Medical Waste
Big polluters are not just cars and power plants - they include the American health care system.
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
Recommendations to screen for anxiety in adults
When we screen for any disease, we need to make sure acceptable treatments are available.
The move toward remote home monitoring
Remote monitoring devices are now capable of tracking our health behaviors including the pills we consume, the food we eat, and the step we take. Is this an advance in health care?
Abortion: States vs the Federal government
Nationally, emergency departments have become the latest battle ground around issues related to abortion.
The health benefits of Camellia Sinensis (black tea)
A very large preliminary study suggests that there may be some health benefits to regularly drinking black tea.
The link between soil and health
Soil is something that often gets ignored as we think broadly about health.
Variations in the consumption of dairy products
It turns out that even what we chose for breakfast can have a biological origin.
Limitations of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022
The new legislation offers some major successes, but with regard to drug pricing it is not close to what it could have been.
Informing relatives of genetic risks
We currently have no good communication systems to assure that those at risk for serious inherited diseases are informed of their risk.
Anti-depressants needs a major “rethink”
It turns out that much of what we’ve been told about antidepressants is wrong or misleading. The prevailing thinking has led to huge sales with little evidence of effectiveness.
Video recording surgical operations
Video recordings in the OR have a chance to improve quality but they also open a can of worms.
Wild and domestic pigs
With changes in domestic pig farming we may solve one problem of inhuman care, but risk another problem by exposing pigs to diseases that can impact our health.
Ignoring monkeypox at our own peril
Public trust in expert opinions on infectious diseases is low, but that’s no reason to ignore what is potentially a large public health problem.
The harms of too much and too little care
There are great disparities in health care and at both extremes – too much and too little – great harm can result.
Ageism and its impact on health
Ageism - the negative attitudes directed toward older persons simply because of their age – can impact an older person’s health.
Disappointment
If we are not careful, disappointment can have devastating long-term consequences.
A new kind of first responder
To reduce over utilization of emergency responders, fire departments are experimenting with a new, more comprehensive approach to home visits.
The Black Box Around Determining Physician Fees
Determining the fees physicians get paid is anything but transparent and only serves to drive up health care costs.
Sharing information against a family’s wish
Conflicts arise when a family does not wish to tell a sick person their diagnosis.
The heavy use of antidepressants in women
Women are the dominant users of antidepressants and there are many possible reasons why.
Friday the 13th
Superstitions impact many aspects of our lives, but they can have a profound effect in health care.
The importance of non-emergency transportation in health care
Not traditionally considered a part of health care, transportation plays an oversized role in the management of chronic disease.
A One Health approach to tick borne diseases
Veterinarians and Human health providers often deal similar diseases and that would stand a better chance of treatment with improved communication between the two professions.
Why do we still use the ineffective drug ivermectin for COVID-19?
Armed with good science that shows the drug is ineffective and dangerous people are still using it and often skipping their vaccines that are proven safe and effective. Go figure.
Messages to reach the heart and mind
Health messages are often ignored or easily forgotten. Enter a novel approach using Hip Hop Music.
What do hospital rankings really tell us?
Hospital rankings use metrics that just aren’t very relevant to most of us.
Challenging cholesterol statin use
Skeptics are a bit like the grains of sand in an oyster.
Those with intellectual disabilities
Special Olympics is working to protect those inside Ukraine and those fleeing to neighboring countries.
The care of animals in times of war
Human are of paramount importance, but the health of animals is important as a part of human health.
The power of the health lobby
The most powerful lobbying groups rarely have our best interests at heart.