Second Opinion

Did the treatment really work? Oct 26, 2024

We often have to decide if a treatment we are taking is working and whether or not to continue it.

Food Insecurity Oct 20, 2024

How can a country so rich in resources and farm production have people who still go to bed hungry?

Task Shifting Oct 13, 2024

A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality

Should a mosquito-born illness seen in Los Angeles be of concern? Oct 06, 2024

Climate change and increased moisture have altered the habitat for mosquitos.

The marketing of depression Sep 29, 2024

Finding an effective treatment can be tricky, but it need not be a pill.

The role of genetics in depression Sep 22, 2024

At present, the role of genetics testing in the diagnosis or treatment of depression is not ready for prime time.

Protecting Dairy Farms Sep 15, 2024

Dairy farmers play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our milk. But, they all need to make public health their top priority.

Endless gun violence Sep 08, 2024

We are not helpless, and the situation is not hopeless. We can’t wipe out mental illness, but we can enact reasonable gun control to protect the public.

The one disease that has near-universal coverage Sep 01, 2024

For those Americans with end-stage kidney disease, insurance coverage is never an issue. Why can’t we provide this universal coverage for others with expensive chronic conditions?

Failing to protect volunteers in research studies Aug 25, 2024

Research is required to be evaluated to protect research subjects. But, in many cases, this is not happening.

Early Hospital Discharge Aug 18, 2024

Hospitals strive for early discharge, but it may not be in the patient’s best interest.

Is the new test for Alzheimer’s disease worth getting? Aug 11, 2024

For those with worrisome symptoms the test might be useful, but it has problems when used to screen people for disease who have no symptoms

What elephant seals can tell us about our health. Aug 04, 2024

We still have a lot to understand about bird flu (H5N1), but elephant seals have given us new reasons to worry.

Waiting for test results to come back Jul 28, 2024

The wait can be long, and our thoughts often turn to the worst-case scenario

Unproven Claims for Dietary Supplements Jul 21, 2024

We are regularly bombarded with advertisements promoting unproven and non-approved dietary supplements. Congress has chosen to look the other way.

Spirituality – A Missed Opportunity to Improve Health Jul 14, 2024

Medical and Spiritual Professionals are like two ships passing in the night

Remembering Childhood Trauma Jul 06, 2024

Memory is complicated and many factors impact the retention of distant memories

Contingency management to end addiction Jun 16, 2024

While paying those addicted to drugs to stop using has its skeptics, studies suggest it has real potential

Pharmaceutical gifts to healthcare providers Jun 09, 2024

Gifts are unethical and drive up healthcare costs

Delving into the depths of Dental Care Jun 02, 2024

Much of what we know about routine dental care is not based on sound science

Changes coming with artificial intelligence May 26, 2024

Medicine has seen many changes over the past 30 years, but AI will be a disruptive game changer.

Medical Tourism May 19, 2024

There are many reasons to go abroad for healthcare, but attention is needed to carefully weigh the risks and benefits.

The impact of antimicrobial resistance on human health May 12, 2024

The World Health Organization considers antimicrobial resistance one of the top 10 threats to global health alongside climate change and pandemics.

Improving the environment to improve health May 05, 2024

The EPA has just passed some air pollution rules that could improve our American’s health.

Confirmation Bias Apr 28, 2024

Research findings are not etched in stone.

Brain Drain Apr 21, 2024

America's dependency on foreign medical graduates, helps us but disadvantages countries around the world.

Those who receive the poorest healthcare in America Apr 14, 2024

The medical needs of those with intellectual and developmental disabilities are often ignored, and their care suffers.

The importance of bird flu Apr 07, 2024

We may still have some lingering pandemic fatigue but the new bird flu has the potential for significant harm if we are not careful.

Giving and Receiving Bad News Mar 31, 2024

Would you prefer to receive bad medical news in person or over the phone?

The recurrence of measles in a time of misinformation Mar 24, 2024

Measles, a highly contagious disease, is making a comeback in the US and we are not as prepared as we have been in the recent past.

Mistreated and Ignored Mar 17, 2024

Institutional Care for People with Neurodiversity

Batwa indigenous people of Uganda Mar 10, 2024

Surviving in the mountainous rainforests of Uganda.

Prevention in Uganda Mar 03, 2024

On a national level, Uganda has made progress in health outcomes, but certain populations have been left behind.

Why can’t I prescribe a person a home? Feb 25, 2024

Classic medical care is a start but not always enough to ensure good health.

Limited Access to Medical Records Feb 18, 2024

Despite rules to promote the sharing of medical records, barriers still exist that reduce the quality and increase the cost of healthcare.

Do grades motivate learning? Feb 11, 2024

As medical schools move to pass/fail grades what impact will this have on tomorrow’s doctors?

The health impact of microplastics Feb 04, 2024

There is a critical need to rethink healthcare delivery to reduce microplastic waste

Superstitions and well-being Jan 28, 2024

It is hard to avoid superstitions, but they are usually harmless and can provide a boost of confidence

Diagnosing ADHD Jan 21, 2024

The condition is difficult to diagnose, and errors drive toward overdiagnosis.

The truth behind spinal cord stimulation Jan 14, 2024

Industry tries to do what it can to keep the secret that these devices just don’t work very well.

In memory of a medical hero Jan 07, 2024

Sidney Wolfe accomplished far more than most of us mere mortals

Home Testing for Cervical Cancer Dec 31, 2023

If we can decrease the need for pelvic exams and improve the convenience of cervical cancer screening we can increase detection rates

Excessive Radiation from CT Scans Dec 24, 2023

Too many CT scans are unnecessary, and the radiation can cause problems

We don’t have the information we need on prescription drugs Dec 17, 2023

If you are prescribed a drug, how do you find out how effective the drug really is?

Making Hepatitis C treatment available to all Dec 10, 2023

Now that there is a highly effective treatment available, how can we assure access to this life saving drug?

Prescription Digital Tools Dec 03, 2023

These tools rely on software to monitor, treat, or prevent disease. They are still in their early stages but we need more data on their effectiveness.

What is a normal part of aging? Nov 26, 2023

Not all problems should be attributed to normal aging.

The meaning of gratitude Nov 19, 2023

It turns out that gratitude can benefit physical and mental health.

When to report child or elderly abuse Nov 13, 2023

The consequences of reporting, and not reporting abuse, can be enormous

Hospital Culture and End-of-Life Care Nov 05, 2023

We need to do better at matching care provided at the end of life to patient’s preferences.

Is gambling a medical problem? Oct 29, 2023

Decreasing problem gambling will require a toolbox of remedies including health care interventions and new policies.

Hospital Discharge- given only a few hours to decide what’s next Oct 22, 2023

Hospital discharge can be complicated, and too often, patient’s preferences are not considered.

Do we need black boxes in medicine? Oct 15, 2023

There are many similarities between medicine and aviation, but one change we need to make in medicine is to develop the equivalent of black boxes to improve the quality of care.

Harm Reduction Oct 08, 2023

While not a perfect solution, it has been shown to work.

Substance Abuse Part 1 Oct 01, 2023

What drives substance abuse is complex and treatment requires a dual approach

Vector Borne Disease and Climate Change Sep 24, 2023

Climate change has created unique opportunities for insects to spread disease.

The Popularity of Total Body MRI Scanning Sep 17, 2023

These expensive tests have very little benefit and some important risks.

Intergenerational Trauma Sep 10, 2023

Trauma experienced by refugees can have a powerful effect on the biology and behaviors of future generations.

The meaning of being on the “BEST HOSPITAL” list Sep 03, 2023

We need to agree on outcomes for a “best hospital” and then figure out how to measure those qualities.

The impact of positive childhood experiences Aug 27, 2023

It turns out both adverse and positive childhood experiences impact our health as adults.

Emotional Support Animals Aug 20, 2023

Certain rules assure that people can live with emotional support animals, but they are different rules than protect service animals.

Medical Research Volunteers are often poorly informed Aug 13, 2023

The FDA has dropped the ball on requiring that studies are properly evaluated for ethical violations

The White Coat Ceremony – only a partial celebration. Aug 06, 2023

Perhaps the white coat is no longer a fitting symbol for a patient-focused modern medical profession.

Religion and Medicine often make strange partners Jul 30, 2023

Is our life’s path already written, or can we control behaviors and impact our health?

Ordering drug tests without permission Jul 23, 2023

Drug testing for elicit substances should require explicit permission from the patient

The new heavily promoted weight loss drugs Jul 16, 2023

Like with all new drugs, – things are never quite what they first seem.

The doctor and allocating scarce resources Jul 09, 2023

Should limited resources go to those with the greatest expected benefit?

De-prescribing medications Jul 02, 2023

Too many people use too many medications, negatively affecting their health.

One factor in picking the best surgeon Jun 25, 2023

Data over many years suggests that surgeons who do more surgeries have better outcomes.

What we know about fathers Jun 18, 2023

Being a father isn’t easy, and the expectations have changed remarkably over the years.

Cannabis for sleep Jun 11, 2023

A good night’s sleep is vital to well-being, but it isn’t always easy

Meat consumption and human health (part 2) Jun 04, 2023

While consuming meat can negatively impact our health, it also affects meat processing workers and those living near these processing plants.

The impact of meat consumption on human health May 28, 2023

The relationship between meat consumption and human health is complicated.

Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare May 21, 2023

Artificial intelligence has suddenly burst onto the world stage, but now is the time to ensure that the use of AI is transparent, confidential, and enhances health care and not just institutional profits.

Is there a good time to stop screening for disease? May 14, 2023

We spend lots of time figuring out at what age to start screening for cancer. But when do we stop screening?

Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing May 07, 2023

You can easily order genetic tests online, but should you?

Screen for prostate cancer (PSA) Apr 30, 2023

While the death rate for prostate cancer has fallen over the past two decades, little of this is related to routine testing of older men.

Reducing added sugar in our diet Apr 23, 2023

Simply providing information such as clear warning labels on restaurant menus can reduce added sugar consumption.

Artificial Intelligence in End of Life Decisions Apr 16, 2023

Can artificial intelligence, based on machine learning, predict more accurately the care a loved one would want at the end of life compared to next of kin?

Unnecessary Pre-operative testing Apr 09, 2023

The thinking goes that testing before elective surgery can reduce risks and complications. But, it turns out it may do the opposite.

Implied Consent Apr 02, 2023

Touch during a visit to the doctor has many benefits, but it can also negatively impact the provider-patient relationship.

Video recordings of surgical procedures Mar 26, 2023

While video offers some advantages to patients and providers, it also has some significant downsides.

A rising demand for medical imaging tests Mar 19, 2023

There are several reasons for the increasing use of medical imaging tests buy they may not always benefit the patient

Unacceptable COVID vaccine profits Mar 12, 2023

When is it simply avarice to profit at the expense of public health?

The continued overuse of antibiotics Mar 05, 2023

Sick people play a large role in driving antibiotic overuse.

Medical issues following a disaster Feb 26, 2023

First comes the disaster. What follows is predictable, but equally worrisome.

Organ donations by prisoners Feb 19, 2023

Should prisoners be allowed to donate organs in exchange for a reduced sentence?

The Need for New Antibiotics Feb 12, 2023

Changes are needed to ready ourselves to treat new emerging infections

The problems with direct-to-consumer drug advertising Feb 05, 2023

For good reason, other than the US, only one other country in the world allows drugs to be advertised directly to the public.

Making three wishes at the end of life Jan 29, 2023

Small acts of kindness make a huge difference to patients and families

Pay for performance in healthcare Jan 22, 2023

Good quality turns out to be complicated and unrelated to reimbursement rates

Too many blood tests Jan 15, 2023

While properly ordered blood tests can help enormously with diagnosis, too often, blood tests are ordered without good reason.

The complexity of a second opinion Jan 08, 2023

Is there value in getting a second opinion? What happens when the two opinions differ from each other?

2022 End of Year Recap Dec 31, 2022

A look at some of the topics we covered throughout the past year.

“We got it all” Dec 25, 2022

These four words may not mean the same thing to all people

Putting technology ahead of the evidence Dec 18, 2022

Too often the use of expensive and risky technologies catch on before we have good data suggesting benefit.

Injustice Disorder Dec 11, 2022

When a person is a victim of systemic injustice does that constitute a medical diagnosis?

Insulin production in California Dec 04, 2022

The state of California is about to take on pharmaceutical companies by producing safe, effective, FDA approved insulin.

Time for a new approach to Alzheimer’s Disease Nov 27, 2022

For over 100 years we’ve had a similar approach to understanding Alzheimer’s disease which hasn’t produced many benefits. Perhaps it’s time to cast the net more broadly?

The Limits of Specialty Care Nov 20, 2022

In medical care job specifications are often blurred and a focus on the person can get lost

Microplastics and human health Nov 13, 2022

Until we know more, it makes sense to avoid microplastics as much as possible

Monitoring poor air quality Nov 06, 2022

Using participatory science to examine local air quality.

The Care Cascade Oct 30, 2022

Unnecessary medical testing often leads to a “care cascade” that results in real harm and sky-high costs.

The problems with body mass index (BMI) Oct 23, 2022

Often medicine gets hooked on using simple tools of measurement only to discover, after they have become entrenched, that they don’t measure what they are supposed to measure.

Code Lavender Oct 16, 2022

A unique way to focus on reducing stress in moments of great need.

Reproductive Coercion Oct 09, 2022

Often reproductive autonomy is undermined by our partners.

Medical Waste Oct 02, 2022

Big polluters are not just cars and power plants - they include the American health care system.

Recommendations to screen for anxiety in adults Sep 25, 2022

When we screen for any disease, we need to make sure acceptable treatments are available.

The move toward remote home monitoring Sep 18, 2022

Remote monitoring devices are now capable of tracking our health behaviors including the pills we consume, the food we eat, and the step we take. Is this an advance in health care?

Abortion: States vs the Federal government Sep 11, 2022

Nationally, emergency departments have become the latest battle ground around issues related to abortion.

The health benefits of Camellia Sinensis (black tea) Sep 04, 2022

A very large preliminary study suggests that there may be some health benefits to regularly drinking black tea.

The link between soil and health Aug 28, 2022

Soil is something that often gets ignored as we think broadly about health.

Variations in the consumption of dairy products Aug 21, 2022

It turns out that even what we chose for breakfast can have a biological origin.

Limitations of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 Aug 14, 2022

The new legislation offers some major successes, but with regard to drug pricing it is not close to what it could have been.

Informing relatives of genetic risks Aug 07, 2022

We currently have no good communication systems to assure that those at risk for serious inherited diseases are informed of their risk.

Anti-depressants needs a major “rethink” Jul 31, 2022

It turns out that much of what we’ve been told about antidepressants is wrong or misleading. The prevailing thinking has led to huge sales with little evidence of effectiveness.

Video recording surgical operations Jul 24, 2022

Video recordings in the OR have a chance to improve quality but they also open a can of worms.

Wild and domestic pigs Jul 17, 2022

With changes in domestic pig farming we may solve one problem of inhuman care, but risk another problem by exposing pigs to diseases that can impact our health.

Ignoring monkeypox at our own peril Jul 10, 2022

Public trust in expert opinions on infectious diseases is low, but that’s no reason to ignore what is potentially a large public health problem.

The harms of too much and too little care Jul 03, 2022

There are great disparities in health care and at both extremes – too much and too little – great harm can result.

Ageism and its impact on health Jun 26, 2022

Ageism - the negative attitudes directed toward older persons simply because of their age – can impact an older person’s health.

Disappointment Jun 19, 2022

If we are not careful, disappointment can have devastating long-term consequences.

A new kind of first responder Jun 12, 2022

To reduce over utilization of emergency responders, fire departments are experimenting with a new, more comprehensive approach to home visits.

The Black Box Around Determining Physician Fees Jun 05, 2022

Determining the fees physicians get paid is anything but transparent and only serves to drive up health care costs.

Sharing information against a family’s wish May 29, 2022

Conflicts arise when a family does not wish to tell a sick person their diagnosis.

The heavy use of antidepressants in women May 22, 2022

Women are the dominant users of antidepressants and there are many possible reasons why.

Friday the 13th May 15, 2022

Superstitions impact many aspects of our lives, but they can have a profound effect in health care.

The importance of non-emergency transportation in health care May 08, 2022

Not traditionally considered a part of health care, transportation plays an oversized role in the management of chronic disease.

A One Health approach to tick borne diseases May 01, 2022

Veterinarians and Human health providers often deal similar diseases and that would stand a better chance of treatment with improved communication between the two professions.

Why do we still use the ineffective drug ivermectin for COVID-19? Apr 24, 2022

Armed with good science that shows the drug is ineffective and dangerous people are still using it and often skipping their vaccines that are proven safe and effective. Go figure.

Messages to reach the heart and mind Apr 17, 2022

Health messages are often ignored or easily forgotten. Enter a novel approach using Hip Hop Music.

What do hospital rankings really tell us? Apr 10, 2022

Hospital rankings use metrics that just aren’t very relevant to most of us.

Challenging cholesterol statin use Apr 03, 2022

Skeptics are a bit like the grains of sand in an oyster.

Those with intellectual disabilities Mar 27, 2022

Special Olympics is working to protect those inside Ukraine and those fleeing to neighboring countries.

The care of animals in times of war Mar 20, 2022

Human are of paramount importance, but the health of animals is important as a part of human health.

The power of the health lobby Mar 13, 2022

The most powerful lobbying groups rarely have our best interests at heart.

A re-emergence of polio Mar 06, 2022

Just as we were on the cusp of eradicating polio from the globe we have a new outbreak.

The impact of a changing mental health diagnosis Feb 27, 2022

The name of a disease often has greater implications than the disease itself.

Learning and Practicing Medicine on Real Patients Feb 20, 2022

Despite lots of advances in simulation, at some point trainees still need to learn on sick patients.

Psilocybin: a treatment for depression Feb 13, 2022

A new treatment with some unusual effects we need to understand before we agree to treatment.

Medical prior authorizations for drugs and devices Feb 06, 2022

Medical prior authorizations are intended to deter prescribing and save insurance companies money. Their real impact is to decrease the quality of care for people with chronic diseases.

Orphan drugs to treat rare disease Jan 30, 2022

Orphan drugs are often exceedingly expensive which beg the question of how much should we pay for a drug and how do we measure effectiveness?

Can the treatment of serious mental illness be futile? Jan 23, 2022

Can we reach a point when there is nothing left to offer a person with serious mental illness? Can they refuse treatment at this point?

Health Disparities for those with disabilities Jan 16, 2022

For too long those with disabilities have had poorer health outcomes.

Do friends influence our body weight? Jan 09, 2022

Weight loss is never easy, but is it easier to do together than alone?

The science behind setting goals Jan 02, 2022

Choosing wisely and setting milestones optimizes our chance of success.

Missing signs of elder abuse Dec 26, 2021

It is often easy to miss the signs of elder abuse which can be insidious and deadly.

Political promotion of a medicine can be powerful Dec 19, 2021

New research shows that the use of hydroxychloroquine for covid treatment was widespread and did not impact all populations equally.

What is low value health care? Dec 12, 2021

If we can reliably designate some care as “low value”, then why do we still offer those treatments?

Informing relatives at risk of genetic disease Dec 05, 2021

Who owns a patients’ test results and does the health provider have a duty to warn at risk relatives?

How do we know if a drug works? Nov 28, 2021

Why aren’t patients given useful information on the effectiveness of medications?

Sex difference in surgical referrals Nov 21, 2021

Female surgeons with similar experience and skill get fewer referrals than comparably trained male surgeons.

Written words matter Nov 14, 2021

When people read doctor’s note they can feel offended and disrespected.

When to stop antidepressants? Nov 07, 2021

Its easy to start antidepressants but when is a good time to stop taking them?

Back scratching: Medicine and drug companies Oct 31, 2021

The relationship between the pharmaceutical industry and the medical profession is unhealthy and it impacts us all.

Daily aspirin to prevent heart attacks Oct 24, 2021

Why did it take so long to change the recommendations about the preventive effects of aspirin?

The fallacy of Kubler-Ross stages of dying Oct 17, 2021

Grieving is important and complex; there is no one “right way” to do it.

Pregnancy, mental health, and more Oct 10, 2021

Pregnancy poses unique mental health challenges that we need to address urgently.

A new twist for cigarette related disease Oct 03, 2021

Making profits from creating a disease and then making more profit from treating the same disease.

Dairy products and health Sep 26, 2021

A close look at the health benefits of dairy products suggests the recommended 3 glasses of milk a day may not be a healthy choice.

Practicing What You Preach Sep 19, 2021

How is advice to loose weight received from a clinician who is themselves overweight?

Lessons from 9-11 Sep 12, 2021

We have learned some important lessons about caring for people from 9-11 we can apply to those impacted by COVID.

Robots in surgery Sep 05, 2021

At this point, surgical robots are not all they are cracked up to be.

Defensive Medicine Aug 29, 2021

Defensive medicine add costs but not value to clinical care.

Using the MRI to evaluate common back pain Aug 22, 2021

While the MRI can be enormously useful for a small number of people with back pain, when overused for common back pain it can lead to some serious problems.

The Legacy of Albert Bandura Aug 15, 2021

Bandura, one of the top five psychologists of all time challenged our approach to learning and changing human behavior.

Treating loneliness Aug 08, 2021

Loneliness is everywhere and seems to be growing more common. The treatment isn’t medication but social connections.

After a diagnosis of lung cancer Aug 01, 2021

Are there benefits of stopping smoking once diagnosed with lung cancer?

Do people have an ethical right to have cosmetic surgery? Jul 25, 2021

Government insurance is provided to people for medically necessary care. But, when care is not necessary should it still be provided as a benefit?

Refugee Mental Health Jul 18, 2021

Refugees are at high risk for all the stress of changing cultures while being without their usual supports. A bit of prevention may ease their integration into American society.

We need more training slots for medical residents Jul 11, 2021

But, in creating new slots we need to grow health care delivery in places where the need is greatest and the trainees will have the greatest impact on improving the community’s health.

The double standard of medical marijuana cards Jul 04, 2021

Federal laws are putting many of our young adults in a bind and creating new disparities in health care.

Live-Streaming Primary Care Jun 27, 2021

Do the advantages of telemedicine suggest it is an innovation that should last past COVID?

Estimating the chance of disease Jun 20, 2021

It turns out that clinicians are not very good at estimating the probability of illness which leads to unnecessary care.

Mistaken approval of Alzheimer’s Drug Jun 13, 2021

Aducanumab is not just a drug that doesn’t seem to work, but it is an enormously expensive drug but provides false hope to desperate families.

Marketing low value products Jun 06, 2021

If COVID-19 has taught us anything, one lesson is that we need to rethink allowing promotions for treatments that are overdone, unnecessary, or not proven effective.

Using incentives to drive health care May 30, 2021

For years we have used incentives and disincentives to drive people toward specific behaviors. Is driving toward COVID immunization any different?

Selecting your type of health care provider May 23, 2021

Rather than selecting a health care provider based on ability and training, people often rely on demographic data and look for someone they think is like them.

The Promotion of Medical Devices May 16, 2021

For years pharmaceutical companies have provide gifts and kickbacks to doctors who prescribed their drugs. Medical device manufacturers are now playing the same game and it’s costing all of us.

Involving Palliative Care too late May 09, 2021

Asking health care providers a simple question is surprisingly accurate at predicting how long a person has to live and this information can make a big difference in how people chose to live what time they have left.

Protecting victims of domestic violence May 02, 2021

It is time to re-look at laws intended to protect victims of domestic violence as they have had unintended consequences

Hospitalizing someone against their will Apr 25, 2021

Involuntary hospitalization is not an easy decision to make and involves balancing ethical, moral and legal issues while trying to protect a person and society.

Overtreatment of common infections with antibiotics Apr 18, 2021

It turns out the number of days providers treat common infections with an antibiotic is simply too long.

The conflicts of interest between academic medical centers and medical industries Apr 11, 2021

For years there has been a symbiotic relationship between these two giants but its time for increased transparency and some guiderails governing appropriate behaviors.

The complexities in diagnosing mental illness Apr 04, 2021

Making a diagnosis of a mental illness can be difficult and there is a great overlap between normal and illness.

The Complexities of Cannabis Use Mar 28, 2021

Like any drug, cannabis has risks and benefits. Unfortunately, we are still limited in our knowledge of both.

Unequal access to palliative care Mar 21, 2021

Palliative care has much to offer in wrap-around services but it is being enormously underused particularly for people with illnesses other than cancer.

The impact of open medical records Mar 12, 2021

A new law requires all medical records including clinician’s notes to be freely available to patients. Depending on your perspective this is either a long overdue transparency benefit or a hinderance to good medical care.

Accuracy of newly approved cancer drugs Mar 07, 2021

Why is that results from drug research studies are so much rosier than the experience using those same drugs in the real world?

Unplanned pregnancies and contraceptives Feb 28, 2021

Long acting reversible contraceptive (LARC’s) are under-used and often too expensive for many women – but this significantly restricts a woman’s contraceptive autonomy.

The health risks of eating chicken eggs Feb 21, 2021

There as been lots of controversy on the health impact of eating eggs but some recent good studies suggest we may finally be reaching consensus.

The impact of stigma on sex workers Feb 14, 2021

Sex workers often experience stigma both related to their occupation as well as to mental health issues they may face.

Treatments that just don’t work Feb 07, 2021

While it often seems better to do something, there are times when it may be better to do nothing – such as taking Vitamin D or Homeopathic medicines.

Trauma and adversity can lead to resiliency Jan 31, 2021

Sometimes it seems that we risk being overwhelmed by all that is thrown at us. But, resiliency is an important life skill that can be learned from interacting with those who are resilient.

Does this treatment really work? Jan 24, 2021

Next time you are being prescribed a drug or offered a procedure, ask the doctor, “what does research suggest is the likely benefit I can expect from this intervention”?

The Shkreli Awards for health care dysfunction and greed. Jan 17, 2021

Each year the Lown Institute calls for nominations from health care experts, journalists and others. This year an outstanding panel of judges selected 10 egregious examples of profiteering.

Entitlement and COVID Jan 10, 2021

Are some people more deserving than others? Should queues and priorities apply to everyone or should some people be able to jump ahead?

For those with chronic pain - does surgery lead to improvement? Jan 03, 2021

While it depends on the pain and the cause, on average surgery for chronic musculoskeletal pain does not result in less pain compared to those who received no surgery.

Rationing care in times of COVID Dec 27, 2020

Choices of who gets limited resources in health care are never easy as there are bound to be winners and losers. But, rationing policies need to be open and involve the stakeholders.

How are you doing? Dec 20, 2020

This friendly phrase can send the wrong message.

The advantages of wastewater epidemiology Dec 13, 2020

Wastewater-based epidemiology is an approach to providing real-time information on our exposure to certain diseases using pooled waste water extraction (aka “sewage”).

Crossing your fingers – superstitions in medicine Dec 06, 2020

Superstitions and magical thinking can help protect us from what we know is out ther

Domestic Violence in times of COVID Nov 29, 2020

Research shows that DV increases during hard economic times, social isolation, and around the holidays – creating a perfect storm.

Gut Feelings Nov 22, 2020

While they may not be scientific, gut feelings can often be right.

The benefits of continuity of care Nov 15, 2020

Keeping the same doctor has many benefits but it can also increase the length of your life.

Changing the recommendations for colon cancer screening Nov 08, 2020

As the rates of colon cancer shift it may be time to alter the screening recommendations. But there are some unintended consequences.

The impact of bullying Nov 01, 2020

We’ve seen bullying taken to new levels. The impact on civil society is profound and will be long lasting.

What happens to all that PPE we discard? Oct 25, 2020

While PPE is lifesaving, it is creating environmental damage for the future.

Psychiatric hospitalization as a risk factor for premature death Oct 18, 2020

We’ve got a broken mental health care system which seems unable to protect many with great needs.

Lessons from the bedside for American policy makers Oct 11, 2020

Dr. Nathan Link explains how the medical science of decision-making has lots to offer America’s leaders.

Shame and how it keeps us from improving Sep 27, 2020

We need to change how we care for people with type two diabetes, but unless we admit we need to change people’s health will suffer.

Inappropriate Hysterectomies Sep 20, 2020

The inappropriate removal of an immigrant’s uterus is not that surprising in that it seems to be part of a much larger trend across America.

Inappropriate use of the emergency department Sep 13, 2020

Reducing ED use isn’t as simple as it sounds, and there are competing conflicts of interests.

In the pursuit of happiness Sep 06, 2020

Happiness is not a momentary sense of joy but a sustained sense of life satisfaction.

Food Safety and Security in times of COVID Aug 30, 2020

Despite a sufficient food supply too many people remain hungry.

Variations in hospital cesarean section rates Aug 23, 2020

Despite widely documented health risks, longer hospital stays, and higher costs, caesarean sections are still performed too often and risk impacting women’s health.

ACES and Trauma Informed Care Part 2 Aug 16, 2020

Adverse childhood experiences (ACES) harm children's developing brains and lead to long term physical and emotional health issues. While we can’t go back and undo early trauma, we can intervene using “trauma informed care” approaches.

ACES and Trauma Informed Care: Part 1 Aug 09, 2020

ACES are adverse childhood experiences that harm children's developing brains and lead to changing how they respond to stress and damaging their immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs cause much of our burden of chronic disease, most mental illness, and are at the root of most violence.

The state of Alzheimer Disease in America Aug 02, 2020

A new test offers some benefits, but also some risks, to finding out if you are at high risk for Alzheimer’s - a disease for which there are currently no good treatments available.

The impact of race on kidney transplantation Jul 26, 2020

In many ways social, economic, and medical the cards are stacked against some people getting a transplantation.

The prohibition against marijuana in the hospital Jul 19, 2020

Why is a drug that can be so useful to a group of patients not allowed in the hospital?

Leaving the World Health Organization Jul 12, 2020

This decision to leave the WHO is among the most irresponsible the president has made and will negatively impact not only American lives but people in every corner of the world.

A practical steps to protect those at risk of suicide Jul 05, 2020

Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a relatively new step that can be taken to protect the public from those who are felt to be of risk to themselves or others.

Changes in thinking about blood pressure Jun 28, 2020

For some elderly taking several blood pressure medications can be risky. Do they need to take multiple medicines? Doctor have been hesitant to stop blood pressure medications because they fear they might harm their patients. The OPTIMISE trial results provides some reassurance.

Practice Guidelines the drive toward racial disparities Jun 21, 2020

Practice guidelines use evidence to help doctors and patients make decisions about care. But, if the guidelines are biased so too are the decisions.

Medical Leadership and Conflicts of Interest Jun 14, 2020

Why do we listen to expert medical groups when they have conflicts of interests that involve pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers?

Racism and Medicine Jun 07, 2020

With regard to racism, medicine is part of the problem and needs to quickly become part of the solution.

The dangerous use of off label prescribing in times of a pandemic May 31, 2020

Off label prescribing as grown into an enormous problem, and it risks putting people’s health at risk.

Implicit Bias in Mental Health May 24, 2020

Could it be that our subconscious biases lead us to make assumptions that are not based on the facts?

The right to NOT know a medical diagnosis May 17, 2020

Doctors have a moral, ethical and legal duty to inform patients of their medical results. But, do patients have a right to NOT be told crucial medical information?

200 years of change started by one woman May 10, 2020

Florence Nightingale is known as a champion of nursing but she did much more….

The origins of the antiviral drug Remdesivir May 03, 2020

The long journey for Remdesivir starting with a deadly cat disease

Fake news and its impact on health Apr 26, 2020

Medical journalists need to slow down and do their homework before reporting on new research. Covering medicine is not a race, but a slow evolving process.

The stigma around COVID can be as dangerous as the virus, says Dr. Wilkes Apr 19, 2020

In many of those countries stigma around the disease plays an important role. Today we look at Tunisia and the role stigma plays in managing COVID.

COVID-19 in Africa Apr 12, 2020

Thinking about COVID-19 may different around the world

Missed lessons from the Ebola Outbreak Apr 05, 2020

With each epidemic there are important lessons to be learned. When we do not learn from these lessons, the next time around we are bound to make the same errors.

Disease patterns and planetary health Mar 29, 2020

In some ways we have only ourselves to blames for our changing planet and its relationships with diseases.

Our behavior changes when we are being watched Mar 22, 2020

For generations we’ve know that when we are watched, or think we are being watched, our behavior changes. How can we use this to improve health?

A health care birthday Mar 15, 2020

The Affordability Care Act (aka Obama Care) turns ten this month. Despite a decade of challenges and opposition from some, the bill remains broadly popular and has improved our health in many ways. Without it, many who get sick from COVID would have been left without access to health care or with enormous bills.

The need to focus on de-prescribing Mar 08, 2020

No drug, no matter how good, should escape regular scrutiny in terms of whether it is still needed and do the benefits outweigh the risks.

Do health care providers have a duty to work during pandemics? Mar 01, 2020

Physicians, nurses, and others at UCD are faced with a time-honored dilemma do they assume some risk to themselves to provide care to the public?

There is so much we don’t know about cannabis Feb 23, 2020

Without more research we could be under-utilizing the benefits of cannabis or over using the drug and causing additional problems. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s with well conducted research.

Hospital bills can have an impact on our health Feb 16, 2020

Full disclosure of hospital charges and POOMS (patient oriented outcomes that matter to us) will help drive the system toward higher quality care and lower costs.

Reducing hospital infections Feb 09, 2020

Sometime simple solutions can have huge benefits. A group of nurses found putting some money where the mouth is can save lives and reduce costs. The cost? $1.35.

Pandemics vs Epidemics Feb 02, 2020

Is the spread of global disease the new normal?

Vaccines and the N-Corona Virus Jan 26, 2020

First SARS, then MERS, and now N-Corona suggest we have a new normal.

Bias can have a large impact on health Jan 19, 2020

There are many social determinants that greatly impact health, but one that takes place within the health care system is implicit bias.

Natural Gas and health Jan 12, 2020

Natural gas isn’t as healthy as producers maintain, and it’s health impacts aren’t just on humans.

Unnecessary lab tests pushed by a vendor Jan 05, 2020

Health care costs continue to rise, and much of this is due to unnecessary tests and procedures that do not improve length or quality of life. One area that is rarely discussed are clinical laboratories that push doctors to do tests that are simply not needed.

Putting off serious health care treatments Dec 29, 2019

Americans spend twice what other developed nations spend on health care and we certainly are not any healthier because of that spending

As long as your around your family… Dec 22, 2019

Collecting a good family medical history can be useful for the entire family.

Sending children with HIV to school in Uganda Dec 15, 2019

Schools should serve as safe places for HIV infected children - a place where they can receive support and encouragement. But, in Uganda where HIV still carries stigma schools can create havoc for infected children.

The plague of Romanian health care Dec 08, 2019

Despite large barriers, Romania struggles to provide its 20 million citizens with adequate health care.

Epigenetics Dec 01, 2019

We are more than just the sum of our genes - the environment in which those genes work can have a large impact on our physical and mental health.

The impact of gratitude Nov 24, 2019

It feels good, but there is biology that suggests it actually improves health.

The risks and benefits of daily aspirin Nov 17, 2019

Times have changed and new data suggests that daily aspirin isn’t as helpful as once thought.

A tale of two dying patients Nov 10, 2019

Culture plays a huge role in how we manage our last living days.

Medicine is plagued by miscommunication Nov 03, 2019

While miscommunication is never good, in medicine it can lead to poorer medical outcomes and overall dissatisfaction.

The unsung heroes of the American health care system Oct 27, 2019

40 million American provide some level of care to members of their family, and for most it isn’t easy.

The necessity of taking supplements to improve health Oct 20, 2019

Those supplements you’re taking and paying lots for – do they really provide any benefits?

Is it safe to increase consumption of red meat? Oct 13, 2019

The science behind a recent report is not credible due to financial conflicts of interests by the funder. Why were these conflicts not detected by the medical journal?

Success at preventing HIV but putting profit ahead of public health Oct 06, 2019

Why can a society that is clever enough to create a drug to prevent the spread of HIV not find a why to make it affordable?

The Unionization of Medicine - part 2 Sep 29, 2019

It's hard to tell if the unionization of the medical profession is good or bad for patient care. But it seems to be a growing movement.

The Unionization of Medicine – part 1 Sep 22, 2019

While politicians talk about change in health care, those on the front lines have not seen much change and it is effecting their lives.

Women’s poor health not only a result of poverty Sep 15, 2019

While poverty is a potent driver of poor health care there are other factors such as access, the health care system, patients, culture, and health care providers.

The impact of poverty on health care in Africa Sep 08, 2019

In Tanzania poverty can have a devastating effect on health – particularly for women and children. But, its not just Africa that has this problem….

Missed opportunities at the end of life Sep 01, 2019

It is time to improve communication to assure that patient’s end of life wishes are respected.

Medicine is plagued by conflicts of interest Aug 25, 2019

Conflicts of interests impact most medical specialties, most hospitals, and many product manufactures – the conflicts all impact our health.

The impact of work-related stress on DNA Aug 18, 2019

Preliminary studies suggest that for at least some people high stress jobs can cause harm to DNA.

Why does the federal government provide comprehensive care to those with end stage renal disease but not to those with other life threatening illnesses? Aug 11, 2019

What we seem to have lost in our discussions on health care is bipartisan moral compass to tackle some wicked problems.

What our approach to kidney disease says about us as a nation Aug 04, 2019

Why can’t we be as committed to providing all evidence-based health care to Americans as we are to caring for those with end stage renal disease?

Does it matter how your doctor or nurse is dressed? Jul 28, 2019

Do we want health professionals to dress similarly, just as flight attendants, or should attire be an individual choice?

An ambulance is not a medical taxi Jul 21, 2019

When people feel sick from minor illnesses, an ambulance and a trip to the ED is not in their best interest nor is it in the best interest of the public.

Hospital Price Transparency Jul 14, 2019

Know how much a medical service costs could be important in making medical decisions. But, new regulations that require this information be provided to the public have created databases that are simply unusable.

Shared Decision Making Jul 07, 2019

When sick and needing surgery do patients want to make decisions themselves or have an expert make the decision?

Workplace Wellness Programs Jun 30, 2019

Improved work-life balance is an important goal, but do workplace wellness programs help us live healthier more balanced lives?

A new batch of interns and residents, but some things haven’t changed Jun 23, 2019

Long grueling work hours and pharmaceutical gifts are still part of medical training.

When making medical decisions we often act irrationally Jun 16, 2019

Medical decisions are complex and we often rely on our values and preferences rather than exclusively on the science.

Is something wrong with the VA? Jun 09, 2019

By messing with the largest and one of the highest functioning health care systems in the nation we are putting our vet’s health at risk.

Politicians have long held woman’s health hostage Jun 02, 2019

Woman’s bodies have long been proxy for politician’s power and control – often under the guise of “morality”. Today access to pregnancy termination is in the news, but before that it was contraceptives.

Mental health: An unrecognized problem May 26, 2019

The data on serious mental illness is surprising and we do not have an adequate response to address the problem.

Standing up for women May 19, 2019

This week has been a bad one for woman's reproductive rights and the health care providers who care for them.

Direct to Consumer Genetic testing isn’t ready for prime time May 12, 2019

While ordering genetic tests directly from a company seeks to empower patients and puts them in control of their own health data, the test results that are returned are often confusing and leads the person to make incorrect assumptions about their health risks.

The need for a just culture in health care May 05, 2019

When it error occurs it’s easy to blame an individual but its often important to looks at systems causes.

Diversity of our doctors benefits our nation Apr 28, 2019

Some experts claim America needs more doctors -- what is far clearer is that we need different doctors practicing in different locations working with different communities

Changing prescribers' behaviors to stop prescribing drugs that don’t work. Apr 21, 2019

Social psychologists and economists are working from all sides to figure out how to change doctors' prescribing behaviors, but it is not always about what’s best for patients.

The impact of hearing loss Apr 14, 2019

Past reasons that people suffered in silence, including stigma and price, are changing meaning more options to assist those with hearing loss.

Rating an Uber Driver Apr 07, 2019

No longer is being average acceptable.

Anti Depressants: new and old Mar 31, 2019

There’s lots we still don’t know about older antidepressants and now were starting the process all over with an entire new class of drugs.

Root Cause Analysis in disasters Mar 24, 2019

It behooves us to approach problems with a systems based orientation.

Given the same type of bone fracture, are people likely to get the same treatment for pain? Mar 17, 2019

Medical Professionals unconsciously hold biases and stereotypes that impact the care they provide to different type of people.

Racial and Ethnic Difference in medication for pain and anxiety (Part 1) Mar 10, 2019

For a variety of different controlled drugs, such as opioids and stimulants, prescriptions are more common in majority white areas. What is the impact of this disparity?

There can be hidden meaning in a medical term Mar 03, 2019

Sexually transmitted diseases and mesentaric adenitis.

Aging Surgeons pose some complicated problems Feb 24, 2019

Do we want a mandatory retirement age, and if we do it could impact our ability to get timely surgery?

Hospital Readmission Rates are too high Feb 17, 2019

Re-admission rates not only lower quality of life but they are expensive.

Supervised Injection Facilities for those who use IV drug Feb 10, 2019

The nations is divided – are supervised injection facilities illegal and only serve to promote illicit drug use, or are they a step toward harm reduction as they save lives?

Shkreli awards for the worst actors in health care Feb 03, 2019

Unbridled greed and disrespect for human suffering seems to be the driver of all award winners.

Transgender youth are suffering greatly Jan 27, 2019

At local, state, and national levels we are failing to protect and care for transgender people

STI: Sexually Transmitted Infections: Treatment for two Jan 20, 2019

There is something lost when treatment is only provided to one half of a couple.

How do physicians assistants and nurse practitioner compare with physicians on meaningful outcomes? Jan 13, 2019

It is high time to throw out the current model of medical training and look to designing a health care system that really works and is affordable.

Medical illness and mental illness are not treated equally Jan 06, 2019

Despite federal laws to assure equal access to mental and physical health care, mental health care is still far from accessible.

The Eradication of Polio Dec 30, 2018

We are so very close but we keep making mistakes that set us backward.

The new third person in the exam room Dec 23, 2018

Medical Scribes offer some advantages to doctors and to patients –but not everyone approves.

Why are people afraid to sign up for government programs meant to protect them? Dec 16, 2018

With legislation pending to penalize people who sign up for food and health care, the issue becomes what is the role of government?

Limits of Confidentiality Dec 09, 2018

How is a doctor to judge whether there is sufficient danger to others to break the rules around confidentiality?

The decrease in life expectancy is far more complicated than just an opioid epidemic Dec 02, 2018

Until we address the antecedents of drug use, the problem is unlikely to go away.

Why do people leave the hospital against the advice of their doctor? Nov 25, 2018

There are several common reasons but the most common is their don’t agree with their doctor.

It is time to expand and defend our lane for the public’s good. Nov 18, 2018

Its been way too long that we have lacked research and data to help end gun violence. The medical profession feels strongly that it’s time to move this to the center stage.

With a new divided federal government is there any chance that Americans can expect effective health care legislation? Nov 11, 2018

While obtain access to affordable health care remains a top priority for a majority of Americans there seems no agreement that basic health care should be a human right and not a privilege.

The Semmelweis Effect Nov 04, 2018

Why do humans, and Doctors in particular, reject new knowledge simply because it contradicts what we have always believed to be true?

Acute Flaccid Myelitis – what appears to be a new disease that is still surrounded by a great deal of uncertainty. Oct 28, 2018

Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common that we need to confront brand new diseases that pose new challenges and can lead to confusion and even fear.

Trauma Related Care Oct 21, 2018

Kavanaugh confirmation has resulted in new and difficult conversations in the Doctor’s office.

Conversations around pain Oct 14, 2018

A delicate dance -- with no leading partner.

The Mother of All Epidemics Oct 07, 2018

Oct 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Spanish Flu Epidemic. There is still lots we don’t know about how to prevent a similar occurrence today.

Male circumcision isn’t as barbaric as it seems and for some it has important health benefits. Sep 30, 2018

Circumcision rates in Africa are closely tied to declining HIV rates.

Measuring Patient Satisfaction Sep 23, 2018

Using patient satisfaction as a measure of quality can sometimes lead to bad outcomes.

Population based research that benefits ALL OF US Sep 16, 2018

A new federal research program is recruiting people willing to share their health data to develop new knowledge on genetics

Hospital Rankings aren't all they're cracked up to be Sep 09, 2018

Why not use real evidence that matters to us, and would drive toward higher quality?

Stigmatized Language Sep 02, 2018

Sticks and Stone can break our bones and words can really hurt us!

Disease mongering and hypertension Aug 26, 2018

How a disease is defined can have important public health implications, but it can also lead to benefits for drug companies and medical specialists.

What’s wrong with free medical school? Aug 19, 2018

In exchange for free medical school students should be required to offer some public service.

Preparing for the inevitable oil spill Aug 12, 2018

Developing nations are often placed in a difficult position balancing protecting health and the environment with looking for products to sell for large profits.

Mosquitos remain the most common inspect spreading serious disease around the globe Aug 05, 2018

Researchers in Tanzania are working with researchers in California on ways to reduce their breeding and biting.

The world's garbage is one health problem Jul 29, 2018

In Tanzania the garbage from all over collects and is a huge health problem.

A resurgence of world hunger Jul 22, 2018

Climate change is increasing the stress on farmers who increasingly overwhelmed.

Confusion around mental illness Jul 15, 2018

Diagnosis can often be a challenge.

A common sense solution to the opioid crisis Jul 08, 2018

What’s needed is effective treatment, access to care, and prevention!

A neglected tropical disease Jul 01, 2018

The shortage of snakebite venom.

The science of the nudge Jun 24, 2018

Is the nudge an example of libertarian paternalism or subliminal mind-bending?

The link between weight and guilt Jun 17, 2018

The feelings of guilt are complex and seemingly tied to our perceptions of weight.

Too much news of suicide Jun 10, 2018

Why are numbers increasing and what does it tell us about our society?

Impaired physicians are dangerous at work Jun 03, 2018

We need to rethink what “exposure” to drugs means and whether health care professionals should be held to a different standard than other citizens.

Is basic life sustaining healthcare a right or a privilege? May 27, 2018

What happens when a undocumented immigrant needs kidney dialysis?

Ebola returns and it deserves our attention May 20, 2018

In our interconnected world their problems today could be our problems tomorrow.

The oversized problem of arthritis May 13, 2018

This is the poster child for how we can use evidence-based practice to improve outcomes.

Striking in health care May 06, 2018

Deciding to strike is always difficult, but there is an added twist in health care.

A tale of two extremes Apr 29, 2018

Trying to meet patient expectations is an art and we sometimes miss the mark.

When journalists get it wrong Apr 22, 2018

Reporting failure often results from neglecting to look under the rocks and ask the tough questions.

It's time to start to change some of the silly rules in health care Apr 15, 2018

Everyone’s opinions count, but leaders need to be motivated to change the status quo

Sex trafficking Apr 08, 2018

A group of people being missed by health professionals.

Out of hospital cardiac arrest Apr 01, 2018

We could be doing much better – but it takes a village

Early teenage drinking Mar 25, 2018

An early start to any type of substance abuse can often be a warning sign.

White coats against gun violence Mar 18, 2018

Millennials are our reason for hope.

The health of the world's adolescents Mar 11, 2018

Intervening to improve the health of this vulnerable population will have big payoffs as they transition to becoming tomorrow’s adults.

Limitations of antidepressant medications Mar 04, 2018

An important illness with several options for treatment.

How do we get the doctors we need? Feb 25, 2018

Requiring a year or two of community service.

Working when sick Feb 18, 2018

Perhaps it is time for a change in the culture of medicine – if not for doctors then for the sake of patients.

Paying doctors to keep costs low Feb 11, 2018

Paying doctors to change their behavior works, but it often has unintended consequences.

Just because we do the surgery doesn't mean it works Feb 04, 2018

Despite being used thousands of times a year for decades, an innovative study shows shoulder surgery is not effective.

Karla's trip home Jan 28, 2018

A medical student goes home to care for a sick family member.

Conversations around Pain Jan 21, 2018

A delicate dance -- with no leading partner.

Influenza: 2018 Jan 14, 2018

We certainly could do much better with our approach to the flu.

Brain death Jan 07, 2018

How our eyes can deceives us.

A chance meeting Dec 31, 2017

A social dance between doctor and patient

Abstinence only education Dec 24, 2017

A collective federal amnesia

Bigger is not better Dec 17, 2017

Bigger now even starts with bigger baby bottles.

New national recommendations for blood pressure control Dec 10, 2017

These new recommendations are overly aggressive and difficult to recommend to people who have no other risk factors for heart disease or stroke.

Are there health benefits from a daily drink of alcohol? Dec 03, 2017

The data on the health benefits from a daily drink is weak and conflicted.

Medical conditions resulting in unsafe driving Nov 26, 2017

Doctors have a conflicted role as patient advocate and as a steward of the public's well-being.

Regret in medicine Nov 19, 2017

Regret over actions we could have/should have/would have done -- can be painful.

A forgotten population with a life threatening disease Nov 12, 2017

In poor countries with dry climates kidney disease is killing thousands and we have no idea why.

Hospital vampires Nov 05, 2017

When we draw too much blood in the hospital there is a real cost.

When it's time to stop getting routine screening tests Oct 29, 2017

Hearing such advice is difficult but is often in your best interest.

Losers when we reduce free access to birth control Oct 22, 2017

Birth control is one of the greatest advances in health in the past 100 years..

Making your wishes known Oct 15, 2017

We never know what tomorrow will bring so why not take care of this while it's on your mind?

Advances in health Oct 08, 2017

The technology is easy, it changing people's behaviors that is really hard.

Confusing language Oct 01, 2017

The misinterpretation of language can lead to inappropriate expectations and overuse of technology.

Do we really want our kids playing football? Sep 24, 2017

How much more evidence do we need?

Dentistry: the odd man out Sep 17, 2017

We need to think of the mouth the same way we do other parts of the body.

Re-emerging sexually transmitted diseases Sep 10, 2017

It not just a medical problem but a social one as well.

The 'white coat ceremony' Sep 03, 2017

Is the white coat really the symbol we want?

The difficulty in diagnosing mental illness Aug 27, 2017

The line between normality and illness is very thin.

Dengue, an illness that is spreading worldwide Aug 20, 2017

Perhaps another link to global climate change.

The impact of time on kindness Aug 13, 2017

While our intentions are good time is a deal breaker.

Human microbiome Aug 05, 2017

When a colleague is impaired Jul 30, 2017

A need for community reflection...

The link between teens, marijuana and depression Jul 23, 2017

What is needed is to get at risk teens early help.

Cutting the CDC budget Jul 16, 2017

Should we have the right to know what attitudes the new CDC director holds?

The 'surprise' question Jul 09, 2017

A good reminder to extend care.

A plant for that may just be the answer Jul 02, 2017

Will people find it acceptable?

Risk factors for chronic opioid use Jun 25, 2017

They aren't what you might think.

Blushing Jun 18, 2017

The body’s reaction to an emotional trigger.

Drug promotion drives up health care costs Jun 11, 2017

Sometimes the promotions are rather sneaky.

Does technology drive up health costs? Jun 04, 2017

In three important ways it does.

Conscientious objectors in medicine May 28, 2017

Who decides what looks nice?

Poverty as a risk factor for illness May 21, 2017

The poor are stuck and need help getting out...

Drugs that don’t work May 14, 2017

No choice about a flu medicine.

Pharmaceutical promotion to health providers May 07, 2017

The bribes and gifts continue….

Benefits of medical marijuana Apr 30, 2017

For too long our heads have been in the sand...

FDA permits sales of genetic tests to the public Apr 23, 2017

When does the public need medical advice and when does it not?

Prostate cancer screening recommendations Apr 16, 2017

There is still no clear answer and the decision is not easy

Learning from others Apr 09, 2017

If we listen there is lots we can learn from those around us.

Do we need more doctors? Apr 02, 2017

A tough question, but perhaps it's the wrong question to ask.

Bullying patients to get what we want Mar 26, 2017

What we are looking for is a partnership.

Our judgmental side Mar 19, 2017

It can change – but only with effort and will.

The doubtful case of walking pneumonia Mar 12, 2017

Unnecessary antibiotics...

The use of animals in medicine Mar 05, 2017

It is long past time to end this practice.

The making of a healthy nation Feb 26, 2017

Let's at least agree on how we measure our health.

Complaining Feb 19, 2017

Complaints are far more than they seem.

Right care is good care Feb 12, 2017

Why do we overuse care that offers no benefit?

The basis of stigma Feb 05, 2017

What can we learn about how to be more inclusive?

We need to stop talking Jan 29, 2017

Listening is powerful medicine.

**Vitamins and supplements** Jan 22, 2017
Why do more than half of Americans take these products?

ACA: A policy that benefits us all Jan 15, 2017

Going, going, GONE!

Lying in medicine, Part 2 Jan 08, 2017

Patients deceive their doctors…but doctors also deceive their patients.

Telling the truth in medicine Jan 01, 2017

What happens when patients fib to their doctor?

Science in the service of industry Dec 25, 2016

Guess who funded a study showing that sugar isn't harmful?

Phone Addiction Dec 11, 2016

The data is getting strong that extensive phone use can be extremely harmful.

Organized medicine and Dr. Tom Price Dec 04, 2016

Why do medical organizations look out only for themselves?

Healing the healers Nov 27, 2016

Our health depends on this.

Do government funded clinics waste tax payer's money? Nov 20, 2016

Looking at federally qualified health centers, the answer is no.

Bias directed against healthcare providers Nov 13, 2016

This hurts and can lead to burnout.

Proposition 61: Time to end pharmaceutical price gouging Nov 06, 2016

The impact of human migration on One Health Oct 30, 2016

Fences and barriers impact humans and other living things.

Is talk therapy effective for depression? Oct 23, 2016

Are there evidence-based treatment options for depression?

Ben Stiller's claim that a blood test saved his life Oct 16, 2016

Celebrities should stick to what they know best.

We could do much better delivering women's healthcare Oct 09, 2016

These three problems could be easily addressed.

Bias toward heavy people Oct 02, 2016

What they need most is compassion.

Sales people in the operating room Sep 25, 2016

What is the relationship between the surgeon and sales reps?

Misdemeanors in medicine Sep 18, 2016

What does forgiveness really mean?

What role do letter grades play in learning? Sep 11, 2016

Can it be that letter grades are harmful to learning?

Predicting dementia in people without symptoms Sep 04, 2016

There is little data that predictions are accurate or necessary.

Medical ignorance around medical marijuana Aug 28, 2016

Doctors need education to use this drug effectively.

Hospitalists: a new face you've never met before Aug 21, 2016

Another change that moves you away from your doctor

Zika: A new player in a familiar story Aug 14, 2016

The solution requires a united front.

Practice Guidelines: recipes for best practice Aug 07, 2016

But when bias creeps in, we all lose .

Physician Suicide: A Canary in the Coal Mine Jul 31, 2016

A problem that should concern us all.

Unrealistic Cancer Care Jul 24, 2016

Without cure there is still care.

High Cost of Medical Education Jul 17, 2016

It is not in society’s best interest.

Old Habits Die Hard Jul 08, 2016

…which lead to lots of unnecessary tests.

To Operate or Not? Jul 03, 2016

Even for the surgeon, this isn’t an easy decision.

Difficult Choices at 30,000 Feet Jun 26, 2016

Weighing benefits of one patient against another...

Bias in Medicine Jun 19, 2016

Access to therapy appointments differs by race and class.

Being Held as a Medical Hostage Jun 12, 2016

After a motor vehicle accident it's the last thing you'd expect.

San Francisco's Latest Attempt to Reduce Obesity Jun 05, 2016

But beverage manufacturers stand in the way.

Good News, a Drop in Opioid Prescriptions? May 29, 2016

There are important unintended consequences.

High Rates of Medical Error Rates Are Probably Incorrect May 22, 2016

Still, the problem is real and deserves attention…

Physician Suicide: A Canary in the Coal Mine May 15, 2016

It's a problem that should concern us all.

Declining Teen Birth Rates May 08, 2016

Women are making good choices about reproductive health.

Doctors' Right to Choose May 01, 2016

If doctors choose, patients loose.

The Violent Brain Apr 24, 2016

Is it the seed or the soil?

A Medical Who Done It Apr 10, 2016

How did a group of people ended up with cow tuberculosis?

Gender in Elite Sports Apr 03, 2016

What defines a female athlete other than lower pay?

Physical Pain Linked to Economic Pain Mar 27, 2016

America's pain epidemic has its roots in social determinants.

The Heavy Cost of Direct-to-Consumer Advertising Mar 20, 2016

It's no longer just drugs but now genetic testing.

The Extinction of a Vital Measure of Quality Control Mar 13, 2016

How will we ever know without an autopsy?

The Role of Government in Health Mar 06, 2016

Do we really want to raise the age when an adult can purchase cigarettes?

Futility and Doctors in Training Feb 28, 2016

The impact of moral distress can be long lasting.

A Never Ending Fight over Doctors' Work Hours Feb 21, 2016

A new study does not come close to providing any resolution.

It Can't Hurt to Look! Feb 14, 2016

Over-testing people with diabetes.

Zika: Surrounded by Uncertainty Feb 07, 2016

This is what we currently know.

Special Needs Jan 31, 2016

Special permits for prostitution...

Elephants and Cancer Jan 24, 2016

Do larger animals with more cells get more cancer?

American Wants to Die at Home Jan 17, 2016

But, is this always the best idea?

Compassion in Medicine Jan 10, 2016

How can we increase compassion?

Tragedy of the Commons Jan 03, 2016

Giving up something now to benefit others later.

Gifts Are Not Expected Dec 27, 2015

Going overboard creates awkward situations.

What Constitutes a "Ground-breaking New Drug?" Dec 20, 2015

It's time for us to have some hard discussions about the meaning and cost of extending life.

Mandatory Reporting of Teen Sex Dec 13, 2015

What could possibly be the purpose?

Performance Enhancing Drugs Are No Longer Just for Athletes Dec 06, 2015

Would you want your doctor to take drugs to improve their performance?

Hospital Refunds to Improve Care Nov 29, 2015

Will the loss of money improve healthcare?

Those Pesky Pharmaceutical Advertisements Nov 22, 2015

A new, and surprising, call to ban the adverts.

Biased Dietary Guidelines Nov 15, 2015

What we need is transparency in the process.

Disease Mongering: A Public Forum Nov 08, 2015

A live discussion to engage and enlighten.

Refugees in Germany Nov 01, 2015

Medical care is just one issue.

It's Time for Your Flu Shot Oct 25, 2015

But we're not getting quite what's promised.

PET Scans for Early Cancer Oct 18, 2015

Not exactly high tech!

A Return of an Old Plague Oct 11, 2015

A result of a changing climate...

Stopping CPR Oct 04, 2015

What is easy to start can be far more difficult to stop.

Does Greed Know No Limits? Sep 27, 2015

Drug prices with no caps...

The Power of Words Sep 20, 2015

Changing the goals in emergency medicine...

A Half-Baked Pie Sep 13, 2015

Why tease us with punch lines we can’t understand?

There's a Great Deal of Meaning in a Name Sep 06, 2015

Change does not come easily....

An Insider's Look at Breast Cancer Care Aug 30, 2015

A perspective from Dr. Susan Love...

Again We Find More Is Not Better Aug 23, 2015

What good can come of new medical evidence?

Are We Serious about Longer Working Hours? Aug 16, 2015

It seems as if this is not in anyone's best interest.

Mental Health Is Just Not the Same Aug 09, 2015

The mental health parity law is just not working.

Antibiotic Overuse Aug 02, 2015

Doctors and patients can’t seem to get this right

Happy Birthday Medicare Jul 26, 2015

We've come a long way.

A Disease with No Cause Jul 19, 2015

Chronic kidney disease in rice farmers...

Two Health Systems That Co-exist Jul 12, 2015

Ayurvedic Medicine and its new sibling “western medicine”...

TB in Elephants Jul 05, 2015

Disease spread from humans to animals.

Culture and Gender in Sri Lanka Jun 28, 2015

How do you change long held beliefs?

Animal: Human Conflict Jun 21, 2015

We're all from the same family...

Where Do They Get These FDA Advisory Committees? Jun 14, 2015

Recommendations to approve two drugs that are not ready for prime time.

On the Ground in Nepal Jun 07, 2015

We need to proceed with care.

Medico-voluntourism May 31, 2015

Sometime our help isn't really help.

One Health – New Evidence on the Environment – Body Link May 24, 2015

It turns out air pollution impacts far more than our lungs.

Use of Placebos in Africa May 17, 2015

Is deception ok when it helps the patient?

Trade Agreements and Tobacco Products May 10, 2015

What are our global priorities?

How Did Evolution Provide for the Human-Dog Bond? May 03, 2015

The biology of bonding.

How Do We Tell if Your Doctor Is Up to Date? Apr 26, 2015

Something is amiss in how we re-certify doctors.

Is Government's Job to Protect Kids or Business? Apr 19, 2015

It is clear why one in three kids is overweight.

More on Hepatitis C Apr 12, 2015

It's expensive, but does it work?

Why We Don’t Tip the Doctor Apr 05, 2015

An important cultural “no-no”...

Making Assumptions about Mental Illness Mar 29, 2015

There is no easy way to screen so we need to rely on trust.

A New Treatments for Hepatitis C Mar 22, 2015

Why are we paying twice for this ultra-expensive drug?

Violence in China Mar 15, 2015

When patients and doctors are not on the same page...

Prostate Cancer Screening Revisited Mar 08, 2015

No change in recommendation needed.

Sex Education a Changin' Mar 01, 2015

And the web seems to be the great equalizer...

Information Is Everything Feb 22, 2015

If only we knew more about costs…

Drinking Alcohol for Health Feb 15, 2015

It isn't very good news...

A Faulty Diagnosis Feb 08, 2015

It's often not what we first suspect...

The Top 1% Feb 01, 2015

Fair pay and physician strikes...

Medications at the End of Life Jan 25, 2015

When do we stop what isn't necessary?

Does the Flu Medicine Work? Jan 18, 2015

The data now provides us with some surprising answers.

Do You Need to Have Your Cholesterol Checked? Jan 11, 2015

New recommendations may surprise you.

Paper Medical Records: A New Step Forward? Jan 04, 2015

The electronic medical record is no passing fad.

Hospital Care Dec 28, 2014

You won’t be seeing your primary care doctor in the hospital...

Two Patients and Two Doctors Dec 21, 2014

We have some things we could learn…

The Attraction of Horoscopes Dec 14, 2014

We really want to believe...

No Rest for the Weary Dec 07, 2014

Caregiver fatigue impacts us all...

Finding a New Doctor Nov 30, 2014

Experience may not be all it is cracked up to be.

Complexity in Healthcare Nov 23, 2014

Customer care a thing of the past...

Treating Heroin Addiction Nov 16, 2014

We can pay now or pay later…

Are There Certain Things that Are Off Limits for Doctors to Discuss? Nov 09, 2014

Is family size a personal or population matter?

Proposition 46 Nov 02, 2014

A loser all around...

Alarms Are Driving Us Crazy Oct 26, 2014

Alarms intended to protect are actually dangerous...

How Can We Be So Certain? Oct 19, 2014

Perhaps we need a new type of dialogue...

New Approaches to Reducing Teen Pregnancy Oct 12, 2014

A giant step toward female empowerment...

News Round Up Oct 05, 2014

Have you protected your end-of-life wishes?

A Modern Medical Mystery Sep 28, 2014

Despite all we know, there’s lots we don’t know...

Elderly Issues in Sri Lanka Sep 21, 2014

As the population ages, new problems arise...

Suicide in Sri Lanka Sep 14, 2014

A unique pattern of despair...

Why Doctors Get Infected With Ebola Sep 07, 2014

Personal protective equipment has its limits...

Is It a Double Standard? Aug 31, 2014

What doctors might recommend…

Untreatable Terrible Tummy Pain Aug 24, 2014

Exploring the mind and body link...

Changed by Ebola Aug 17, 2014

It isn’t only the treatment of disease…

Changes Needed in How We Train Doctors Aug 10, 2014

A new IOM report questions existing approaches.

Competition in the Market Place Aug 03, 2014

Robots in medicine...

Summer Dehydration Jul 27, 2014

Turn to water!

Pills vs Self Confidence Jul 20, 2014

When to prescribe a pill that really isn’t needed...

Treatment for Clogged Ears Jul 13, 2014

It all depends on what you believe...

How Can We Make Good Decisions with Poor Information? Jul 06, 2014

For healthy people, we just don't need our vitamin D levels checked...

Less May Be More and Older May Be Better Jun 29, 2014

Much of what we do to sick people is poorly studied...

Playing Nicely in the Sandbox Jun 22, 2014

Can two types of doctors agree to play together?

Stemming the Increase in Gun Violence Jun 15, 2014

Steps we can take toward prevention

Collecting Gone Array Jun 08, 2014

When does a behavior become a disease?

Encouraging People to Be Healthy Jun 01, 2014

Should we all chip in to pay people to stay healthy?

Poor Grades for Sex Education May 25, 2014

An examination of medical ethics and the practitioners who define them. Sign up to receive the Second Opinion topics in newsletter form at kcrw.com/newsletters.

What's in Common Medications? May 18, 2014

An examination of medical ethics and the practitioners who define them. Sign up to receive the Second Opinion topics in newsletter form at kcrw.com/newsletters.

Do a Few Moments of Discussion Make a Difference? May 11, 2014

Do those first minutes with the doctor seem forced?

Female Empowerment May 04, 2014

The health of young women is vital...

Reducing HIV with Male Circumcision Apr 27, 2014

It isn't perfect but it may help...

Improving Milk Production to Improve Health Apr 20, 2014

A one health approach to childhood diarrhea...

One Health as a New Concept Apr 13, 2014

Gorillas in the mist...

Rwandan Genocide Commemoration Apr 06, 2014

Can atrocities ever be forgiven?

Remembering So as Not to Forgot Mar 30, 2014

An ugly chapter in human history...

Follow Up Instructions Mar 28, 2014

What happens when the doctor tells you to "return if...."?

Medicare Mar 28, 2014

Rwandan Response to Gay Men Mar 23, 2014

Long-term impacts of genocide...

Warm Eggs in Africa Mar 16, 2014

What happens when there is no refrigerator?

Infectious Diseases Are No Longer the Major Killers in Africa Mar 09, 2014

We need to slow down, buckle up and drive sober.

A Motorized Way out of Poverty in Africa? Mar 02, 2014

The growing medical problems of disability...

Waiting For A Miracle Feb 21, 2014

Can we agree on some ground rules?

An African Problem That Should Worry Us All Feb 16, 2014

Do we have an obligation to stand up even when not asked?

Culture and Generalizations Feb 09, 2014

Eating on the street...

National Volunteer Day Feb 02, 2014

Could it happen here?

Morning Rounds Jan 26, 2014

Zebras in Medicine

Unintended Pregnancies in Rwanda Jan 19, 2014

Women need more choices...

A Roadside Accident in Rwanda Jan 12, 2014

What is a physician's duty?

A Small Problem with a Large Impact Jan 05, 2014

One reason women drop out of school...

Neurology without Scans Dec 29, 2013

An advantage of seniority...

Creative Options in Rwanda Dec 22, 2013

Clever solutions with few resources...

A New Model of Funding Healthcare in Africa Dec 15, 2013

Beating the nonprofits at their own game...

Rwanda Dec 08, 2013

Some remarkable progress...

Lots of Unnecessary Lab Tests Dec 01, 2013

Nothing is done more often than lab tests...

Conscientious Objectors Nov 24, 2013

Can doctors select what care they will offer?

Do We Really Need More Medical Doctors? Nov 17, 2013

It is time for task shifting...

When Is a Favor More than Just a Favor? Nov 10, 2013

The ethics of being compassionate...

Secretly Taping a Conversation Nov 03, 2013

There are benefits from recordings but not to secrecy.

Permission for Sensitive Exams Oct 27, 2013

But, we need medical student to get practice...

Another Reason that American Medical Care Is So Expensive Oct 20, 2013

CEO Salaries

More is Less Oct 13, 2013

Doing nothing can often have important benefits.

How Many Beds in the Hospital Room? Oct 06, 2013

Do you want a private room?

Futile Care in the ICU Sep 29, 2013

How common is it?

Medical Non-adherence Sep 15, 2013

Why do we not take our medications?

e-Cigarettes Sep 08, 2013

Haven't we learned anything?

Change Doesn't Come Easily Sep 01, 2013

We are often creatures of habit...

How Doctors Think Aug 25, 2013

Cognitive psychology can shed some light on medical error.

It Takes Two to Tango Aug 18, 2013

The doctor and patient need to work together.

Being a Nice Person Aug 11, 2013

Does it mean you get better health care?

Offering a Prognosis Aug 04, 2013

Cardiac Arrest Jul 28, 2013

Should family be allowed to witness the resuscitation?

Doctors and Drug Company Sales Reps Jul 21, 2013

Why can't we cancel these meetings?

Pay for Delay Jul 14, 2013

Yet another way to keep drug prices high...

Random Drug Testing for Doctors Jul 07, 2013

A test in search of a problem...

Elective Cesarean Sections Jun 30, 2013

Can a person just decide (s)he wants surgery?

Overtreatment Is Killing Us Jun 23, 2013

Why can't we stop using treatments that don't work?

Treating Fat People Jun 16, 2013

One group for which bias seems deep rooted...

Would We Be Healthier if We Increased Clinical Testing? Jun 09, 2013

Clinical testing is not always a panacea...

Can We Play Nicely in the Sandbox? Jun 02, 2013

What will it take for nurse practitioners and doctors to collaborate and focus on us?

Variations in Quantity and Cost of Care May 26, 2013

What do rates and cost differ from one location to the next?

Mother’s Day and Caring May 10, 2013

In what ways does the medical profession depend on mothers?

Secret Shoppers in Healthcare May 05, 2013

Is it ethical to use secret shoppers to evaluate doctors?

What Is a Mental Illness? Apr 28, 2013

The new DSM 5 creates the labels...

Risk in a Crazy World Apr 21, 2013

How do we understand the risk of life?

Less Is Often More Apr 14, 2013

The lessons of inappropriate care...

Emergency Contraception Apr 07, 2013

New access for young women who make a mistake.

Back Pain Mar 31, 2013

Why are there so many treatments?

Stigmatizing Language Mar 24, 2013

Words really do matter...

Inattentional Blindness Mar 17, 2013

Failing to see what is right in front of our nose...

Substance Abuse and New Health Insurance Laws Mar 03, 2013

How will old health problems fare under new laws?

How Hard to Push? Feb 24, 2013

What do we do when people won't help themselves?

Conflict of Interest Rules for Drug Company Interactions Feb 17, 2013

Does limiting contact between drug companies and doctors make a difference?

Politics, Guns and Public Health Feb 10, 2013

Should doctors be involved in politics?

Abortions, Pregnancies and Roe v. Wade Jan 27, 2013

Can we all agree on pregnancy prevention?

Prescribing drugs never proven to work Jan 20, 2013

Drug prices are going through the roof! Jan 13, 2013

Why have drug prices increased?

Doctors' Hours Dec 30, 2012

Why must doctors work bankers' hours?

Liberties versus Public Health Dec 23, 2012

When should the government step in to protect us?

Disease Mongering Dec 16, 2012

Male menopause...

Research on childhood illnesses Dec 09, 2012

Can we better understand how children perceive research?

New Hospital Discharge Rules Dec 02, 2012

Hospitals may be forced to work as part of a system...

Stress Nov 25, 2012

The effect of stress on our health...

The Impact of Still Births Nov 18, 2012

The loss can be devastating …

Intellectual Property Rights Nov 11, 2012

Do we really want to keep poor people from using our drugs?

Tropical Diseases Nov 04, 2012

Unusual tropical diseases in the US...

Doctors' Salaries Oct 28, 2012

How much should doctors be paid?

Medicine Driven by Incentives Oct 21, 2012

Incentives may drive the care you receive...

Patenting Genes Oct 14, 2012

Should society allow companies to patent genes?

CNN Has Forgotten Its Mission Oct 07, 2012

CNN chooses to promote a cancer hospital...

Rationing Health Care Sep 30, 2012

Frequent Flyers Sep 23, 2012

High utilizers of healthcare

Is the Physical Exam Necessary? Sep 16, 2012

There are two schools of thought...

Food Insecurity in America Sep 09, 2012

How can we help to prevent hunger in America?

Internet Pornography Sep 02, 2012

Can this become a health problem?

Sleeping with Snorers Aug 26, 2012

Olympic Syndrome Aug 12, 2012

The importance of labeling an event

Closet Psychiatrists Aug 05, 2012

Our need for a label when faced with uncertainty...

Offering CPR when not indicated Jul 29, 2012

CPR in the Hospital Jul 22, 2012

Is CPR really all it is cracked up to be?

Testing for Alzheimer's Disease Jul 15, 2012

Are there benefits of testing for Alzheimer's Disease?

Caution in the Back Yard Jul 08, 2012

Cleaning the barbecue can be dangerous if you're not careful...

Vitamin D for Preventive Care Jul 01, 2012

Why do we order Vitamin D tests?

Spending Healthcare Dollars Abroad Jun 24, 2012

How we do benefit from money spent overseas?

Hospital Translation Services Jun 17, 2012

Translators cost hospitals tens of thousands of dollars each year, but do they make a difference in care?

Prostate Cancer Screening Jun 10, 2012

The final recommendations are out...

Traditional Birth Attendants in Africa Jun 03, 2012

With a fraction the number of doctors needed….

Advice from behind the Counter May 27, 2012

Widespread availability of antibiotics in developing nations... (This week doctor Wilkes is working in rural Nicaragua with a group of medical students and residents.)

Training More Doctors May 20, 2012

Is this the best way to achieve the goals of improved health?

Getting to the Hospital in an Emergency May 13, 2012

Do you really want to ask for preauthorization for 911 services?

Hearing Impairment and Aging May 06, 2012

We need to address this problem with new solutions...

America's Top Doctors Apr 29, 2012

What decided these doctors were top doctors?

Foreign Trained Doctors Apr 22, 2012

Where would we be without them?

Rabies in California Apr 08, 2012

An almost uniformly fatal disease...

Regardless of the Dose the Drug is Ineffective Apr 01, 2012

When a patent is soon to expire drug companies will pull out all the stops…

The Greening of Medicine Mar 25, 2012

Are there ways to reduce the carbon footprint of American medicine?

Drug Company Fraud Mar 18, 2012

What happens when profits overrun safety?

Caregivers Mar 11, 2012

The unsung heroes of our healthcare system...

Do Doctors Need Shopping Carts? Mar 04, 2012

Why don't doctors know the cost of medical care?

Drug Shortages Feb 26, 2012

Why do we keep running out of drugs?

Low Salt Recommendations Feb 19, 2012

Does it really make sense to cut salt from our diet?

Hard Fought Battles for Women Feb 12, 2012

Can we employers deny insurance benefits to women?

Disclosing Medical Errors Feb 05, 2012

Should we disclose a medical error if it result in no harm?

Searching for open access to medical research Jan 22, 2012

Medical journals seek to control medical research for prestige and profit

Students in Foreign Lands Jan 15, 2012

How much should our trainees do when abroad?

Information Can Be Like a Pill Jan 08, 2012

Information may need to be dosed carefully...

Deafness and Disability Jan 01, 2012

A Technology Arms Race Dec 25, 2011

Do robots really improve care?

Biting the Hand that Feeds You Dec 18, 2011

Are there limits to NPR's sponsorship?

Emergency Contraception for Teens Dec 11, 2011

A ruling that sets up back decades…

When a Patient Decides NOT to Know Dec 04, 2011

Contrary to popular opinion there are times you might not want to know...

Choosing the Best Hospital Nov 27, 2011

Looking at quality of care has become much easier...

Difficult Discussions Nov 20, 2011

Thanksgiving is the perfect time to talk about end of life care...

Teenage Drivers Nov 13, 2011

Reducing teen traffic accidents...

Back Pain and Placebos Nov 06, 2011

What do we tell the patient?

Why Do the Japanese Live So Long? Oct 30, 2011

Perhaps public health and universal health insurance...

Why Are People Going to the Doctor Less Often? Oct 23, 2011

One sure way to decrease doctor visits is to increase co-payments…

Sound Recommendations about Prostate Cancer Screening Oct 16, 2011

Finally, after years of politics, some good common sense...

New Federal Conflicts of Interest Regulations Oct 09, 2011

Why can't we just say no?

Home Blood Pressure Monitoring Oct 02, 2011

Why is blood pressure different in the doctor's office than it is at home?

Nurses Go on Strike Sep 25, 2011

When is it ethical for health professionals to strike?

Outlawing Female Circumcision Sep 18, 2011

It often takes more than laws to change cultural practices...

Expedited Partner Therapy Sep 11, 2011

A more effective way to decrease sexually transmitted infections...

Medical Scribes Sep 04, 2011

There's a new person working with the doctor in the Emergency Department...

Be Careful about Unnecessary Genetic Tests Aug 28, 2011

How companies convince doctors to order unnecessary genetic tests...

It's Not the Person, It's the Pill Aug 21, 2011

Why is it important how a pill looks?

Is the Doctor's Duty Only to the Patient or to Society as Well? Aug 07, 2011

What does the doctor do with genetic information that could benefit the family?

The Quest for Beauty Jul 31, 2011

Cultural overtones for skin tones...

A Giant Step Forward for Women's Health Jul 24, 2011

Free birth control is a winning policy for nearly everyone...

Doctors Don't Deal with Uncertainty Jul 17, 2011

If we can find the cause it must not exist….

New Research Findings with Some Obvious Results Jul 10, 2011

Sometime research doesn't always advance our understanding...

New rules to reduce medical resident fatigue Jul 03, 2011

Another step to reduce medical errors.

The Pro-Pharmaceutical Opinion of the Supreme Court Jun 26, 2011

What implications will the Court's ruling have on you and I?

A listener is angry his doctor asks him to make medical decisions Jun 19, 2011

Who should make difficult medical choices – doctors or patients?

Limiting Care Jun 12, 2011

Please, only one problem per visit!

Big Problems with Bias Jun 05, 2011

Heavy people are often treated differently by the healthcare system...

A Sudden Hit to the Head May 28, 2011

What is the doctor's duty when there is a sports injury?

Vermont’s Bold Move on Health Care May 22, 2011

The state of Vermont moves toward universal care for all

A Couple of Odd Causes of Prescription Drug Abuse May 15, 2011

Hint: a leading source of illegal prescription drugs is not the guy standing on the corner.

Medicine as a Team Sport May 08, 2011

Imagine if the navy seals worked the same way doctors do

Doctors' Data and the Supreme Court May 01, 2011

Why would anyone care about what drugs I prescribe?

Nurse Midwives Apr 24, 2011

With so few midwives, are we missing an opportunity?

Music and Medicine Apr 17, 2011

What are the similarities between an expert musician and an expert physician?

An Ounce of Prevention May Still be Too Much Apr 10, 2011

Preventive approaches may not be all they are promoted to be

Cat Scans Also Cause Radiation Apr 03, 2011

For us the great health danger from radiation is from unnecessary tests.

Health Problems from Nuclear Exposure Mar 27, 2011

What lessons can we learn (again) from Fukukshima?

Hospital Discharge, Part II Mar 20, 2011

What are the options when it’s time to leave the hospital? … (Click on more for key questions to ask the doctor, social worker or care manager when discussion nursing home care, as well as understand its staffing, philosophy and user friendliness.)

Hospital Discharge, Part I Mar 13, 2011

Sorry to be rude, but it’s time for you to go home… (Click on more for key questions to ask the doctor, social worker or care manager when discussion nursing home care, as well as understand its staffing, philosophy and user friendliness.)

Race and Medicine Mar 06, 2011

How we use race in medicine can lead to assumptions that are wrong...

An Infection We Often Don't Think about in the Elderly Feb 27, 2011

Why would an elderly woman develop fever, low white blood cells and stomach pains?

Making Complicated Medical Decisions Feb 20, 2011

The more information we get the tougher the decision becomes.

Trying to Become a Female Surgeon Feb 13, 2011

Even in 2011 being a female doctor just isn't the same as being a male doctor...

Physicians Talking to Parents about Guns in the Home Feb 06, 2011

Does it make sense to outlaw such discussions?

PTSD in Returning Soldiers Jan 23, 2011

Stigma and the mental wounds of war...

Incentives to Get Doctors to Use a Particular Drug Jan 16, 2011

How does one drug company get doctors to use its drug?

Two Drugs of Unequal Cost Jan 09, 2011

Why is it a drug company would not seek FDA approval for a new indication for their drug?

Under-Treatment of Pain Dec 19, 2010

Why can’t doctors figure out how to treat pain better?

Is There a Link between Economic Hard Times and Our Health? Dec 12, 2010

As unemployment rates rise death rates should…fall?

A Pain Pill That Should Have Been Banned Long Ago Dec 05, 2010

Why can't we act swiftly when there is overwhelming evidence of harm?

Does a Doctor's Religion Make a Difference? Nov 28, 2010

There are many things you should know about your doctor, one might be how religious they are...

Do healthy people need to take a multiple vitamin? Nov 21, 2010

Preventive Health in People with an Advanced Cancer Nov 14, 2010

How aggressively should we look for new cancers in people who already have life threatening illnesses?

Why Do We Still Make Residents Work 80-Hour Weeks? Nov 07, 2010

One sure way to improve the quality of care is to require junior doctors to work reasonable hours…

Paying for Drugs for Rare Diseases Oct 31, 2010

As a society how do we develop new drugs to treat important diseases?

Teen Pregnancy Oct 24, 2010

Does providing teens with birth control increase their chance of becoming sexually active?

Birth Control Pills and Sexual Activity Oct 17, 2010

Does starting a young woman on birth control pills lead to earlier onset of sexual activity?

In Vitro Fertilization – a Remarkable Discovery! Oct 10, 2010

While many infertile couples can now have children, there remain many ethical and legal dilemmas...

What Needs to Go in the Medical Record? Oct 03, 2010

Does everything you tell the doctor need to be written in the record?

Memory Loss Sep 19, 2010

Should doctors be testing for memory on a regular basis?

The Loss of Altruism Sep 12, 2010

Is it the economy that has lead to us forgetting those less fortunate?

Reporting Child Abuse Aug 29, 2010

Doctors have a difficult decision deciding when to report suspect child abuse...

Literacy and Health Aug 22, 2010

An unrecognized barrier to good health turns out to be a poor ability to read..

A New Diagnosis of a Genetic Condition Aug 08, 2010

US Ranked 9th in End of Life Care Aug 01, 2010

We could do much better but we need to take some important steps.

Drug Companies' Priority: Make Profits, Not Protect Health Jul 25, 2010

Why is it is that we are repeatedly not told the truth about the safety of prescription drugs?

Foreign Trained Health Doctors Working in the US Jul 18, 2010

Is brain drain always a problem for poorer nations?

Rethinking Medical Education, Part II Jul 11, 2010

How can we have healthcare reform with changing the way doctors are trained?

Summertime in Medicine Jul 04, 2010

Refusal of Care Jun 27, 2010

What happens when the patient and the doctor disagree about hospital discharge?

Sexting Jun 20, 2010

Public Attitude toward Healthcare Technology Jun 13, 2010

Colonoscopy: Does the Time of Day Matter? Jun 06, 2010

Genetic Testing of College Students May 30, 2010

I'm a little bit worried.... May 23, 2010

When Can a Parent Say Enough is Enough? May 16, 2010

Are we any safer with new airport scanners? May 09, 2010

What evidence that using scanners at airports make us any safer?

The Dangers of Four letter Words May 02, 2010

Sometimes there's just no other way to express yourself...

An Obligation to Participate in Research Apr 25, 2010

How do we advance medical science if people won t participate in research?

Swine Flu-One Year Later Apr 18, 2010

Now, a year after we first heard about Swine Flu, how did we do?

It's All the Result of TV Apr 11, 2010

The amount of television kids watch is having an impact on health...

Tomorrow's Doctors Mar 27, 2010

Interest in primary care is still at historic lows leading to questions about the ability to deliver on healthcare reform...

Pay for Performance Mar 21, 2010

Can we improve healthcare quality for providing incentives?

The More You Do the Better You Get Mar 14, 2010

If you want the best outcome you'd best chose the doctor/hospital with the most experience...

Is the Use of Placebos Always Unethical? Mar 07, 2010

While many medicines don't work for us, it is wrong to use a medicine we know won't work...

The Ugly Truth About Homeopathy Feb 28, 2010

Why do we tolerate medicines that we know don t work?

Under-treatment of Sickle Cell Pain Feb 21, 2010

Emergency Contraception for People 17 and Older -- but Not Males! Feb 14, 2010

Why won't a pharmacy respect the law and sell emergency contraception to a male?

Incidental Findings Jan 24, 2010

What do we do when the x-ray shows an unexpected shadow?

Have Family Doctors Given Up on Families? Jan 17, 2010

The American Academy of Family Physicians signs sweetheart deal with Coca Cola...

The last breaths of life Jan 10, 2010

How do we know what it's really like at the very end of life?

When People Don't Follow Advice Jan 03, 2010

It's hard to understand why it is that people sometimes make decisions that are not in their best interest...

Learning about New Drugs Dec 27, 2009

How is it that your doctor decides which drug to prescribe?

Effectiveness of Tamiflu Dec 20, 2009

Have we been duped by the makers of Tamiflu?

Advanced Dementia Is a Terminal Illness Dec 13, 2009

Hospice care needs to be available to those with illness other than terminal cancer...

Don't Just Do Something, Stand There! Dec 06, 2009

Sometimes a tincture of time is the very best medicine...

The Politics of Science Nov 29, 2009

The mammogram debate -- an example of where science and politics just don't belong together...

Controversy around Mammograms Nov 22, 2009

We have really confused women this week

The Low-down on Picking Up Diseases Early! Nov 15, 2009

Given the screening tests pick up diseases early, how can they be harmful?

Looking for Disease in All the Wrong Places Nov 08, 2009

Are we being honest about the usefulness of screening tests?

Chaperones during the Exam Nov 01, 2009

Having another person in the room for the physical exam can be a blessing or a curse...

Futile Care Oct 25, 2009

Should you have the right to receive any medical care you want?

Do You Know Any of These People? Oct 18, 2009

We've got a big problem and people are suffering.

Rebelling against Mandatory Vaccines Oct 11, 2009

Should your doctor or nurse be required to get the flu shot?

How Can We Better Remember to Take Our Medication? Oct 04, 2009

This may be going too far...

Creating Better Doctors? Sep 20, 2009

What if we could give doctors pills to make them faster and smarter?

A New Life for a Sluggish Vaccine Sep 13, 2009

Can a vaccine intended to prevent cervical cancer in women, be used in men?

Misleading BMI Sep 06, 2009

Can we be overstating the obesity epidemic?

Why Do We Still Have Tooth Decay? Aug 30, 2009

Why are we still not fluoridating water?

A Note from the Doctor Aug 23, 2009

Why does the doctor need to confirm an illness?

Screening for Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms Aug 02, 2009

Does it make sense to have an ultrasound looking for an abdominal aneurysm?

What Is Basic Healthcare Coverage? Jul 26, 2009

As we move toward a national health plan, what do we want covered for everyone?

Following Your Moral Compass Jul 17, 2009

Why would a junior surgeon decides to report his superior for an ethical lapse?

Is a Therapist a Psychotherapist? Jul 12, 2009

Given the complex area of mental health how do we know who is best able to treat us?

Overriding Computer Systems Jul 05, 2009

No one likes computer reminders but sometimes they can save lives...

Amenity Units at Hospitals Jun 28, 2009

What's the difference between a Ritz Carlton and a high-end hospital unit?

Care That Is Unlikely to Provide Benefits Jun 21, 2009

Who gets to decide if care is futile?

Thinking Globally in Tough Financial Times Jun 14, 2009

Difficult Doctor Encounters Jun 07, 2009

Why is it that sometimes you and your doctor just don't hit it off?

Prisoners Released with HIV May 31, 2009

What happens to HIV infected prisoners when they are released from prison?

Can nurses substitute for doctors? May 24, 2009

What happens when nurses do procedures that were formerly done by doctors?

CPR out of the Hospital May 17, 2009

Paramedics often have no choice but to provide CPR...

Rating Doctors May 10, 2009

When we want a good doctor should we look to online rating schemes?

Swine Flu 101 May 03, 2009

An answer to some basic questions about swine flu...

Paying People to Get Healthy Apr 26, 2009

Is it worthwhile to give people a financial incentive to be healthy?

Respecting Patients' Culture Apr 19, 2009

Our attempt to be respectful of culture can sometimes backfire...

Abstinent Promises Apr 12, 2009

Who Owns the Medical Record? Apr 05, 2009

What would happen if patients were sent their medical records after each visit?

Journals, Editors and Intimidation Mar 29, 2009

What happens when research questions the integrity of a leading medical journal...?

Private Hospital Beds Mar 22, 2009

Do you often wish you could have a private bed in the hospital?

Normal adolescence: a disease worth treating? Mar 15, 2009

Why do so many teens being treated for ADHD?

Preventing the Spread of AIDS in Africa Mar 08, 2009

While the problem is huge, there are steps that people can take to make a difference...

(Part III of a three-part commentary.)

Barrier to HIV Prevention in Zambia Mar 01, 2009

With HIV rates around 75% in many villages what can be done to limit the spread? (Part II of a three-part commentary.)

One Perspective on AIDS in Africa Feb 22, 2009

How can the rate of HIV in much of Africa be so high? (Part I of a three-part commentary)

When Should You Be Able to Have a Baby Feb 15, 2009

Should there be limits on the rights to bear children?

Why Can't Doctors Just Talk to Each Other? Jan 25, 2009

When doctors don't talk, patient care suffers.

When People Don't Follow Advice Jan 18, 2009

It's hard to understand why it is that people sometimes make decisions that are not in their best interest.

Primary Care Medicine: An Endangered Species Jan 04, 2009

Why is it hard and hard to find a good primary care doctor?

Is There Such a Thing as a Blockbuster Blood Test? Dec 28, 2008

What s so good about a drug test that leads to giving a drug that really has only a tiny benefit?

Generics versus Trade-name drugs Dec 21, 2008

Why is it that doctors still resist generic drugs?

Drug Abuse in the Elderly Dec 14, 2008

Moral Courage Dec 07, 2008

Is there a time when it's appropriate for doctors to break rules?

Harmful Effects of Radiation Nov 30, 2008

Variation in Health Care Nov 23, 2008

Why is it that health care in one part of the country is so different than it is in another?

Free Drug Samples Nov 16, 2008

Free drug samples rarely provide an advantage over older drugs that are safer and whose effects are better known. In addition this type of promotion only serves to substantially raise drug prices....

Weight Bias Nov 09, 2008

Why is it that fat people often end up with lower quality care and feeling demoralized after visiting the doctor?

Proposition 4: Parental Consent for Pregnancy Termination Nov 02, 2008

Differences in Requirement of Pain Medication Oct 26, 2008

Why do people require different doses of pain medication for similar problems?

Human Papilloma Virus Vaccination Oct 19, 2008

The human papilloma virus (HPV) vaccine has been extremely heavily promoted, but is it indicated?

Super-Human Doctors Oct 12, 2008

It is in our best interest if doctors take medicine to give them super-human abilities?

A Patch Work That Works Oct 05, 2008

In our mess of a healthcare system, there are some shining examples of a community pulling together for a person...

Sexual Health of Seniors Sep 28, 2008

Perhaps no topic is more actively avoided in discussions between doctors and older people than sexual health...

Depression at the End of Life Sep 21, 2008

Is depression a natural and necessary stage we pass through at the end of life or is it a medical condition that needs treatment?

Letting Go at the End of Life Sep 14, 2008

Why is that we have such a tough time letting go when a person has a terminal illness?

Pressures to Breast Feed Sep 07, 2008

Why are American rates of breast feeding so low?

Is denial always harmful? Aug 31, 2008

We all engage in denial to some extent, but can denial cause medical problems?

How Does the Bill Get That Big? Aug 24, 2008

Reading a hospital bill is like trying to understand a foreign language but look carefully because more likely than not there will be errors...

More on Rationing Healthcare Aug 03, 2008

Several letters suggested there were other ways to ration healthcare and many suggested rationing was, well, anti-American.

Rationing Healthcare Jul 27, 2008

Is it possible that in the US we ration healthcare?

End-of-Life Discussions are NOT Just for Cancer Patients Jul 20, 2008

While doctors can do a lot better with regard to talking to people with cancer about end-of-life issues, they are still in the dark ages when it comes to talking to people with other disease who have a poor prognosis...

Why Do New Medicines Work Better Than Older Ones? Jul 13, 2008

There are several explanations for why new medicine appear to work better than older medicines...

Whose Side Is the FDA on? Jul 06, 2008

There are several pain relievers that contain propoxyphene, a substance that is dangerous and ineffective. Why are these still on the market?

Fluorescent Bulbs Jun 29, 2008

While fluorescent bulbs use a fraction of the energy required for traditional light bulbs, they pose a potential danger if broken and an even greater danger if improperly discarded...

AIDS in Rural India, Part III Jun 22, 2008

The impact of village health workers can be enormous but there are still some barriers to what they can accomplish...

AIDS in Rural India, Part II Jun 15, 2008

While AIDS medicines would life-saving, the need in rural India are for far more than just medicines...

AIDS in Rural India Jun 08, 2008

After generations of fighting malaria and dysentery rural India is not trying to contend with AIDS...

Pre-operative Testing: For Whose Benefit? Jun 01, 2008

We all want our surgery to go as smoothly as possible, but at what point is it not in our best interest to have lots of preoperative tests ordered?

Screening for Dementia May 25, 2008

While dementia is a common illness, and one that causes great concern, there are currently no tests to detect the disease early and this may be a good thing...

Humor to educate about drug advertising May 11, 2008

Weight Loss and Drugs May 04, 2008

No matter how much we wish it were different, there is still no easy road to weight loss...

Banning Direct-to-Consumer Advertising in Canada Apr 27, 2008

Why is it that Canada prohibits drug companies from advertising products directly to the public?

The Effect of Race on Healthcare Apr 19, 2008

Two men with the same disease. Will their treatment differ?

Traditional Medicine Apr 13, 2008

Patient's Right to Be Informed about Trainees Apr 06, 2008

When we go to a teaching hospital we assume the care may be better. But we often aren't given a choice about who should be involved in caring for us...

Anti-Depressant Medications May Be Less Effective Than We Think Mar 30, 2008

A large, high-quality study suggests that newer antidepressants may be far less effective than we have been told by their manufacturers...

Why Is Some Alternative Medicine Still Alterative? Mar 23, 2008

Despite significant research showing the benefits of some complementary and alternative treatments such as acupuncture, they are still considered outside the mainstream...

Disability Parking Mar 16, 2008

When People Don't Follow the Doctor's Advice Mar 09, 2008

Doctors have a hard time when people don't follow their advice. But behavior change isn't easy for anyone -- not even doctors.

Substance Abuse and Detection Mar 02, 2008

Despite substance abuse being a major medical and public problem, only twelve out of 125 medical schools surveyed, offer a required course in substance abuse detection and treatment...

Does Everyone Really Need to Lower Their Cholesterol? Feb 24, 2008

Studies suggest we are over-treating people who have high cholesterol but no risk factors for heart disease...

Telephone Medicine Feb 17, 2008

Getting a call from your doctor may not be just another phone call...

The Hidden Curriculum in Medical School Feb 10, 2008

So much of what medical students learn is not from books and lectures but from their watching the behaviors of others. It may be that our actions are teaching the wrong lessons...

Bereavement can Cause Physical Problems Jan 20, 2008

The loss of a loved one can have profound health consequences.

Permission for Clinical Research Jan 13, 2008

Patient permission for publication is essential, but without publication medical science stands still...

Hospitalists Jan 06, 2008

Buying Influence in Developing Countries Dec 30, 2007

Why are drug companies offering doctors in developing countries free gifts, computers and jewelry? Do those work for you?

Immigrants and Healthcare Dec 23, 2007

Is it true that immigrants come here to use our healthcare system and offer little in return?

Medicinal Hugs Dec 09, 2007

Sometimes an old fashioned hug can be more therapeutic than a pill or procedure...

Admitting Uncertainty Nov 25, 2007

For many years I have been teaching medical students that one of the things we need to change in medicine is for doctors to admit when we don't know something and we need to look it up...

Physicians as Role Models Nov 18, 2007

Does It Matter What the Doctor Wears? Nov 11, 2007

Do doctors need to conform to the traditional appearance of physicians or can they express their personal tastes with nose studs, tattoos and the like?

Caring for Celebrities Nov 04, 2007

Often, in our attempt to provide special care for a VIP in a hospital we end up providing substandard care...

Dying in Prison Oct 28, 2007

What rights do people dying in prison have?

Genetic Testing for Breast Cancer Oct 21, 2007

Why are advertisements marketing B genetic tests for breast cancer to all
women?

Screening for Lung Cancer Oct 14, 2007

Why is it if we have a scanner that can detect very small lung cancers it doesn't save lives?

When We Don't Know the Patient's Preference Oct 05, 2007

What happens when a patient needs a treatment and there is no record of their preferences?

Payment for Taking Medicines Sep 30, 2007

Should we pay someone to take their medicines if they're not willing to do so on their own?...

The Consumer Reports of Medications Sep 23, 2007

Why can't we develop a fair, honest and unbiased way to conduct research on the effectiveness and safety of medications?

Confidentiality Even in Death Sep 16, 2007

Even after a person dies their records are confidential...

Unfit to Drive Sep 09, 2007

For people with memory problems driving can be unsafe but what is the doctor's duty to the patient or to society?

Practice Rules Improve Care Sep 02, 2007

Until recently, the decision as to whether or not to order an x-ray was based on the doctor's gut feeling. Now clinical prediction rules exist to help improve these decisions...

Promises Not Kept Aug 26, 2007

It is some times difficult, if not impossible, to keep promises we make...

A Severe Case of 'Bill-itis' Aug 19, 2007

It is not unusual for patients to have their entire life savings exhausted after a trip to the emergency room...

How Often Do You Need to Return to the Doctor? Jul 29, 2007

The decision about how often you need to see the doctor is subjective and should be discussed ahead of time...

Choosing a Good Doctor Jul 15, 2007

First you hear you need surgery, now you need to choose a good surgeon. New data now makes the choice easier...

Whose fault is it when the doctor's advice isn't followed? Jul 08, 2007

The role of the doctor has changed considerably over the past 50 years to the point where the doctor is now an advisor. But when advice isn't followed, whose fault is it?

Is Ethnicity Medically Important? Jun 29, 2007

While the social meaning of ethnicity is becoming increasingly unclear, medicine may need to have some clear definitions.

More on Prostate Cancer; Is One Treatment Best? Jun 24, 2007

After the PSA test comes back positive, how does a man choose which treatment is best?

Getting Tested for Prostate Cancer for Father's Day Jun 17, 2007

Before you encourage Dad to go get tested for prostate cancer know the risks and benefits…

Do Not Sit Silently Jun 10, 2007

Sometimes it is difficult to be low person on the totem pole and see something being done wrong...

Is Being Tired an Illness? Jun 03, 2007

Doctors are using a new medicine, Provigil, to help people stay awake longer. Is this a case of disease mongering?...

Disease Mongering May 25, 2007

When is a disease not really a disease?

Reassurance May 20, 2007

Even after the doctor tells us that everything is all right , we still continue to worry and wonder.

Oxycontin May 13, 2007

The pharmacuetical executives who plead guilty this week to illegally pushing prescription narcotics on unsuspecting doctors may have done far more harm than just killing people.

Feeding Tubes Apr 29, 2007

Dealing with Alzheimer? Disease is complex, but nothing is worse than deciding on issues such as the placement of feeding tubes.

Blaming the Victim Apr 22, 2007

Why is it that the news media and the public always need to blame the victim for their illness?

Treating Cholesterol Apr 08, 2007

Patients should be told the magnitude of benefit about drugs to treat diseases so they can make personal informed decisions...

Genetic Discrimination Apr 01, 2007

Many people are at high risk for genetic diseases but fear the discrimination that would result from being tested for the condition. New legislation aims to protect the public...

Banking Cord Blood Mar 18, 2007

Companies promote banking of umbilical cord blood as life-saving and the ultimate gift to a your new born but the data suggests otherwise. Further, doctors often promote the expensive procedure to parents without disclosing that they are receiving a referral fee from the companies...

Religion in Medicine Mar 11, 2007

A surgeon invites a patient to pray with him prior to beginning surgery. Have those who suggest doctors bring religion to their practice of medicine gone to far?

Emergency Room Overuse Mar 04, 2007

Why do emergency rooms seem so overcrowded? Is there a way to unload busy ERs?

Tackling Obesity Feb 25, 2007

It is easy for us doctors to point fingers and tell overweight people to lose weight. But this approach isn't working and it's time for some mandatory social interventions that will benefit us all.

Case Managers Feb 18, 2007

Caring for people with dementia is complicated and the traditional medical system can offer little in the way of support. In one study case managers, a relatively new member of the health care team, seem to provide dramatic results.

A Request for an MRI Feb 11, 2007

While technology can offer significant advancements in health, it is not always needed and often only serves to drive up health care costs.

The Electronic Medical Record Jan 21, 2007

The President and major hospital groups are pushing to move toward electronic medical records (EMRs). Will these improve the quality of health care?

Keeping Up Appearances Jan 14, 2007

Behind the Curtain Jan 07, 2007

Genetic Screening in Teens Dec 24, 2006

Compassionate Care for the Elderly Dec 17, 2006

Drug Overdose Dec 10, 2006

Saying 'I'm Sorry' Dec 03, 2006

Social Determinants of Disease Nov 26, 2006

Difficulty Sleeping Nov 19, 2006

Disease and Illness Nov 12, 2006

Susan, a 56 year old nurse, suffers from difuse body pains. She's no longer able to work as a visiting nurse and she's unable to play the violin. At first her docors had hunches over the cause of her symptoms and over the course of many visits tried hard to diagnose the problem. She feels like she's had nearly every single medical test possible to the tune of tens of thousands of dollars. Yet, she's still in pain and doctors aren't quite sure why. Perhaps worse then a disabling physical pain, is Susan's realization that the more difficulty doctors have had diagnosing her pain, the less they seem to care about her...