Iris Kulbatski is a science writer.

Medical errors? Sorry, not sorry.

Patient
January 2, 2022

You know that feeling you get from an insincere apology? Your stomach flip-flops. Your heart pounds. You feel irritated, disgusted even. A vague dissonance nags at you. It’s the same disorienting feeling you get from an insult wrapped in a compliment. Or from realizing you’ve been scammed, and the perpetrator got away. That feeling.

Non-apology apologies are easy to identify. They’re the I’m sorry but, the sorry you feel that, the …

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Medical errors? Sorry, not sorry.

“We are not that great.” Gain-of-function research highlights our hubris

Conditions
September 29, 2021

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has made believers out of us. The statements “I believe in science” and “follow the science” express our collective assurance that scientific innovation will continue to serve humanity and sustain us through our pandemic weariness.

Historically, our scientific pursuits have catalyzed both extraordinary accomplishments and unimaginable atrocities. The line between the two is thin and the guardrails that protect against crossing this line are easily corroded. As a …

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“We are not that great.” Gain-of-function research highlights our hubris

Upholding the principles of informed consent in the fight against vaccine hesitancy

Conditions
January 14, 2021

Experts have taken to social media to quell misinformation and address common concerns about Pfizer’s messenger RNA (mRNA) COVID-19 vaccine, performing an important public service in support of robust vaccine uptake. However, some scientific information is being oversimplified to the point that it is misleading. The public’s decision to take a vaccine whose long-term risks are unclear should be a well-informed one. Clear communication is crucial to the process of …

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Upholding the principles of informed consent in the fight against vaccine hesitancy

The culture of silence in Canada’s medical institutions is in desperate need of reform

Policy
October 10, 2019

Canada’s health care system has been a source of national pride for as long as I can remember — a view that was shattered following my experience as a patient advocate during my late father Henry’s cancer journey.

The depths of perversity were made apparent to me when I was charged over $1,000 to access my father’s medical records, bringing to light a serious, long-term, systemic problem with access to medical information …

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The culture of silence in Canada’s medical institutions is in desperate need of reform

A story of treatment failure and end-of-life decisions

Conditions
January 30, 2019

Part 4 of a series.

By the time my father’s metastatic prostate cancer was diagnosed, he was already experiencing symptoms of poor appetite and weight loss, which grew progressively worse following his first hospital admission. As his nutritional status continued to decline, the protein level in his blood decreased, causing significant fluid buildup in his legs and abdomen. During his hospital stays, we consulted with dietitians who created individualized …

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A story of treatment failure and end-of-life decisions

Why did it take over a week for doctors to initiate treatment?

Conditions
January 22, 2019

Part 3 of a series.

Patients with advanced cancer are particularly vulnerable to infection due to a compromised immune system. Moreover, the typical symptoms of serious infection, such as fever and chills, may be absent in cancer patients. If not identified and treated early, infection can lead to sepsis, a life-threatening reaction of the immune system that causes organ failure, shock, and death, as …

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Why did it take over a week for doctors to initiate treatment?

A story of missed opportunities and medical missteps

Conditions
January 9, 2019

Part 2 of a series.

My own self-appointed role as my father’s health care advocate during his prostate cancer battle was a natural consequence of my training as a medical researcher. After earning a PhD in medical science, I became the elected family health and wellness guru, offering insight into everything from hangnails to stem cells, with the ongoing disclaimer that “I’m not a doctor, I just play one …

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A story of missed opportunities and medical missteps

My family was traumatized twice by the death of my dad

Patient
January 2, 2019

Part 1 of a series.

The battle

I walk into my parents’ home to pick my mom up for a family gathering. And like most days over the past few weeks, palpable sorrow greets me at the door. Our old dog lies sleeping on the couch, heavy with years, she’s difficult to rouse. She finally welcomes me with a geriatric tail wag and labored breathing. I glance at the …

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My family was traumatized twice by the death of my dad