltd
A Proposal for International Certification in Cardiothoracic Surgery
Robert L Replogle, MD
Chicago, USA
| The first 20% of the full text of this article appears below. |
It is well established that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world, in developing countries as well as in developed countries. Public health authorities have recommended control of this problem by initiating traditional public health remedies, i.e., improved diet, cessation of smoking, treatment of hypertension and so on. These efforts, while admirable, do little to help those people who already have significant cardiovascular disease, and the long-term value of traditional public health measures requires dramatic changes in the culture, and in daily habits of large numbers of citizens. Even in developed countries, despite a daily barrage of public health messages, the conversion of the majority of people to the recommended lifestyle has not been very successful. The one element that has demonstrably improved mortality statistics in cardiovascular disease has been intervention, either surgically or by intravascular techniques.
The availability of resources personnel for these interventions, at least in the US, arises from the willingness of people in need to support the development and wide distribution of the necessary facilities and equipment, and to compensate the professionals for their skill and effort. The relationship between physician and patient is firmly cemented by the recognition that the physician is well trained and dedicated to the safety of the patient. This relationship is breaking down to some extent in the US for many reasons, but that would be the subject of another opinion piece.
A considerable premium in the US, and recently in Europe, is placed on the cardiovascular surgeon being certified as a specialist . . . [Full Text of this Article]
Copyright © 2004 by the Asia Publishing EXchange Ltd.
