Racism and Medicine
With regard to racism, medicine is part of the problem and needs to quickly become part of the solution.
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
The dangerous use of off label prescribing in times of a pandemic
Off label prescribing as grown into an enormous problem, and it risks putting people’s health at risk.
Implicit Bias in Mental Health
Could it be that our subconscious biases lead us to make assumptions that are not based on the facts?
The right to NOT know a medical diagnosis
Doctors have a moral, ethical and legal duty to inform patients of their medical results. But, do patients have a right to NOT be told crucial medical information?
200 years of change started by one woman
Florence Nightingale is known as a champion of nursing but she did much more….
The origins of the antiviral drug Remdesivir
The long journey for Remdesivir starting with a deadly cat disease
Fake news and its impact on health
Medical journalists need to slow down and do their homework before reporting on new research. Covering medicine is not a race, but a slow evolving process.
The stigma around COVID can be as dangerous as the virus, says Dr. Wilkes
In many of those countries stigma around the disease plays an important role. Today we look at Tunisia and the role stigma plays in managing COVID.
COVID-19 in Africa
Thinking about COVID-19 may different around the world
Missed lessons from the Ebola Outbreak
With each epidemic there are important lessons to be learned. When we do not learn from these lessons, the next time around we are bound to make the same errors.
Disease patterns and planetary health
In some ways we have only ourselves to blames for our changing planet and its relationships with diseases.
Our behavior changes when we are being watched
For generations we’ve know that when we are watched, or think we are being watched, our behavior changes. How can we use this to improve health?
A health care birthday
The Affordability Care Act (aka Obama Care) turns ten this month. Despite a decade of challenges and opposition from some, the bill remains broadly popular and has improved our health in many ways. Without it, many who get sick from COVID would have been left without access to health care or with enormous bills.
The need to focus on de-prescribing
No drug, no matter how good, should escape regular scrutiny in terms of whether it is still needed and do the benefits outweigh the risks.
Do health care providers have a duty to work during pandemics?
Physicians, nurses, and others at UCD are faced with a time-honored dilemma do they assume some risk to themselves to provide care to the public?
There is so much we don’t know about cannabis
Without more research we could be under-utilizing the benefits of cannabis or over using the drug and causing additional problems. There’s only one way to find out, and that’s with well conducted research.
Hospital bills can have an impact on our health
Full disclosure of hospital charges and POOMS (patient oriented outcomes that matter to us) will help drive the system toward higher quality care and lower costs.
Reducing hospital infections
Sometime simple solutions can have huge benefits. A group of nurses found putting some money where the mouth is can save lives and reduce costs. The cost? $1.35.
Pandemics vs Epidemics
Is the spread of global disease the new normal?
Vaccines and the N-Corona Virus
First SARS, then MERS, and now N-Corona suggest we have a new normal.
Bias can have a large impact on health
There are many social determinants that greatly impact health, but one that takes place within the health care system is implicit bias.
Natural Gas and health
N atural gas isn’t as healthy as producers maintain, and it’s health impacts aren’t just on humans.
Unnecessary lab tests pushed by a vendor
Health care costs continue to rise, and much of this is due to unnecessary tests and procedures that do not improve length or quality of life. One area that is rarely discussed are clinical laboratories that push doctors to do tests that are simply not needed.
Putting off serious health care treatments
Americans spend twice what other developed nations spend on health care and we certainly are not any healthier because of that spending
As long as your around your family…
Collecting a good family medical history can be useful for the entire family.
Sending children with HIV to school in Uganda
Schools should serve as safe places for HIV infected children - a place where they can receive support and encouragement. But, in Uganda where HIV still carries stigma schools can create havoc for infected children.
The plague of Romanian health care
Despite large barriers, Romania struggles to provide its 20 million citizens with adequate health care.
Epigenetics
We are more than just the sum of our genes - the environment in which those genes work can have a large impact on our physical and mental health.
The impact of gratitude
It feels good, but there is biology that suggests it actually improves health.
The risks and benefits of daily aspirin
Times have changed and new data suggests that daily aspirin isn’t as helpful as once thought.