title: Painful dilemmas: an evidence-based look at challenging clinical scenarios.
abstract: Difficult clinical decisions are a part of every emergency practitioner's life. Dealing with difficult patients and recalcitrant consultants is seldom enjoyable, but can be made more palatable through the use of some of the clinical strategies contained in this article. Knowledge of the current best evidence and a willingness to discard outdated practice ideas will help ensure that emergency practitioners continue to provide state-of-the-art medical care. Expressions of care, concern, and respect for patients' problems, and development of a therapeutic alliance with these patients will maximize patient, and ultimately physician, satisfaction.
authors.affiliation: College of Medicine, Texas A & M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA. derek.r.linklater@us.army.mil
authors.forename: Derek R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Linklater
authors.forename: Laurie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pemberton
authors.forename: Steve
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Wesley
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zeger
mesh_terms: D015746:Abdominal Pain / Q000628:therapy; D000208:Acute Disease; D000698:Analgesia / Q000379:methods*; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D001660:Biliary Tract Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D003085:Colic / Q000628:therapy; D065306:Corneal Injuries; D004635:Emergency Medicine / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D005131:Eye Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D017116:Low Back Pain / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008881:Migraine Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology; D059408:Pain Management; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000379:methods; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics