Second Opinion

Latest Episodes:

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Sex difference in surgical referrals Nov 21, 2021

Show notes

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

Written words matter Nov 14, 2021

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

When to stop antidepressants? Nov 07, 2021

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

Back scratching: Medicine and drug companies Oct 31, 2021

Show notes

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

Show notes

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

Show notes

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