An examination of medical ethics and the practioners who define them.
The health impact of microplastics
There is a critical need to rethink healthcare delivery to reduce microplastic waste
2/4/2024 • 3 minutes, 50 seconds
Superstitions and well-being
It is hard to avoid superstitions, but they are usually harmless and can provide a boost of confidence
1/28/2024 • 3 minutes, 57 seconds
Diagnosing ADHD
The condition is difficult to diagnose, and errors drive toward overdiagnosis.
1/21/2024 • 3 minutes, 48 seconds
The truth behind spinal cord stimulation
Industry tries to do what it can to keep the secret that these devices just don’t work very well.
1/14/2024 • 3 minutes, 44 seconds
In memory of a medical hero
Sidney Wolfe accomplished far more than most of us mere mortals
1/7/2024 • 3 minutes, 56 seconds
Home Testing for Cervical Cancer
If we can decrease the need for pelvic exams and improve the convenience of cervical cancer screening we can increase detection rates
12/31/2023 • 3 minutes, 43 seconds
Excessive Radiation from CT Scans
Too many CT scans are unnecessary, and the radiation can cause problems
12/24/2023 • 4 minutes
We don’t have the information we need on prescription drugs
If you are prescribed a drug, how do you find out how effective the drug really is?
12/17/2023 • 3 minutes, 53 seconds
Making Hepatitis C treatment available to all
Now that there is a highly effective treatment available, how can we assure access to this life saving drug?
12/10/2023 • 3 minutes, 39 seconds
Prescription Digital Tools
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.
12/3/2023 • 3 minutes, 51 seconds
What is a normal part of aging?
Not all problems should be attributed to normal aging.
11/26/2023 • 3 minutes, 40 seconds
The meaning of gratitude
It turns out that gratitude can benefit physical and mental health.
11/19/2023 • 3 minutes, 52 seconds
When to report child or elderly abuse
The consequences of reporting, and not reporting abuse, can be enormous
11/13/2023 • 3 minutes, 45 seconds
Hospital Culture and End-of-Life Care
We need to do better at matching care provided at the end of life to patient’s preferences.
11/5/2023 • 4 minutes
Is gambling a medical problem?
Decreasing problem gambling will require a toolbox of remedies including health care interventions and new policies.
10/29/2023 • 4 minutes
Hospital Discharge- given only a few hours to decide what’s next
Hospital discharge can be complicated, and too often, patient’s preferences are not considered.
10/22/2023 • 4 minutes, 47 seconds
Do we need black boxes in medicine?
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.
10/15/2023 • 4 minutes
Harm Reduction
While not a perfect solution, it has been shown to work.
10/8/2023 • 4 minutes, 58 seconds
Substance Abuse Part 1
What drives substance abuse is complex and treatment requires a dual approach
10/1/2023 • 3 minutes, 39 seconds
Vector Borne Disease and Climate Change
Climate change has created unique opportunities for insects to spread disease.
9/24/2023 • 4 minutes
The Popularity of Total Body MRI Scanning
These expensive tests have very little benefit and some important risks.
9/17/2023 • 3 minutes, 39 seconds
Intergenerational Trauma
Trauma experienced by refugees can have a powerful effect on the biology and behaviors of future generations.
9/10/2023 • 3 minutes, 54 seconds
The meaning of being on the “BEST HOSPITAL” list
We need to agree on outcomes for a “best hospital” and then figure out how to measure those qualities.
9/3/2023 • 3 minutes, 57 seconds
The impact of positive childhood experiences
It turns out both adverse and positive childhood experiences impact our health as adults.
8/27/2023 • 3 minutes, 27 seconds
Emotional Support Animals
Certain rules assure that people can live with emotional support animals, but they are different rules than protect service animals.
8/20/2023 • 3 minutes, 19 seconds
Medical Research Volunteers are often poorly informed
The FDA has dropped the ball on requiring that studies are properly evaluated for ethical violations
8/13/2023 • 3 minutes, 56 seconds
The White Coat Ceremony – only a partial celebration.
Perhaps the white coat is no longer a fitting symbol for a patient-focused modern medical profession.
8/6/2023 • 2 minutes, 57 seconds
Religion and Medicine often make strange partners
Is our life’s path already written, or can we control behaviors and impact our health?
7/30/2023 • 3 minutes, 38 seconds
Ordering drug tests without permission
Drug testing for elicit substances should require explicit permission from the patient
7/23/2023 • 3 minutes, 54 seconds
The new heavily promoted weight loss drugs
Like with all new drugs, – things are never quite what they first seem.
7/16/2023 • 3 minutes, 57 seconds
The doctor and allocating scarce resources
Should limited resources go to those with the greatest expected benefit?
7/9/2023 • 3 minutes, 55 seconds
De-prescribing medications
Too many people use too many medications, negatively affecting their health.
7/2/2023 • 3 minutes, 58 seconds
One factor in picking the best surgeon
Data over many years suggests that surgeons who do more surgeries have better outcomes.
6/25/2023 • 3 minutes, 41 seconds
What we know about fathers
Being a father isn’t easy, and the expectations have changed remarkably over the years.
6/18/2023 • 3 minutes, 59 seconds
Cannabis for sleep
A good night’s sleep is vital to well-being, but it isn’t always easy
6/11/2023 • 4 minutes
Meat consumption and human health (part 2)
While consuming meat can negatively impact our health, it also affects meat processing workers and those living near these processing plants.
6/4/2023 • 3 minutes, 52 seconds
The impact of meat consumption on human health
The relationship between meat consumption and human health is complicated.
5/28/2023 • 3 minutes, 50 seconds
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
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.
5/21/2023 • 4 minutes
Is there a good time to stop screening for disease?
We spend lots of time figuring out at what age to start screening for cancer. But when do we stop screening?
5/14/2023 • 3 minutes, 37 seconds
Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing
You can easily order genetic tests online, but should you?
5/7/2023 • 4 minutes, 3 seconds
Screen for prostate cancer (PSA)
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.
4/30/2023 • 3 minutes, 44 seconds
Reducing added sugar in our diet
Simply providing information such as clear warning labels on restaurant menus can reduce added sugar consumption.
4/23/2023 • 3 minutes, 59 seconds
Artificial Intelligence in End of Life Decisions
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?
4/16/2023 • 3 minutes, 58 seconds
Unnecessary Pre-operative testing
The thinking goes that testing before elective surgery can reduce risks and complications. But, it turns out it may do the opposite.
4/9/2023 • 3 minutes, 55 seconds
Implied Consent
Touch during a visit to the doctor has many benefits, but it can also negatively impact the provider-patient relationship.
4/2/2023 • 3 minutes, 22 seconds
Video recordings of surgical procedures
While video offers some advantages to patients and providers, it also has some significant downsides.
3/26/2023 • 4 minutes, 2 seconds
A rising demand for medical imaging tests
There are several reasons for the increasing use of medical imaging tests buy they may not always benefit the patient