Foley catheter led to an orgasm?
An ER nurse tells this story of a tech, which led to her fear of female genitals, or kolpophobia.
Cafepharma.com
The NY Times with a profile. Unsurprisingly, they lack corporate support:
Not surprisingly, Cafepharma lacks corporate fans.
Pfizer, the subject of the site’s most popular bulletin board, declined repeated requests to discuss Cafepharma. Shreya Prudlo, a spokeswoman, said that Pfizer monitored every “communication channel” that reached its constituency, and that each needed to be “viewed based on their accuracy and integrity.”
Medtronic, which has the busiest Cafepharma …
Death by Bengay
Overuse of muscle cream lead 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, …
The demise of Flea, who live-blogged his medical malpractice trial
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 …
Physicians: "We are the new factory workers"
This article was from six years ago:
Lots of patients fork over nothing but a co-pay, the mandatory cash outlay that can be as low as $10, or even $2. “What do you value a physician at if you pay $2?” asks Stracher, who says that sometimes, for that amount, patients blithely skip even bringing along money. For two bucks, patients sometimes don’t show up. Or they get the idea …
Defensive medicine
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.
Read more…
Do nurses complain too much?
Scalpel likens nurse complaints to how lawyers consider lawsuits:
Nevertheless, it seems to me that many nurses will complain about each other and about physicians at every opportunity. They will fire off e-mails to their bosses, my bosses, or even the CEO of the hospital about any disagreement or perceived mistreatment, whether or not it affects patient care. Everyone has to walk on eggshells or we will end up …
Epidural overdose: An anesthesiologist responds
Tragic event, but as usual, news reports raises more questions than answers:
The drugs used in labor epidurals are usually a dilute local anesthetic and a small amount of narcotic. Using both types of drugs in combination allows lower concentrations of each individual drug to be used, hence improving the margin of safety for each. In labor epidurals, our goal is relieve pain without causing significant weakness. That is why …
Dr. Anna Pou on 60 Minutes
The Attorney General sounds pretty ignorant to me during the piece. Dr. Pou responds:
Asked if she murdered those patients, as the attorney general alleges, she says, “No, I did not murder those patients. Mr. Safer, I’ve spent my entire life taking care of patients. I have no history of doing anything other than good for my patients. I do the best of my ability. Why would I …
A former colleague comments on Dr. Anna Pou
Due to intense interest in the Anna Pou story, the following post will be republished to stay current.
Original post date: 7/19/2006
Waking Up Costs offers his support:
I just learned that a former colleague and friend has been charged with second degree murder in the death of four patients at a New Orleans hospital after Katrina. I worked with Dr. Anna Pou in the operating …
The hypertension conspiracy
Dr. Crippen thinks Big Pharma is to blame:
Dr Crippen’Â’s old fashioned” treatment for blood pressure costs a few pence a month, and the drugs he uses (such as beta-blockers and diuretics) have been around for years. They have a proven safety record. They are not going to produce any surprises. The only problem is that they do not offer any profit to the big drug companies.
The physical exam is useless
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. …
Tedy Bruschi’s patent foramen ovale (PFO) caused his stroke
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. …
When patients deny illness
Much denial-blogging today. Alisha’s mother-in-law won’t accept physical limitations imposed by her cancer. Orac tries to help a patient who rejects her malignant biopsy results. What is denial, and how should we approach it? (Pause for a quick check – has the Cheerful Oncologist posted about this yet? No? I’d love to know what he thinks!) Here’s Dr. Simon Wein, MD, of Memorial Sloan-Kettering …
Possible causes of Tedy Bruschi’s stroke
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, …
Are testicular biopsies necessary for the diagnosis of testicular cancer?
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 …
Past Week
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Past 6 Months
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The ER doctor who became the new PCP
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Pay for performance and shared savings are good, but they’re not the solution
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The emotional toll of a broken health care system
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When assumptions in health care lead to devastating consequences
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Why being mistaken for a student is my secret weapon in medicine
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Gender affirming care: a matter for the Supreme Court or a matter for a medical malpractice court?
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Recent Posts
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Murder, vitriol, and hidden costs: inside the health insurance industry’s biggest battles
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To my beloved sister: Dr. Moumita Debnath
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Breaking free from perfectionism: a healing journey [PODCAST]
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The weaponization of predictive data analytics, red flags, and the chronic pain gender gap has become a radioactive crisis in U.S. health care
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Past Week
-
Why doctors must talk about death: the truth about CPR and end-of-life care
-
The untold truth behind our reliance on prescription medications
-
5 game-changing New Year’s Resolutions the insurance industry should adopt
-
How to excel in dermatology residency: a program coordinator’s guide [PODCAST]
-
Why the U.S. health care system is failing and how to fix it [PODCAST]
-
Marijuana’s hidden threat to fertility and family planning [PODCAST]
-
Past 6 Months
-
The ER doctor who became the new PCP
-
Pay for performance and shared savings are good, but they’re not the solution
-
The emotional toll of a broken health care system
-
When assumptions in health care lead to devastating consequences
-
Why being mistaken for a student is my secret weapon in medicine
-
Gender affirming care: a matter for the Supreme Court or a matter for a medical malpractice court?
-
Recent Posts
-
Marijuana’s hidden threat to fertility and family planning [PODCAST]
-
Murder, vitriol, and hidden costs: inside the health insurance industry’s biggest battles
-
The best job boards for finding unconventional medical jobs, side gigs, and moonlighting opportunities
-
To my beloved sister: Dr. Moumita Debnath
-
Breaking free from perfectionism: a healing journey [PODCAST]
-
The weaponization of predictive data analytics, red flags, and the chronic pain gender gap has become a radioactive crisis in U.S. health care
-
