The concept of a “Faustian bargain” originates from the legend of Dr. Faustus, a figure from German folklore who trades his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly knowledge and power. Doctor Faustus is Christopher Marlowe’s most renowned and controversial work. The play depicts the sinister aftermath of Faustus’s decision to sell his soul to the devil’s henchmen in exchange for power and knowledge. It serves as a timeless …
In my medical career thus far, I’ll admit family history is something I routinely brush aside. It was never a focus in my medical school or residency training. In my primary care clinic, I spend a couple of minutes asking new patients about their parents’ medical conditions but rarely revisit the topic in future visits.
This approach made sense to me. We’re taught to treat each patient as an individual—to focus …
As I step into my fifth year of superspecialty surgical practice in corporate hospitals, I find myself reflecting on a recurring challenge that has profound implications for both patient care and professional satisfaction. Despite clinical expertise and the goodwill we work tirelessly to build, patient experiences in hospitals are often marred by factors beyond our control.
In my experience, negative feedback about hospital services is overwhelmingly linked to operational inefficiencies rather …
It was a Sunday morning, a rare moment of leisure for a young surgeon stepping into the fifth year of his superspecialty practice. Sitting with his family, savoring the tranquility of a slow day, he felt grateful for the pause. But as the evening crept in, so did the familiar storm: Calls started pouring in—an OT staff member asking about requirements for the next day’s surgeries, a medical officer updating …
In this time of change, it seems appropriate to take a step back and reflect upon the oath we took when we graduated from medical school. Here’s the version we use at the Carle Illinois College of Medicine from the …
My mother has always been very close to me. I was her eldest daughter, born in an unfamiliar city where she had relocated as a newlywed bride. She didn’t have any family or friends in this unfamiliar city. I was practically her only friend.
My mother began sharing her problems with me when I was very young. Sometimes I think she shared too much. She also told me intimate details about …
Random mal-occurrences have always accompanied medical interventions, even under the best of circumstances. These are errors of nature. In the 1960s, some attorneys in California were the first to exploit these unfortunate random outcomes to their advantage. Lawyers made money from lawsuits.
There is a huge return on investment when an error of nature can be portrayed as a medical error. There is always a settlement value.
Creating a demand is easy: …
As a practicing physician and a wellness travel tour operator, I have the privilege of witnessing firsthand the profound impact that travel can have on health and well-being. Beyond being fun, exciting, and educational, travel has the power to heal—physically, emotionally, and even spiritually.
Wellness adventure travel can embody many of the fundamental elements of lifestyle medicine in real time. Movement, whole foods, relaxation, and community—four of the six pillars—can be …
The start of a new year is a time for reflection, renewal, and resolve. For physicians, it often comes with an unspoken question: Do you still remember the spark that first lit your path into medicine? In the endless churn of shifts, charting, and late-night calls, that spark can dim. The burnout we push to the margins of our consciousness slowly edges its way into the center of our being. …
Skin is the largest organ of the body.
It also contains the highest concentration of nociceptors, alerting us to pain at the surface level with the intent to mitigate harm from noxious stimuli.
A veritable trip wire for threats from the external environment, it offers palpable and visible responses in the dermatological layer, providing opportunities for intervention to avoid, eliminate, or resolve problematic exposures.
The skin is also a message delivery system from …
Would you ever consider a routine day at the office as how many people are going to abuse you?
As a psychiatrist who works primarily in an acute care setting, I look after patients that enter the emergency room with complex mental health and social difficulties. I have been doing this work for close to a decade now. I often get asked why I choose to continue the work, and the …
The Hippocratic Oath does not require citizenship as a condition of treatment. The oath, which serves as a foundational ethical guideline for physicians, emphasizes principles such as doing no harm, maintaining patient confidentiality, and practicing medicine ethically and with integrity. It focuses on the physician’s responsibilities to patients and the ethical practice of medicine rather than any conditions related to a patient’s citizenship or nationality.
So, why did this issue surface …
The interplay between generations has become increasingly pronounced in medicine, particularly with the emergence of millennials and Generation Z trainees alongside their older counterparts—the Baby Boomers and Gen X physicians. This generational shift brings to light a myriad of differences in values and perspectives, sparking a nuanced discourse within the medical community. Millennials came of age in an era marked by globalization, technological advancements, and economic prosperity. Their successors, Generation …
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It was a crisp winter day where the sun shines so brightly it tricks you into thinking it’s warm until you step outside and instantly regret not grabbing your scarf—that I heard about the latest musings from our southern neighbors. The commander-in-chief (yes, President Trump, I’m looking at you) had hinted, joked, or perhaps accidentally tweeted (it’s hard to tell these days) that Canada could become the 51st state.
Instantly, I …
Interest in unconventional jobs among physicians and other medical providers is growing. These roles differ from traditional, full-time positions in hospitals or medical practices due to their work settings, schedules, responsibilities, or other factors.
Conventional medical practice often comes with bureaucratic burdens, insurance paperwork, and documentation that lead to frustration and burnout. Many providers seek more autonomy and fulfilling work. They frequently find this via a job change to something unconventional. …
Trigger warning: sexual abuse, violence against women, and rape.
(Dr. Moumita Debnath, a 31-year-old female resident doctor from Kolkata, India, was discovered dead in a seminar hall at R.G. Kar Medical College on August 9, 2024. Her death was verified as the result of a violent sexual assault and murder. All this occurred while she was sleeping alone at night, on call. The autopsy indicated significant damage caused by severe physical …
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“Crappy doc” terminations. First, let me apologize for the use of legalese. Of late, I have been hearing concerning stories about physicians who were terminated from employment on the grounds of supposedly poor-quality care. These are not what you would call slam dunks—I’m not talking about leaving a scalpel in the patient or showing up drunk for rounds.
The stories I hear (admittedly, I’m only hearing the physician’s side) have been …
I still remember the day I opened my acceptance letter to medical school. It felt surreal—a rush of excitement and pride that had me packing my bags months before classes began. As a kid, I was always a dreamer. My dolls weren’t just toys; they were part of elaborate stories where every character had a purpose and a world of possibilities ahead of them. Medicine represented the ultimate story—a chance …
I am Thelonius. I am five. I love mommy. I love daddy. I love God. I like Barney. I like Sesame Street. I like my toys. I am happy.
I am twelve years old. I wish I was 13, because I would be a teenager. Teenagers are cool. They are able to do whatever they want and stay up and watch television late. Teenagers have girlfriends, and they are big kids.
I …
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Fatherhood is a life-changing experience filled with immense joy and responsibility. For men with a career in medicine, this milestone presents unique challenges due to the demanding nature of their profession. Parental leave for fathers, especially in medicine, is critical for the well-being of the family nucleus and for fostering an equitable work environment. Unfortunately, societal and systemic barriers often prevent fathers in medicine from fully embracing this opportunity.
Statistics paint …
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