Anyone entering medical training is taught that medicine is an art, one that combines scientific knowledge, discovery and application with its practice. It is both art and applied science. It should never become nor has it ever been only all one or the other.
To be medicine at all, the noble vocation that so many brilliant minds sacrifice to pursue in service to their fellow humans, the practice must balance art …
A reminder that physicians are artists
My husband, the anesthesiologist, came home one evening, he was solemn, affected, not himself. His patient died in the recovery room. It was sudden and unexpected for my husband. Despite the team’s swift efforts and perfectly executed code, the patient died anyway. It’s relevant to note that his patient was an almost 90-year-old man with significant congestive heart failure, probably chronic kidney disease, and complete occlusion of one of his …
5 ways to make dealing with death easier
I already know I sound like a broken record. Yet, I can’t fathom why I seem to be the only person talking about this. There have been numerous articles in both syndicated journals and the blogosphere about the many things wrong with the American health care system, including the overspecialization which we know leads to higher costs (but not necessarily better outcomes). Just as I feared, the New York Times …
#Medicare4All won’t fix the problem
For the most part, the sexism in medicine is not subliminal at all — it’s quite overt. Unless you’re a female physician, you probably are unaware that it’s still an ever-present reality for us. I want to note that there are very good men out there who are trying their best to be advocates for equality in our field even though they cannot fully appreciate the female physician plight. My …
Even if you can’t see sexism immediately, it’s still there
Truthfully, I am not from a military family. Naturally, my grandfathers were in the service, but they didn’t die serving. Also, my birthday has always fallen on Memorial Day weekend, or near it. So rather than visiting a cemetery, we usually have a small party. For some reason, perhaps it’s the political divisiveness in my beloved country, I have been thinking more and more about Memorial Day.
To my understanding, Memorial …
Memorial Day thoughts from a physician
Thankfully, the GOP did not pass Paul Ryan’s repeal and replace bill for Obamacare. Immediately after, I saw a headline hopefully concluding, “Medicare for all may be next.” In Medicare’s current form, this would be devastating for the health of America. I am a young geriatrician; I know a heck of a lot about Medicare. Most people don’t. They just see it as a great perk of turning 65 in …
Single payer: Yes! Medicare for all: No!
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