Vladimir’s Choice – a fable from Eastern Europe
We often make choices that are short-sighted and seem to serve our own interests rather than the interests of all
Mar 09, 2025•5 min
Second Opinion
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 .
Episodes
Significant cuts to Medicaid (MediCal) will have a negative impact on us all.
As Congress debates cuts to Medicaid (the health insurance program for the poor and disabled) in order to deliver a tax cut to the wealthy, it risks a cascade of negative effects on our entire health care system.
Feb 23, 2025•5 min
The US pushes the world backward
USAID is a powerhouse of humanitarianism and global security
Feb 16, 2025•5 min
Will I benefit from that drug?
Statistics can be intimidating. But before you decide to begin a treatment you should ask what the expected benefit will be to you.
Feb 09, 2025•5 min
Do doctors keep up to date with their medical knowledge?
It’s hard to tell, but we have no way to know for sure.
Feb 02, 2025•5 min
Will AI replace clinicians?
AI is increasingly being used to collect and process clinical information. Whether this is a good thing depends on who you ask.
Jan 26, 2025•5 min
When is a disease not a disease?
When one in three people have an abnormal lab test, does it become a disease?
Jan 19, 2025•5 min
How Medical Data Bases Lead to Better Individual Treatment
By collecting health data across large populations of people, we can identify patterns that help us all.
Jan 12, 2025•5 min
Thinking of taking one of the new GLP-1 weight-loss drugs?
Unfortunately, I can offer no strong advice. The drugs seem to be effective, but, like with any new drug, we just don’t have all the answers.
Jan 05, 2025•5 min
Listening to music in Refugee Camps
Music has benefits that relate hope and social connections
Dec 29, 2024•5 min
A tale of two kingdoms
Fluoride has proven so successful that it would be crazy to deprive children of its benefits
Dec 22, 2024•5 min
The risk of a bird flu epidemic
The risks are rising, and state and government officials are not taking this seriously.
Dec 15, 2024•5 min
Does free tuition impact medical student specialty choice?
Philanthropy has enabled several expensive private medical schools to offer all students free tuition. Has this changed the practice of medicine?
Dec 08, 2024•5 min
Drug Promotion to the Public
Why do drug companies push drugs to the public that just don’t work?
Nov 30, 2024•5 min
Doctor, will you pray with me?
Medicine and spirituality often interact, but clinicians and patients can often find themselves in very different places.
Nov 24, 2024•4 min
The importance of standing tall
Slouching has a rich history, but its medical consequences need to be better understood.
Nov 17, 2024•5 min
As a group, are migrants less healthy?
Migration is at an all-time high worldwide. It can impact health in many ways.
Nov 03, 2024•5 min
Did the treatment really work?
We often have to decide if a treatment we are taking is working and whether or not to continue it.
Oct 26, 2024•5 min
Food Insecurity
How can a country so rich in resources and farm production have people who still go to bed hungry?
Oct 20, 2024•5 min
Task Shifting
A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality
Oct 13, 2024•5 min
Should a mosquito-born illness seen in Los Angeles be of concern?
Climate change and increased moisture have altered the habitat for mosquitos.
Oct 06, 2024•5 min
The marketing of depression
Finding an effective treatment can be tricky, but it need not be a pill.
Sep 29, 2024•5 min
The role of genetics in depression
At present, the role of genetics testing in the diagnosis or treatment of depression is not ready for prime time.
Sep 22, 2024•5 min
Protecting Dairy Farms
Dairy farmers play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our milk. But, they all need to make public health their top priority.
Sep 15, 2024•5 min
Endless gun violence
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.
Sep 08, 2024•5 min
The one disease that has near-universal coverage
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?
Sep 01, 2024•5 min
Failing to protect volunteers in research studies
Research is required to be evaluated to protect research subjects. But, in many cases, this is not happening.
Aug 25, 2024•5 min
Early Hospital Discharge
Hospitals strive for early discharge, but it may not be in the patient’s best interest.
Aug 18, 2024•5 min
Is the new test for Alzheimer’s disease worth getting?
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
Aug 11, 2024•5 min
What elephant seals can tell us about our health.
We still have a lot to understand about bird flu (H5N1), but elephant seals have given us new reasons to worry.
Aug 04, 2024•5 min