KevinMD.com

July 31, 2007Jul 31, 2007

What does that mean to you? More patients than you think are confused by drug labels:Did that mean a total of two, or a total of four? A third of patients who were deemed literate got confused. A more clear…

What does that mean to you? More patients than you think are confused by drug labels:

Did that mean a total of two, or a total of four? A third of patients who were deemed literate got confused. A more clear instruction would be: “Take two tablets in the morning and two tablets at night.”

The fix is not complicated. When I write a prescription, I spell out how …

Conditions and Diseases

How too much muscle cream caused a fatal overdose

Kevin Pho, MD

June 9, 2007Jun 9, 2007

Overuse of muscle cream led to this teen's death:A medical examiner blamed a 17-year-old track star's death on the use of too much muscle cream, the kind used to soothe aching legs after exercise.Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre…

Overuse of muscle cream led to this teen’s death:

A medical examiner blamed a 17-year-old track star’s death on the use of too much muscle cream, the kind used to soothe aching legs after exercise.

Arielle Newman, a cross-country runner at Notre Dame Academy on Staten Island, died after her body absorbed high levels of methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory found in sports creams such as Bengay and Icy Hot, …

Read more…

How too much muscle cream caused a fatal overdose

Social Media in Medicine

How an anonymous doctor blog surfaced in a malpractice trial

Kevin Pho, MD

May 31, 2007May 31, 2007

Stunning news. The Boston Globe on Flea, his trial and how his blogging ultimately led from a possible victory to settlement:As Ivy League-educated pediatrician Robert P. Lindeman sat on the stand in Suffolk Superior Court this month, defending himself in…

Stunning news. The Boston Globe on Flea, his trial and how his blogging ultimately led from a possible victory to settlement:

As Ivy League-educated pediatrician Robert P. Lindeman sat on the stand in Suffolk Superior Court this month, defending himself in a malpractice suit involving the death of a 12-year-old patient, the opposing counsel startled him with a question.

Was Lindeman Flea?

Flea, jurors in the case …

Read more…

How an anonymous doctor blog surfaced in a malpractice trial

Real physician voices, twice a week

Free, and one click to unsubscribe.

Health Policy

What is defensive medicine, and why do doctors practice it?

Kevin Pho, MD

April 4, 2007Apr 4, 2007

What is defensive medicine? Defensive medicine is the deviation from sound medical practice to avoid the threat of malpractice litigation. According to a 2005 study in JAMA, over 90 percent of physicians surveyed admitted to practicing defensive medicine. This can…

What is defensive medicine?

Defensive medicine is the deviation from sound medical practice to avoid the threat of malpractice litigation.

According to a 2005 study in JAMA, over 90 percent of physicians surveyed admitted to practicing defensive medicine. This can range from “positive” defensive medicine, like ordering unnecessary tests, referring to consultants, or performing unneeded procedures; to “negative” defensive medicine, like avoiding high-risk patients or procedures.

4 reasons doctors order unnecessary tests at checkups

Kevin Pho, MD

May 20, 2006May 20, 2006

I'm happy that this study is getting some play in the media. Essentially, many of the "routine" tests done on a physical are not recommended (the whole concept of a "routine physical" is controversial - but that's for another discussion).…

I’m happy that this study is getting some play in the media. Essentially, many of the “routine” tests done on a physical are not recommended (the whole concept of a “routine physical” is controversial – but that’s for another discussion). Merenstein concludes:

# 37 percent of checkups included a urinalysis.

# 9 percent of checkups included an electrocardiogram.

# 8 percent of checkups included an …

Read more…

4 reasons doctors order unnecessary tests at checkups

Physician

Is the physical exam dying in American medicine?

Kevin Pho, MD

February 8, 2006Feb 8, 2006

I have written before that the physical exam is useless in American medicine:This is why the physical exam is useless in American medicine - it cannot hold up in court. Clinical evaluation and judgment skills now needs to be supported…

I have written before that the physical exam is useless in American medicine:

This is why the physical exam is useless in American medicine – it cannot hold up in court. Clinical evaluation and judgment skills now needs to be supported with objective, and often expensive, tests. Here we have a case of three separate physicians who, in their clinical opinion, did not feel a CT scan was warranted. …

Read more…

Is the physical exam dying in American medicine?

Conditions and Diseases

Patent foramen ovale and Tedy Bruschi’s 2005 stroke

Kevin Pho, MD

March 15, 2005Mar 15, 2005

It was just reported that Tedy Bruschi is undergoing surgery for a hole in his heart:New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi -- who once played for the University of Arizona - is back in the hospital tonight, according to sources…

It was just reported that Tedy Bruschi is undergoing surgery for a hole in his heart:

New England Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi — who once played for the University of Arizona – is back in the hospital tonight, according to sources in Tucson and Boston.

The team isn’t confirming this news yet, but KOLD News 13 has learned Bruschi is undergoing surgery to repair a hole in his heart. …

Read more…

Patent foramen ovale and Tedy Bruschi’s 2005 stroke

Conditions and Diseases

Tedy Bruschi’s 2005 stroke and what causes a brain bleed

Kevin Pho, MD

February 17, 2005Feb 17, 2005

As has been reported, Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has been hospitalized with some kind of intracerebral bleed. As one can imagine, this is big news here in New England.Here's what we know so far:Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will remain hospitalized…

As has been reported, Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi has been hospitalized with some kind of intracerebral bleed. As one can imagine, this is big news here in New England.

Here’s what we know so far:

Patriots linebacker Tedy Bruschi will remain hospitalized while he undergoes additional tests after suffering a broken blood vessel in his head, a Patriots team source told The Boston Globe on Thursday.

Bruschi, …

Read more…

Tedy Bruschi’s 2005 stroke and what causes a brain bleed

Conditions and Diseases

Why testicular cancer is diagnosed without a biopsy

Kevin Pho, MD

February 12, 2005Feb 12, 2005

Man sues over "botched" testicular surgery: Another frivolous lawsuit?"A man is suing a hospital and one of its surgeons, claiming one of his testicles was wrongly removed during surgery.Danny Curtis claims the surgeon at Kern Medical Center did not conduct…

Man sues over “botched” testicular surgery: Another frivolous lawsuit?
“A man is suing a hospital and one of its surgeons, claiming one of his testicles was wrongly removed during surgery.

Danny Curtis claims the surgeon at Kern Medical Center did not conduct a biopsy before arranging urgent surgery to remove a testicular tumor in July 2004, according to the lawsuit filed in Kern County Superior Court.”

I …