Medical illness and mental illness are not treated equally
Despite federal laws to assure equal access to mental and physical health care, mental health care is still far from accessible.
Jan 06, 2019•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
The Eradication of Polio
We are so very close but we keep making mistakes that set us backward.
Dec 30, 2018•4 min
The new third person in the exam room
Medical Scribes offer some advantages to doctors and to patients –but not everyone approves.
Dec 23, 2018•4 min
Why are people afraid to sign up for government programs meant to protect them?
With legislation pending to penalize people who sign up for food and health care, the issue becomes what is the role of government?
Dec 16, 2018•5 min
Limits of Confidentiality
How is a doctor to judge whether there is sufficient danger to others to break the rules around confidentiality?
Dec 09, 2018•4 min
The decrease in life expectancy is far more complicated than just an opioid epidemic
Until we address the antecedents of drug use, the problem is unlikely to go away.
Dec 02, 2018•4 min
Why do people leave the hospital against the advice of their doctor?
There are several common reasons but the most common is their don’t agree with their doctor.
Nov 25, 2018•5 min
It is time to expand and defend our lane for the public’s good.
Its been way too long that we have lacked research and data to help end gun violence. The medical profession feels strongly that it’s time to move this to the center stage.
Nov 18, 2018•4 min
With a new divided federal government is there any chance that Americans can expect effective health care legislation?
While obtain access to affordable health care remains a top priority for a majority of Americans there seems no agreement that basic health care should be a human right and not a privilege.
Nov 11, 2018•5 min
The Semmelweis Effect
Why do humans, and Doctors in particular, reject new knowledge simply because it contradicts what we have always believed to be true?
Nov 04, 2018•5 min
Acute Flaccid Myelitis – what appears to be a new disease that is still surrounded by a great deal of uncertainty.
Unfortunately, it has become increasingly common that we need to confront brand new diseases that pose new challenges and can lead to confusion and even fear.
Oct 28, 2018•5 min
Trauma Related Care
Kavanaugh confirmation has resulted in new and difficult conversations in the Doctor’s office.
Oct 21, 2018•4 min
Conversations around pain
A delicate dance -- with no leading partner.
Oct 14, 2018•4 min
The Mother of All Epidemics
Oct 2018 marks the 100th anniversary of the Spanish Flu Epidemic. There is still lots we don’t know about how to prevent a similar occurrence today.
Oct 07, 2018•5 min
Male circumcision isn’t as barbaric as it seems and for some it has important health benefits.
Circumcision rates in Africa are closely tied to declining HIV rates.
Sep 30, 2018•5 min
Measuring Patient Satisfaction
Using patient satisfaction as a measure of quality can sometimes lead to bad outcomes.
Sep 23, 2018•5 min
Population based research that benefits ALL OF US
A new federal research program is recruiting people willing to share their health data to develop new knowledge on genetics
Sep 16, 2018•6 min
Hospital Rankings aren't all they're cracked up to be
Why not use real evidence that matters to us, and would drive toward higher quality?
Sep 09, 2018•5 min
Stigmatized Language
Sticks and Stone can break our bones and words can really hurt us!
Sep 02, 2018•4 min
Disease mongering and hypertension
How a disease is defined can have important public health implications, but it can also lead to benefits for drug companies and medical specialists.
Aug 26, 2018•5 min
What’s wrong with free medical school?
In exchange for free medical school students should be required to offer some public service.
Aug 19, 2018•5 min
Preparing for the inevitable oil spill
Developing nations are often placed in a difficult position balancing protecting health and the environment with looking for products to sell for large profits.
Aug 12, 2018•5 min
Mosquitos remain the most common inspect spreading serious disease around the globe
Researchers in Tanzania are working with researchers in California on ways to reduce their breeding and biting.
Aug 05, 2018•6 min
The world's garbage is one health problem
In Tanzania the garbage from all over collects and is a huge health problem.
Jul 29, 2018•5 min
A resurgence of world hunger
Climate change is increasing the stress on farmers who increasingly overwhelmed.
Jul 22, 2018•5 min
Confusion around mental illness
Diagnosis can often be a challenge.
Jul 15, 2018•4 min
A common sense solution to the opioid crisis
What’s needed is effective treatment, access to care, and prevention!
Jul 08, 2018•5 min
A neglected tropical disease
The shortage of snakebite venom.
Jul 01, 2018•5 min
The science of the nudge
Is the nudge an example of libertarian paternalism or subliminal mind-bending?
Jun 24, 2018•5 min
The link between weight and guilt
The feelings of guilt are complex and seemingly tied to our perceptions of weight.
Jun 17, 2018•4 min
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