title: Medico-legal and ethical aspects of nasal fractures secondary to assault: do we owe a duty of care to advise patients to have a facial x-ray?
abstract: Guidelines advise that x-rays do not contribute to the clinical management of simple nasal fractures. However, in cases of simple nasal fracture secondary to assault, a facial x-ray may provide additional legal evidence should the victim wish to press charges, though there is no published guidance. We examine the ethical and medico-legal issues surrounding this controversial area.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, St Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, UK. mcjaberoo@gmail.com
authors.forename: Marie-Claire
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Jaberoo
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Korgaonkar
authors.forename: Kandappu
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mylvaganam
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adams
authors.forename: Malcolm
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Keene
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000941:ethics*; D003416:Criminal Law; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D006801:Humans; D009295:Nasal Bone / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000293:injuries*; D010781:Photography; D011859:Radiography / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000941:ethics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012887:Skull Fractures / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006113:United Kingdom; D014754:Violence