Too much news of suicide
Why are numbers increasing and what does it tell us about our society?
Jun 10, 2018•4 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
Impaired physicians are dangerous at work
We need to rethink what “exposure” to drugs means and whether health care professionals should be held to a different standard than other citizens.
Jun 03, 2018•5 min
Is basic life sustaining healthcare a right or a privilege?
What happens when a undocumented immigrant needs kidney dialysis?
May 27, 2018•5 min
Ebola returns and it deserves our attention
In our interconnected world their problems today could be our problems tomorrow.
May 20, 2018•8 min
The oversized problem of arthritis
This is the poster child for how we can use evidence-based practice to improve outcomes.
May 13, 2018•5 min
Striking in health care
Deciding to strike is always difficult, but there is an added twist in health care.
May 06, 2018•5 min
A tale of two extremes
Trying to meet patient expectations is an art and we sometimes miss the mark.
Apr 29, 2018•4 min
When journalists get it wrong
Reporting failure often results from neglecting to look under the rocks and ask the tough questions.
Apr 22, 2018•5 min
It's time to start to change some of the silly rules in health care
Everyone’s opinions count, but leaders need to be motivated to change the status quo
Apr 15, 2018•5 min
Sex trafficking
A group of people being missed by health professionals.
Apr 08, 2018•4 min
Out of hospital cardiac arrest
We could be doing much better – but it takes a village
Apr 01, 2018•5 min
Early teenage drinking
An early start to any type of substance abuse can often be a warning sign.
Mar 25, 2018•4 min
White coats against gun violence
Millennials are our reason for hope.
Mar 18, 2018•4 min
The health of the world's adolescents
Intervening to improve the health of this vulnerable population will have big payoffs as they transition to becoming tomorrow’s adults.
Mar 11, 2018•5 min
Limitations of antidepressant medications
An important illness with several options for treatment.
Mar 04, 2018•4 min
How do we get the doctors we need?
Requiring a year or two of community service.
Feb 25, 2018•5 min
Working when sick
Perhaps it is time for a change in the culture of medicine – if not for doctors then for the sake of patients.
Feb 18, 2018•4 min
Paying doctors to keep costs low
Paying doctors to change their behavior works, but it often has unintended consequences.
Feb 11, 2018•8 min
Just because we do the surgery doesn't mean it works
Despite being used thousands of times a year for decades, an innovative study shows shoulder surgery is not effective.
Feb 04, 2018•4 min
Karla's trip home
A medical student goes home to care for a sick family member.
Jan 28, 2018•6 min
Conversations around Pain
A delicate dance -- with no leading partner.
Jan 21, 2018•5 min
Influenza: 2018
We certainly could do much better with our approach to the flu.
Jan 14, 2018•4 min
Brain death
How our eyes can deceives us.
Jan 07, 2018•5 min
A chance meeting
A social dance between doctor and patient
Dec 31, 2017•4 min
Abstinence only education
A collective federal amnesia
Dec 24, 2017•5 min
Bigger is not better
Bigger now even starts with bigger baby bottles.
Dec 17, 2017•4 min
New national recommendations for blood pressure control
These new recommendations are overly aggressive and difficult to recommend to people who have no other risk factors for heart disease or stroke.
Dec 10, 2017•5 min
Are there health benefits from a daily drink of alcohol?
The data on the health benefits from a daily drink is weak and conflicted.
Dec 03, 2017•5 min
Medical conditions resulting in unsafe driving
Doctors have a conflicted role as patient advocate and as a steward of the public's well-being.
Nov 26, 2017•4 min
Regret in medicine
Regret over actions we could have/should have/would have done -- can be painful.
Nov 19, 2017•4 min
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