Entitlement and COVID
Are some people more deserving than others? Should queues and priorities apply to everyone or should some people be able to jump ahead?
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
For those with chronic pain - does surgery lead to improvement?
While it depends on the pain and the cause, on average surgery for chronic musculoskeletal pain does not result in less pain compared to those who received no surgery.
Rationing care in times of COVID
Choices of who gets limited resources in health care are never easy as there are bound to be winners and losers. But, rationing policies need to be open and involve the stakeholders.
How are you doing?
This friendly phrase can send the wrong message.
The advantages of wastewater epidemiology
Wastewater-based epidemiology is an approach to providing real-time information on our exposure to certain diseases using pooled waste water extraction (aka “sewage”).
Crossing your fingers – superstitions in medicine
Superstitions and magical thinking can help protect us from what we know is out ther
Domestic Violence in times of COVID
Research shows that DV increases during hard economic times, social isolation, and around the holidays – creating a perfect storm.
Gut Feelings
While they may not be scientific, gut feelings can often be right.
The benefits of continuity of care
Keeping the same doctor has many benefits but it can also increase the length of your life.
Changing the recommendations for colon cancer screening
As the rates of colon cancer shift it may be time to alter the screening recommendations. But there are some unintended consequences.
The impact of bullying
We’ve seen bullying taken to new levels. The impact on civil society is profound and will be long lasting.
What happens to all that PPE we discard?
While PPE is lifesaving, it is creating environmental damage for the future.
Psychiatric hospitalization as a risk factor for premature death
We’ve got a broken mental health care system which seems unable to protect many with great needs.
Lessons from the bedside for American policy makers
Dr. Nathan Link explains how the medical science of decision-making has lots to offer America’s leaders.
Shame and how it keeps us from improving
We need to change how we care for people with type two diabetes, but unless we admit we need to change people’s health will suffer.
Inappropriate Hysterectomies
The inappropriate removal of an immigrant’s uterus is not that surprising in that it seems to be part of a much larger trend across America.
Inappropriate use of the emergency department
Reducing ED use isn’t as simple as it sounds, and there are competing conflicts of interests.
In the pursuit of happiness
Happiness is not a momentary sense of joy but a sustained sense of life satisfaction.
Food Safety and Security in times of COVID
Despite a sufficient food supply too many people remain hungry.
Variations in hospital cesarean section rates
Despite widely documented health risks, longer hospital stays, and higher costs, caesarean sections are still performed too often and risk impacting women’s health.
ACES and Trauma Informed Care Part 2
Adverse childhood experiences (ACES) harm children's developing brains and lead to long term physical and emotional health issues. While we can’t go back and undo early trauma, we can intervene using “trauma informed care” approaches.
ACES and Trauma Informed Care: Part 1
ACES are adverse childhood experiences that harm children's developing brains and lead to changing how they respond to stress and damaging their immune systems so profoundly that the effects show up decades later. ACEs cause much of our burden of chronic disease, most mental illness, and are at the root of most violence.
The state of Alzheimer Disease in America
A new test offers some benefits, but also some risks, to finding out if you are at high risk for Alzheimer’s - a disease for which there are currently no good treatments available.
The impact of race on kidney transplantation
In many ways social, economic, and medical the cards are stacked against some people getting a transplantation.
The prohibition against marijuana in the hospital
Why is a drug that can be so useful to a group of patients not allowed in the hospital?
Leaving the World Health Organization
This decision to leave the WHO is among the most irresponsible the president has made and will negatively impact not only American lives but people in every corner of the world.
A practical steps to protect those at risk of suicide
Extreme Risk Protection Orders are a relatively new step that can be taken to protect the public from those who are felt to be of risk to themselves or others.
Changes in thinking about blood pressure
For some elderly taking several blood pressure medications can be risky. Do they need to take multiple medicines? Doctor have been hesitant to stop blood pressure medications because they fear they might harm their patients. The OPTIMISE trial results provides some reassurance.
Practice Guidelines the drive toward racial disparities
Practice guidelines use evidence to help doctors and patients make decisions about care. But, if the guidelines are biased so too are the decisions.
Medical Leadership and Conflicts of Interest
Why do we listen to expert medical groups when they have conflicts of interests that involve pharmaceutical companies and device manufacturers?