Surgeons writing on KevinMD about the craft and the culture of surgery: training and who holds the knife, the operating room and its checklists, outcomes and whether the public should see them, the robot and now AI, women surgeons, and what it is like to be sued over an outcome rather than a decision. Three maintained records draw on this archive: Surgeons and surgery: what surgeons say, in their own words, Residency: what residents and attendings say, in their own words, and Medical malpractice: what physicians say, in their own words.

What can health reform in the United States learn from Africa?

Health Policy
September 2, 2009

As an outside observer of the American health reform debate, I cannot help but notice the disparity of views, the fractured arguments, the protectionism and desperation. My country is in a similar struggle for health care reform, with the main difference being America is a rich nation, and we are poor by comparison. In both debates, however, I have looked for the humanitarian argument, and in many cases found it …

Read more…

What can health reform in the United States learn from Africa?

Steve Jobs received a new liver, and the ethics surrounding his transplant

Conditions and Diseases
June 22, 2009

Orac, a general surgeon who blogs at Respectful Insolence, writes the most comprehensive entry I’ve seen thus far on Apple’s Steve Jobs’ liver transplant.

For those interested in the medicine behind the transplant, go and read his post in its entirety. I’d like to highlight some of the potentially questionable ethics surrounding the case.

For one, there is the question why Mr. …

Read more…

Steve Jobs received a new liver, and the ethics surrounding his transplant

Op-ed: Not all screening tests lead to early, better treatment

Conditions and Diseases
April 23, 2009

The following op-ed was published on April 23rd, 2009 in the USA Today.

As a primary care doctor, it’s heartening to hear President Obama call for “the largest investment ever in preventive care.” That means more people, for one, will be undergoing tests to screen for various forms of cancer. But this might be one of those cases where what sounds like common sense is actually more …

Read more…

Op-ed: Not all screening tests lead to early, better treatment

Is Natasha Richardson brain dead? Was an epidural bleed, or “talk and die” syndrome, to blame after her ski accident?

Physician
March 18, 2009

Tragic news this morning regarding actress Natasha Richardson, who reportedly, suffered a head injury during a ski lesson in Canada.

According to reports, she fell on a beginner’s ski hill, and did not hit anyone or anything during the fall. There was no obvious sign of injury, and in fact, she was “was walking around and feeling fine for an hour after her accident.”

Things then …

Read more…

Is Natasha Richardson brain dead? Was an epidural bleed, or “talk and die” syndrome, to blame after her ski accident?

Sharpie for surgery

Uncategorized
October 25, 2008

Surgeons use markers to identify the right body part for procedures. Unfortunately, they care become contaminated with bacteria which can lead to surgical site infections.

Enter the Sharpie: “As it turns out, the ink used in a Sharpie pen has an alcohol base, making it an unexpected germ fighter.”

Who knew? The Sharpie is probably also many times cheaper than the single-use “sterile” pen used …

Read more…

Sharpie for surgery

Tom Brady and his knee infection

Uncategorized
October 23, 2008

New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady recently underwent repair of his anterior cruciate ligament at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles. His doctor was Neal S. ElAttrache, who’s a renowned orthopedic surgeon and former team physician of an NFL team.

Unfortunately, his post-op course has been complicated by an infection. On his website, TomBrady.com, he acknowledged this and said that the original procedure was …

Read more…

Tom Brady and his knee infection

My take: What makes a good medical blog?

Uncategorized
May 2, 2008

Maria writes: “I’d like your take on what you think constitutes a ‘good’ medblog . . . I am continually surprised with what people like about medblogs. Some people like brief links, some people like critical discussions, some people like stories.

This ultimately all boils down to opinion, but I’d like to know what traits you like in medblogs.

Can you start by opining that you strongly dislike …

Read more…

My take: What makes a good medical blog?

Physicians: "We are the new factory workers"

Uncategorized
May 16, 2007

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 …

Read more…

Physicians: "We are the new factory workers"

A former colleague comments on Dr. Anna Pou

Uncategorized
July 26, 2006

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 …

Read more…

A former colleague comments on Dr. Anna Pou

Tedy Bruschi’s patent foramen ovale (PFO) caused his stroke

Uncategorized
March 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 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…

Tedy Bruschi’s patent foramen ovale (PFO) caused his stroke

Possible causes of Tedy Bruschi’s stroke

Uncategorized
February 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 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…

Possible causes of Tedy Bruschi’s stroke

Are testicular biopsies necessary for the diagnosis of testicular cancer?

Uncategorized
February 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 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 …

Read more…

Are testicular biopsies necessary for the diagnosis of testicular cancer?

64
pages