Physician

A specialist’s journey in health care advocacy

Kara Wada, MD

Physician

April 9, 2024

As an allergy, immunology, and autoimmune disease specialist, I frequently see patients whose stories are a harsh indictment of our medical system. They’ve been dismissed, misdiagnosed, and forced to navigate a maze designed for quick fixes, not the complexities they endure. These unseen patients fight multi-system illnesses that defy textbooks. Their journeys highlight just how broken our approach to chronic disease truly is.

Playing “medical hot potato,” they bounce between specialists …

Bridging communication gaps in residency training

Anonymous

Physician

April 9, 2024

Older physicians often bemoan what’s perceived as a decline in professionalism during residency training. Caps on the number of inpatients assigned to an intern or resident. Duty hour limits. Wellness retreats. While these may be imperfect, they’re at least aligned with or heading in the direction of what is the right way to balance the rigors of a lifetime of training in and practicing medicine with the safety, quality, and …

Plaintiff attorneys and their contingency fees: causes of chaos in medical malpractice litigation

Howard Smith, MD

Physician

April 8, 2024

In the English Rule, the losing party in a lawsuit pays all legal costs. It is accepted worldwide; however, in the United States, it was replaced by the American Rule. In the American Rule, both the plaintiff and defendant in a lawsuit pay their own legal costs. Of course, there are exceptions.

In theory, the American Rule encourages meritorious lawsuits and discourages frivolous and even malicious ones. It is noteworthy that, …

Dream jobs and dream contracts: restrictive covenant nightmares

Shakeel Ahmed, MD

Physician

April 8, 2024

“The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
— Frederick Douglass

For doctors beginning their postgraduate professional lives, there are several options. One is the proverbial “hanging up the shingle,” a folk saying meaning going out on one’s own. The advantage is that this doctor is his/her own boss, can run the practice any way desired, and reap all the profits; the downside is such a …

Navigating the tides: Finding balance in the unyielding world of medicine

Harvey Castro, MD, MBA

Physician

April 7, 2024

In the relentless pursuit of saving lives and advancing health care, medical professionals often find themselves on the frontline, where the high stakes of their profession can blur the lines between personal well-being and professional obligations. The noble calling to medicine is, without doubt, a source of immense fulfillment and pride. Yet, this very dedication can sometimes push us towards an imbalance, impacting not just our well-being but also the …

A young surgeon’s night: from calm to chaos

Carol Scott-Conner, MD, PhD

Physician

April 7, 2024

When you are a young academic general surgeon, even the nights are sometimes good. A good on-call night unfolds something like this. You might have spent the day working in the operating room or in the clinic seeing patients. Your on-call typically begins at 5 p.m., although occasionally, a colleague may ask to sign out early. This call period will not end until 7 or 8 a.m. the next morning, …

The curse of the excellent doctor

Dr. Damane Zehra

Physician

April 6, 2024

The reward for good work is always more work. The employer becomes dependent on the quality of work that you do because he knows that you, as a person, are a workaholic and perfectionist. You put your heart and soul into everything you do. No other employers can do the kind of work that you do. But don’t ever think that you would be appreciated for your hard work. You …

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The curse of the excellent doctor

Confessions of a disruptive physician

Beverly Joyce, MD

Physician

April 5, 2024

At the lowest depths of burnout, I was a “disruptive physician.” I got away with a lot. I frequently lashed out in anger with inappropriate comments to nurses and staff. I yelled at my husband and my kids. I was in full “victim” mode and I let everyone know it.

As an OB/GYN, I was available to my patients 24/7/365. This was the way it was in my private practice. I …

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Confessions of a disruptive physician

Unlocking compassion: lessons from a prison clinic

Francisco M. Torres, MD

Physician

April 4, 2024

The healing potential of human interaction should always be considered, particularly when practicing medicine. Early in my medical career, I worked in the electromyography laboratory at Charity Hospital, Louisiana State University. During my time there, I saw an astonishing variety of patients. Among other things, we were the hospital of choice for the nearby Louisiana State Penitentiary, Angola, or “The Alcatraz of the South.” This prison was infamous for housing …

Rise of mega payouts: Physicians are now the white whales

Jay K. Joshi, MD & Ron Chapman II, JD

Physician

April 4, 2024

In recent years, malpractice attorneys have intensified their efforts to target physicians, becoming more aggressive in their pursuit of legal action. This relentless pursuit can be likened to Captain Ahab’s relentless quest for the white whale in the famous novel Moby Dick. The landscape has become increasingly challenging for physicians, as recent tort reform legislation in numerous states is rolling back the protections they once enjoyed. This unsettling trend underscores …

10 harsh truths doctors must understand to avoid burnout

Tomi Mitchell, MD

Physician

April 3, 2024

In the high-stakes world of medicine, doctors are revered for their dedication to saving lives and providing compassionate care. However, behind the white coats and stethoscopes lies a harsh reality that many health care professionals often overlook—the risk of burnout. Burnout among doctors is a pressing issue that affects their personal well-being and compromises the quality of care they deliver to patients. To combat this pervasive problem, doctors must confront …

A crisis of alcoholism is surging in the United States

L. Joseph Parker, MD

Physician

April 2, 2024

The CDC is trying, desperately, it seems, to pound a square peg into a round hole, blaming COVID-19 for a surge in alcohol use and ignoring a glaring problem with the evidence. That’s not something you generally expect from scientists. However, I would argue the CDC is no longer controlled by scientists. While dedicated scientists still work there, the CDC is now controlled by politics. Founded as the Communicable Disease …

The hidden menu of physician contracts

Tod Stillson, MD

Physician

April 2, 2024

Many of you prioritize the clinical aspects of our profession, but understanding the business side of medicine is equally crucial. One key area to consider is your contract, as it can significantly impact your career path and financial stability.

I believe it’s essential for every doctor to be knowledgeable about the variety of contracts they may encounter in the marketplace. The most common type of contract is the business-to-individual contract, where …

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The hidden menu of physician contracts

Common pitfalls underlying cause-and-effect relationships

Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

Physician

April 1, 2024

In the realm of medicine, cause-and-effect relationships are those where a specific cause, such as a disease, condition, or treatment, directly leads to a specific outcome or effect. An example of this is the established fact that smoking causes lung cancer. Similarly, it is well-documented that regular, heavy alcohol consumption directly leads to liver cirrhosis.

On the other hand, phrases like “associated with,” “linked to,” and “tied to” denote a correlation …

Laughter is the best medicine (but use it wisely with patients)

Bradley B. Block, MD

Physician

April 1, 2024

According to The Onion founder Scott Dikkers, “Comedy is meant to afflict the comfortable and comfort the afflicted.”

As physicians, our patients are the “afflicted,” so how can we use comedy to comfort them? Before we get to the how, let us start with the why.

Why make patients laugh? Because laughter is the best medicine. After steroids. Steroids are the best medicine. Laughter is the second-best medicine, and it has fewer …

Palliative and hospice care in hospitals and clinics: the good, the bad, and the ugly

Earl Stewart, Jr., MD & Miguel Villagra, MD

Physician

April 1, 2024

I walk into the patient’s hospital room during evening rounds. He looks pale and tired, having recently completed a round of chemotherapy for his stage IV pancreatic cancer. His wife is at the bedside, scared and concerned about her husband’s rapid decline. I sit down to discuss goals of care when the patient immediately says, “I can’t do this anymore.” His wife responds immediately to the patient: “Of course you …

Microskills to be a team player: workplace violence

Resa E. Lewiss, MD and Adaira Landry, MD

Physician

March 30, 2024

A patient, intoxicated with alcohol, comes into the emergency department complaining of chest pain. The nurse and the ECG tech need help as the patient is yelling, flailing his arms, and trying to stand up out of bed while stumbling. The nurse puts a blood pressure cuff on his arm and a pulse oximeter probe on his finger. With his other hand, he tries to grab her, pull her toward …

Beyond safety whistles and pizza: On National Doctor’s Day and every day, physicians deserve humanity

Jennifer Lycette, MD

Physician

March 30, 2024

Recently, on an average workday, my hand brushed against the small safety whistle clipped beside my ID badge. Most days, I don’t even remember the whistle is there, a “Happy Doctor’s Day” gift from a few years ago. I dutifully clipped it on, but I can’t say it makes me feel safer.

I remember shrugging when I received it and thinking, well, it’s more practical than pizza.

I also …

Lessons for a doctor on the Ski Patrol

Shafer Stedronova, MD

Physician

March 30, 2024

Is the scene safe?

This is the first thing that you, as a member of the National Ski Patrol, need to ask and assess when coming upon a scene.

As a doctor, I can tell you: they do not teach you this in med school.

When becoming a doctor, you learn how the body works as best we currently understand it. You study how substances affect the body, from illegal drugs to those …

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Lessons for a doctor on the Ski Patrol

When the doctor’s office becomes a confession booth

Ryan McCarthy, MD

Physician

March 28, 2024

“I made a big mistake a long time ago.”

These words snapped my concentration. I squinted at the computer screen, and even though it had been stable, I waited for Cindy’s pancytopenia to collapse entirely. I enjoyed seeing Cindy, the kind of patient who trusted my counsel and, just as importantly, needed my help. Sweet and cute, she gave me a real hug and a genuine smile every time I saw …

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