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.

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.