Reactions to eliminating race conscious admissions from medical schools

Education
September 1, 2023

The medical community was rocked by the United States Supreme Court’s (SCOTUS) decision in Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA), Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College and SFFA v. University of North Carolina, et al. The ruling essentially banned race in consideration for admitting students to colleges and universities. Several medical schools and professional organizations retaliated by vowing to continue affirmative action practices, or at least figure …

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Biological weapons: a history and emerging risks

Conditions
September 1, 2023

Biological weapons are not new. Their use by armies has taken place for centuries. Take the Plague, for example. The pandemic was reportedly first introduced to Europe during the siege of the Genoese trading port of Kaffa in Crimea by the Golden Horde army of Jani Beg in 1347. It decimated 30 percent of the European population. Paradoxically, the resultant labor shortage and lack of faith in the prevailing order …

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Leveraging ChatGPT’s high IQ to assist doctors

Tech
September 1, 2023

The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought about significant advancements in various fields, including health care. ChatGPT, developed by OpenAI, is one such AI that has shown great promise in assisting professionals, particularly doctors, in their daily tasks. This article will discuss the average human IQ, the estimated IQs of notable individuals, the average IQ of doctors, the IQ of ChatGPT, its strengths and limitations, and how it can …

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Psilocybin therapy explained [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 31, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Lynn Marie Morski, a physician, attorney, and president of the Psychedelic Medicine Association. We’ll explore the historical roots of psilocybin, its emerging clinical applications, safety considerations, and the role of health care professionals in educating patients.

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1 in 4 attempt suicide: the persecution of autistic physicians

Physician
August 31, 2023

A young autistic surgeon makes several social faux pas, leading to clashing with his boss repeatedly. This eventually leads to the young autist being transferred to pathology against his will. Unable to cope with the change, he stands up to his boss to seek reinstatement as a surgeon, and he is consequently fired for disrespecting authority by standing his ground.

Sound familiar? That’s because it’s one arc of Read more…

We must protest our moral outrage

Physician
August 31, 2023

I’ve finally figured out why we – physicians – are called “providers.” It’s not merely because we render services. In addition, our role has become a commodity, genericized and stripped of autonomy. We are no longer free to practice as we wish. We have lost the ability to take medical matters into our own hands, to control them, and to resolve them ourselves. Having lost ownership of medical practice to …

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What is intersex? What do you know about your patient’s sexual development?

Conditions
August 31, 2023

I don’t know about you, but I learned very little about variations in sexual development during my medical education over a decade ago. Commonly presented topics were usually of a genetic nature—this person has XXY or XO chromosomes and the “abnormalities” such chromosomal variations can bring. That’s about the extent of my education regarding sex development and gender, with the impression conveyed that these were minor topics.

Fast forward to now, …

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Unveiling a journey marked by talents and turmoil

Conditions
August 31, 2023

His 5-year-old daughter asked her mom, “Today is daddy’s birthday. Can we have a picnic at his grave?”

Bryan was 49 years old. He could really do anything. He could do renovations, carpentry, electrical work, play music, be a father and a husband, a son, an uncle, a brother, and a brother-in-law. He had an incredible sense of humor, was down-to-earth, and a big teddy bear to his children. No one …

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Bias and inequity in health care [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 30, 2023
YouTube video

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Join podiatrist Amol Saxena as we delve into the often overlooked disparities in the U.S. health care system. We discuss the historical underrepresentation of BIPOC individuals in both patient care and medical leadership, shedding light on biases, …

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Navigating feminism in medicine

Physician
August 30, 2023

“Become the doctor your parents always wanted you to marry,” said the T-shirt I purchased from the women in medicine interest group during my first year of medical school. I remember feeling like I should buy that T-shirt (and I did), yet it was also something I was never quite comfortable wearing. It was a “women’s cut” (how appropriate), which meant it fit snugly across the chest and sat high …

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Large income doesn’t always result in greater wealth

Finance
August 30, 2023

Meet the doctors: Dr. Emily Carter and Dr. Carlos Martinez.

Dr. Carter is a primary care doctor, and Dr. Martinez is an allergist. Both doctors are committed to their medical careers. Dr. Carter earns about $180,000 a year, while Dr. Martinez earns about $400,000 a year. However, Dr. Carter is taking a proactive approach to her financial security, thinking early on about taxes, investing, and time. Dr. Martinez is enjoying his …

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The emotional intelligence of physicians: Understanding and managing emotions for better care

Physician
August 30, 2023

The role of a physician is not only to diagnose and treat physical ailments but also to provide emotional support to patients. Understanding and managing emotions is a crucial skill for physicians, impacting their ability to provide empathetic and effective care. Moreover, emotional intelligence also affects a physician’s well-being and relationships in their personal life. In this article, we will explore the eight primary emotions identified by psychologist Robert Plutchik …

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Balancing health care worker immunization and patient safety

Conditions
August 30, 2023

Recently, I heard a news report regarding several states’ attorneys general suing the federal government to eliminate the requirement that health care providers be immunized against COVID. They argued that as fully immunized individuals still contract COVID, and that allowing unimmunized people to be rehired would relieve provider shortages, the regulation was unhelpful.

Initially, I agreed that rehiring these individuals would generate some relief for those staff members who have worked …

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Empowering health care professionals: the art of saying “no” and more

Conditions
August 30, 2023

Setting limits, asking for help, delegating, or even saying “no” are important assertiveness skills. Health care professionals should be proficient in assertiveness because of the potential impact on patient safety, patient experience, workforce health, and cost-effectiveness.

Assertiveness examples

How might these assertive statements influence outcomes?

  • “I haven’t had training in using that IV pump and need help.”
  • “Stop! Don’t make that incision! It is the wrong leg.”
  • “I cannot keep seeing patients …

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Unveiling alcohol’s health paradox: heart benefits and detrimental effects

Conditions
August 30, 2023

Tons of ink have been expended on the health effects, both positive and negative, of alcohol consumption. Beneficial effects on the heart were discussed in the 1990s based on the “French paradox.” A paper published in 1995 noted that there was less ischemic heart disease in France compared to the U.S., despite higher saturated fat intakes and a higher prevalence of smoking.

The relatively lower incidence of ischemic heart disease in …

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Unveiling the intricacies of locum tenens agreements [PODCAST]

Podcast
August 29, 2023
YouTube video

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Join Dennis Hursh, an attorney with 40+ years of expertise in health law. Discover the nuances of locum tenens agreements for physicians, from tax implications and expense deductions to malpractice insurance essentials. We’ll delve into patient contact …

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Navigating a malicious medical malpractice lawsuit: a case study

Physician
August 29, 2023

In line with my previous posts that explain how to resolve all medical malpractice lawsuits, especially frivolous ones, at the lowest possible cost for the physician and the malpractice carrier, this article addresses a malicious medical malpractice lawsuit. Malicious lawsuits deserve something more. Not only are they all frivolous, but they should exact a cost from those who seek to profit from them.

The forewarning

On June 19, 2018, a patient …

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Rising longevity and cognitive health: Navigating dementia and treatment

Conditions
August 29, 2023

The comedian George Burns once quipped, “By the time you’re eighty years old, you’ve learned everything. You only have to remember it.” With the average life expectancy in the United States up from 54 a century ago to 74 today, the damage that can be done by aging and mental decline is more prevalent than ever. We see evidence of it all too often in our world leaders, families, and …

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The sacred profession of doctoring

Physician
August 29, 2023

My heart goes out to the doctors who write about the unbearable burdens of doctoring in a corporate setting, feeling driven to see more patients than they want to within the span of an 8-hour clinic day. They’re tasked with dividing their time into shorter and shorter clinic visits, devoting more time to inputting data points into the EMR rather than engaging in meaningful patient conversations.

I have experienced both ends …

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