Second Opinion

Why do we still use the ineffective drug ivermectin for COVID-19? 24.04.2022 4:57 ↓

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 17.04.2022 5:00 ↓

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

What do hospital rankings really tell us? 10.04.2022 4:32 ↓

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

Challenging cholesterol statin use 03.04.2022 4:57 ↓

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

Those with intellectual disabilities 27.03.2022 5:19 ↓

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

The care of animals in times of war 20.03.2022 4:53 ↓

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

The power of the health lobby 13.03.2022 4:58 ↓

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

A re-emergence of polio 06.03.2022 4:53 ↓

 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 27.02.2022 4:48 ↓

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

Learning and Practicing Medicine on Real Patients 20.02.2022 4:36 ↓

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

Psilocybin: a treatment for depression 13.02.2022 4:57 ↓

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

Medical prior authorizations for drugs and devices 06.02.2022 4:57 ↓

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 30.01.2022 4:50 ↓

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? 23.01.2022 4:56 ↓

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 16.01.2022 4:46 ↓

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

Do friends influence our body weight? 09.01.2022 4:58 ↓

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

The science behind setting goals 02.01.2022 4:49 ↓

Choosing wisely and setting milestones optimizes our chance of success.

Missing signs of elder abuse 26.12.2021 4:47 ↓

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 19.12.2021 4:58 ↓

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? 12.12.2021 4:56 ↓

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 05.12.2021 4:58 ↓

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? 28.11.2021 4:53 ↓

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

Sex difference in surgical referrals 21.11.2021 4:56 ↓

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

Written words matter 14.11.2021 4:34 ↓

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

When to stop antidepressants? 07.11.2021 4:26 ↓

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