What just happened? Sitting in my clinical office in rural Wisconsin, the outcome of the “Brexit” vote seems quite far away—yet the day after 23 June’s vote, the shock and surprise […]
Columnists
Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word . . . Medical patronymics
Of the different types of surname origins, patronymics are the most common. A patronym or patronymic (Greek πατήρ father + ὀνομα name) is a name that derives from the first […]
Martin McKee on the EU referendum: We have no idea what will come next, but it won’t be good
The British people have spoken. Just over half of those who voted in the referendum supported leaving the EU. Although their votes are not legally binding, politicians of all parties […]
Richard Smith: Transparency for better decisions—still a long way to go
We may like to think with websites that allow us to compare prices and get feedback on books, plays, and restaurants that transparency is empowering us, but is the balance […]
Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word . . . Leave or remain
Among all the misleading statements and frank untruths with which we’ve been bombarded by both sides in the debate on the forthcoming referendum, one form of argument has not, as […]
Richard Smith: On being misunderstood, exploited, and abused
A friend has pointed out to me that I am listed as an “exemplary professional” on the website of the Alliance for Human Research Protection. Others on the list include […]
Jeffrey Aronson: When I use a word . . . Delamothe
Tony Delamothe retires from The BMJ today, after nearly 30 years. His experience and expertise will be greatly missed. Here I am interested in his name. “Ant[h]ony” comes from the Roman […]
Richard Smith: What will the post journal world look like?
SMACCDUB is the conference of young critical care doctors, with a few mature ones thrown in for the mix, and the most energetic I’ve been to in a long time, […]
William Cayley: Whither the communication of evidence in the social media world?
Notwithstanding the epistemological inconsistency inherent in discussions of “my evidence” vs “your evidence” (after all, if “evidence” is not about an objectively verifiable shared reality, then it’s not evidence”), I […]
David Kerr: Liquid expectations for health
“Mobile is eating the world.” Next June will see the tenth anniversary of the launch of the iPhone. Without a doubt, the impact of the smartphone has been enormous, and for healthcare […]