Texting While Driving

Physicians urged to counsel patients on dangers of distracted driving.
The Los Angeles Times (6/9, Stein) "Booster Shots" blog reported that "Dr. Amy Ship, author of a perspective paper in the Thursday issue of the New England Journal of Medicine" argues that "doctors should counsel patients about the potentially devastating effects of texting or talking on the phone while driving."
The CNN (6/9, Wade) "Paging Dr. Gupta" blog reported that Ship "writes that doctors should have the conversation with patients during annual exams."
The Boston Globe (6/9, Cooney) "White Coat Notes" blog reported that Ship writes, "Primary care doctors are uniquely positioned to teach and influence patients; we should not squander that power." She makes the case for preventive care, noting that asking patients "about driving and distraction is as central...as the other questions we ask." Reuters (6/10) also covers the story.