We don’t have the information we need on prescription drugs
If you are prescribed a drug, how do you find out how effective the drug really is?
Dec 17, 2023•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
Making Hepatitis C treatment available to all
Now that there is a highly effective treatment available, how can we assure access to this life saving drug?
Dec 10, 2023•5 min
Prescription Digital Tools
These tools rely on software to monitor, treat, or prevent disease. They are still in their early stages but we need more data on their effectiveness.
Dec 03, 2023•5 min
What is a normal part of aging?
Not all problems should be attributed to normal aging.
Nov 26, 2023•5 min
The meaning of gratitude
It turns out that gratitude can benefit physical and mental health.
Nov 19, 2023•5 min
When to report child or elderly abuse
The consequences of reporting, and not reporting abuse, can be enormous
Nov 13, 2023•5 min
Hospital Culture and End-of-Life Care
We need to do better at matching care provided at the end of life to patient’s preferences.
Nov 05, 2023•5 min
Is gambling a medical problem?
Decreasing problem gambling will require a toolbox of remedies including health care interventions and new policies.
Oct 29, 2023•5 min
Hospital Discharge- given only a few hours to decide what’s next
Hospital discharge can be complicated, and too often, patient’s preferences are not considered.
Oct 22, 2023•6 min
Do we need black boxes in medicine?
There are many similarities between medicine and aviation, but one change we need to make in medicine is to develop the equivalent of black boxes to improve the quality of care.
Oct 15, 2023•5 min
Harm Reduction
While not a perfect solution, it has been shown to work.
Oct 08, 2023•6 min
Substance Abuse Part 1
What drives substance abuse is complex and treatment requires a dual approach
Oct 01, 2023•5 min
Vector Borne Disease and Climate Change
Climate change has created unique opportunities for insects to spread disease.
Sep 24, 2023•5 min
The Popularity of Total Body MRI Scanning
These expensive tests have very little benefit and some important risks.
Sep 17, 2023•5 min
Intergenerational Trauma
Trauma experienced by refugees can have a powerful effect on the biology and behaviors of future generations.
Sep 10, 2023•5 min
The meaning of being on the “BEST HOSPITAL” list
We need to agree on outcomes for a “best hospital” and then figure out how to measure those qualities.
Sep 03, 2023•5 min
The impact of positive childhood experiences
It turns out both adverse and positive childhood experiences impact our health as adults.
Aug 27, 2023•4 min
Emotional Support Animals
Certain rules assure that people can live with emotional support animals, but they are different rules than protect service animals.
Aug 20, 2023•4 min
Medical Research Volunteers are often poorly informed
The FDA has dropped the ball on requiring that studies are properly evaluated for ethical violations
Aug 13, 2023•5 min
The White Coat Ceremony – only a partial celebration.
Perhaps the white coat is no longer a fitting symbol for a patient-focused modern medical profession.
Aug 06, 2023•4 min
Religion and Medicine often make strange partners
Is our life’s path already written, or can we control behaviors and impact our health?
Jul 30, 2023•5 min
Ordering drug tests without permission
Drug testing for elicit substances should require explicit permission from the patient
Jul 23, 2023•5 min
The new heavily promoted weight loss drugs
Like with all new drugs, – things are never quite what they first seem.
Jul 16, 2023•5 min
The doctor and allocating scarce resources
Should limited resources go to those with the greatest expected benefit?
Jul 09, 2023•5 min
De-prescribing medications
Too many people use too many medications, negatively affecting their health.
Jul 02, 2023•5 min
One factor in picking the best surgeon
Data over many years suggests that surgeons who do more surgeries have better outcomes.
Jun 25, 2023•5 min
What we know about fathers
Being a father isn’t easy, and the expectations have changed remarkably over the years.
Jun 18, 2023•5 min
Cannabis for sleep
A good night’s sleep is vital to well-being, but it isn’t always easy
Jun 11, 2023•5 min
Meat consumption and human health (part 2)
While consuming meat can negatively impact our health, it also affects meat processing workers and those living near these processing plants.
Jun 04, 2023•5 min
The impact of meat consumption on human health
The relationship between meat consumption and human health is complicated.
May 28, 2023•5 min