Second Opinion

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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?

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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.

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.    

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

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

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

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