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.
Episodes
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
Do doctors keep up to date with their medical knowledge?
It’s hard to tell, but we have no way to know for sure.
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.
When is a disease not a disease?
When one in three people have an abnormal lab test, does it become a disease?
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.
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.
Listening to music in Refugee Camps
Music has benefits that relate hope and social connections
A tale of two kingdoms
Fluoride has proven so successful that it would be crazy to deprive children of its benefits
The risk of a bird flu epidemic
The risks are rising, and state and government officials are not taking this seriously.
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?
Drug Promotion to the Public
Why do drug companies push drugs to the public that just don’t work?
Doctor, will you pray with me?
Medicine and spirituality often interact, but clinicians and patients can often find themselves in very different places.
The importance of standing tall
Slouching has a rich history, but its medical consequences need to be better understood.
As a group, are migrants less healthy?
Migration is at an all-time high worldwide. It can impact health in many ways.
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.
Food Insecurity
How can a country so rich in resources and farm production have people who still go to bed hungry?
Task Shifting
A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality
Should a mosquito-born illness seen in Los Angeles be of concern?
Climate change and increased moisture have altered the habitat for mosquitos.
The marketing of depression
Finding an effective treatment can be tricky, but it need not be a pill.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
Early Hospital Discharge
Hospitals strive for early discharge, but it may not be in the patient’s best interest.
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
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.
Waiting for test results to come back
The wait can be long, and our thoughts often turn to the worst-case scenario
Unproven Claims for Dietary Supplements
We are regularly bombarded with advertisements promoting unproven and non-approved dietary supplements. Congress has chosen to look the other way.
Spirituality – A Missed Opportunity to Improve Health
Medical and Spiritual Professionals are like two ships passing in the night