Patients and caregivers writing on KevinMD about the experience of illness and the health care system from the other side of the exam table: navigating care, the doctor-patient relationship, being heard, and what patients want physicians to understand. Physicians who have become patients write here too. For the record of what pain patients and physicians have said to each other about opioids and chronic pain since 2007, with patient authors cited at the same weight as physicians, see Opioids: what physicians and pain patients say, in their own words. For what patients, families, and physicians have said about dying, hospice, and the decisions families face at the end of life, see End of life: what physicians say, in their own words. For what women and the physicians who treat them have said about pregnancy, menopause, and the conditions dismissed for years, see Women's health: what physicians say, in their own words. For what physicians have said about consent, honesty, and who decides, see Medical ethics: what physicians say, in their own words.
A recent article in Smithsonian Magazine lauded a man in Indonesia for removing a motorcycle tire that had been stuck around a crocodile's neck for six years. Known by locals as buaya kalung ban, which means "crocodile with a tire…
A recent article in Smithsonian Magazine lauded a man in Indonesia for removing a motorcycle tire that had been stuck around a crocodile’s neck for six years. Known by locals as buaya kalung ban, which means “crocodile with a tire necklace,” the reptile had successfully thwarted previous rescue attempts.
Though the outcome was considered a success – not once did anyone stop to consider whether the crocodile …
My husband Jeremy and I stood just inside the entrance of the NICU, between the front desk where we used to get our bright orange stickers, permitting our entry as proud parents of Reed Robinson, Room 363, and the washing…
My husband Jeremy and I stood just inside the entrance of the NICU, between the front desk where we used to get our bright orange stickers, permitting our entry as proud parents of Reed Robinson, Room 363, and the washing station, where we meticulously washed away any germs that could harm him. It had been about a week since Reed took his last breath in my arms and it took …
When you think of a hospital chaplain, what comes to mind? A bearer of bad news? An imminent turn for the worse? A symbol of death and dying? That's what I used to think. Chaplains showed up in end-of-life situations,…
When you think of a hospital chaplain, what comes to mind? A bearer of bad news? An imminent turn for the worse? A symbol of death and dying? That’s what I used to think. Chaplains showed up in end-of-life situations, and I’d give anything to never encounter one.
I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Last week, I had the privilege of listening to a chaplain at my local children’s hospital as he …
One day in a moment of crisis, I made a decision to survive. I did not ever expect to make such a decision. Just the week before, I had high hopes for a new beginning. "Are you sure you want…
One day in a moment of crisis, I made a decision to survive.
I did not ever expect to make such a decision. Just the week before, I had high hopes for a new beginning.
“Are you sure you want to do this?” my husband smiled. “We can just keep driving, head straight to Key West.” Instead, we walked into the hospital, my leg burning with sciatica, my back pinched tight with …
I want to scream out loud: "Wake up people, we're circling the drain!" Does anyone notice the state of our country, the state of the world that we are living in? The world is torn apart by something we cannot…
I want to scream out loud: “Wake up people, we’re circling the drain!”
Does anyone notice the state of our country, the state of the world that we are living in? The world is torn apart by something we cannot even see. Millions of lives have been lost; others who survive the COVID attack are frequently left with long-term side effects, most of which are not yet remedied by medical science. …
A man discovers an unsettling sight during a bathroom visit. It leads to a sequence of rapid medical events with laggard resolution. "Jillian Palmer" is an independent bakery chef. She shares a sample-size blueberry pie with a personal friend, "Jack…
A man discovers an unsettling sight during a bathroom visit. It leads to a sequence of rapid medical events with laggard resolution.
“Jillian Palmer” is an independent bakery chef. She shares a sample-size blueberry pie with a personal friend, “Jack Timbal.” His family has purchased many large pans from Jillian before with much appreciation. This small pie is large enough for three servings.
Despite cutting back on desserts in recent weeks, Jack …
You know that feeling you get from an insincere apology? Your stomach flip-flops. Your heart pounds. You feel irritated, disgusted even. A vague dissonance nags at you. It's the same disorienting feeling you get from an insult wrapped in a…
You know that feeling you get from an insincere apology? Your stomach flip-flops. Your heart pounds. You feel irritated, disgusted even. A vague dissonance nags at you. It’s the same disorienting feeling you get from an insult wrapped in a compliment. Or from realizing you’ve been scammed, and the perpetrator got away. That feeling.
Non-apology apologies are easy to identify. They’re the I’m sorry but, the sorry you feel that, the …
He was the middleman — the man that took the crack cocaine from the main guy, the drug dealer and then sold it to his "clients" and kept a percentage of the money for himself and the rest to the…
He was the middleman — the man that took the crack cocaine from the main guy, the drug dealer and then sold it to his “clients” and kept a percentage of the money for himself and the rest to the dealer.
It was a fine-tuned operation. You could make a lot of money. But you had to be precise, or else.
The patient was a tall, slim 20-something man. He had a …
I wake up feeling exhausted. This seemingly never-ending nightmare of mutating coronavirus keeps sucking the life out of me. During this past summer, we were receiving some signs of hope that COVID was in decline; this hope was ripped out…
I wake up feeling exhausted. This seemingly never-ending nightmare of mutating coronavirus keeps sucking the life out of me. During this past summer, we were receiving some signs of hope that COVID was in decline; this hope was ripped out from under us when the delta variant stood its ground and went rogue. Now, a new and upcoming challenger to the title “most transmissible coronavirus,” Omicron, is usurping a good …
Medicine today is single encounter-oriented, with the patient medical record structured to support one encounter at a time, where an encounter is either a single outpatient visit or an inpatient stay. The problem with this single encounter orientation is that…
Medicine today is single encounter-oriented, with the patient medical record structured to support one encounter at a time, where an encounter is either a single outpatient visit or an inpatient stay. The problem with this single encounter orientation is that it often takes a number of encounters to get a correct diagnosis and that care for a medical condition could extend over many encounters before the medical situation can be …
Today, most medical organizations have gotten away from paper medical records and use computerized electronic medical record systems (EMRs). The U.S. government has encouraged the use of such systems, no matter how large or small these systems are. A current…
Today, most medical organizations have gotten away from paper medical records and use computerized electronic medical record systems (EMRs). The U.S. government has encouraged the use of such systems, no matter how large or small these systems are.
A current problem is that a patient may be seen in different medical organizations and have medical records in different EMRs. This has promoted the concept of “interoperability,” allowing one EMR system to …
Lurking in the shadows, it creeps in. Spreading itself across the world. Creeping into all recesses of human civilization, like a slug oozing slime as it moves slowly and surely. A microscopic, spikey ball of evil engineered for killing. Attacking…
Lurking in the shadows, it creeps in.
Spreading itself across the world.
Creeping into all recesses of human civilization,
like a slug oozing slime as it moves slowly and surely.
A microscopic, spikey ball of evil engineered for killing.
Attacking its prey without warning.
Attaching itself, drawing lifeblood for its existence.
A parasite of sorts, devoid of a conscience.
It matters not if victims are young, old, healthy, infirmed, rich, poor.
Existence is at risk and all are fair
A brown plastic bag sits atop the green dresser in my room. One side has a purple hummingbird flying above the word “Papyrus,” a store at the mall named after the material ancient Egyptians used as a written surface. The…
A brown plastic bag sits atop the green dresser in my room. One side has a purple hummingbird flying above the word “Papyrus,” a store at the mall named after the material ancient Egyptians used as a written surface. The other side of the bag features a white hummingbird with red splashes on its wings. A paragraph of small, white writing rests at the bottom of the bag. I don’t …
An excerpt from All Good Things: A Memoir About Genetic Testing, Infertility and One Woman’s Relentless Search for Happiness. I had permanent black bags under my eyes from not sleeping properly. I never woke up feeling rested. I hit the…
I had permanent black bags under my eyes from not sleeping properly. I never woke up feeling rested. I hit the snooze button three or four times every morning, prolonging the start of each day. One morning, four months after receiving my test results, I swung my legs out …
“The weapon of the advocate is the sword of the soldier, not the dagger of the assassin,” according to journalist and writer, Alexander Cockburn. The sword of the advocate, whether used for oneself or a loved one, may also end…
“The weapon of the advocate is the sword of the soldier, not the dagger of the assassin,” according to journalist and writer, Alexander Cockburn.
The sword of the advocate, whether used for oneself or a loved one, may also end up opening doors that can benefit others. My work involves promoting the importance of family involvement in patient advocacy. But on occasion, I have needed to advocate for myself; I hope …
On August 25, 2021, the United States achieved two world records: approximately a total of 39 million cases of COVID-19 among our citizenry and approximately 648,000 deaths due to succumbing to COVID. Young, old; male, female; rich, poor — it…
On August 25, 2021, the United States achieved two world records: approximately a total of 39 million cases of COVID-19 among our citizenry and approximately 648,000 deaths due to succumbing to COVID. Young, old; male, female; rich, poor — it doesn’t matter. We are all potential victims of this deadly disease.
Our numbers have surpassed the data of countries such as India, Brazil, and China. Haven’t we learned anything in almost …
One night my godson seeming anxious came to me and asked if there was such a thing as a “TomGirl”? He coined a term that addresses so many issues of our time. Questions about gender stereotypes and the negative idea…
One night my godson seeming anxious came to me and asked if there was such a thing as a “TomGirl”? He coined a term that addresses so many issues of our time. Questions about gender stereotypes and the negative idea of the word feminine. A few years back, based on this incident, I wrote a picture book about a little boy who likes to knit and sew. It is based …
As a surrogate consultant, people often ask me for advice on the best advance directive (AD) to cover their medical and end-of-life (EOL) wishes. Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple. An AD is a “legally recognized” document usually containing…
As a surrogate consultant, people often ask me for advice on the best advance directive (AD) to cover their medical and end-of-life (EOL) wishes. Unfortunately, the answer is not that simple. An AD is a “legally recognized” document usually containing a living will spelling out your preferences and treatment options when you cannot speak for yourself. It also includes the designation of a health care surrogate/proxy to follow your wishes. …
It never ceases to amaze me that some people do not realize they have the absolute right to make their own health care choices even if everyone else thinks it’s the wrong choice. Once they recognize that every medical option…
It never ceases to amaze me that some people do not realize they have the absolute right to make their own health care choices even if everyone else thinks it’s the wrong choice. Once they recognize that every medical option is theirs to accept or reject, the effect can be liberating.
In the Patient Self-Determination Act of 1990 Act, this right to choose is outlined, including the right to refuse treatment, …
For those working in the health care profession, life has been a nightmarish existence for the past 18 months. COVID-19, originally billed as an illness no more severe than the flu, has devastated America and most other world countries. Loss…
For those working in the health care profession, life has been a nightmarish existence for the past 18 months. COVID-19, originally billed as an illness no more severe than the flu, has devastated America and most other world countries. Loss of life due to the virus has been astounding, often attacking the most vulnerable of our population. Now, more than 1 1/2 years later, the virus is still in our …
