Nobody could possibly be against wellbeing. It would be like opposing motherhood and apple pie. There is a whole spectrum of activities under the wellbeing banner, from the undoubtedly well-meaning […]
Guest writers
Peter Labib and Jeremy Jordan: Conducting research in developing countries can be as challenging as climbing Everest
The elective is the highlight of a medical student’s time at medical school. As keen trekkers, we decided to conduct a project in Nepal on the effects of altitude on […]
Tiago Villanueva: Financial austerity and health in Portugal
Financial austerity in Europe has been a hot topic in the news lately. But the spotlight in Europe over the past few weeks has definitely been on a small and […]
Tony Waterston and Jean Bowyer: Health and non-violent resistance in the West Bank
The Arab revolution was in our minds during our regular visit to the West Bank for the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH) child health teaching programme. Would […]
Jonny Martell: The Wrong Answer
It had been an awkward pause. Professor Nick Craddock was addressing a lecture hall of students at the recent National Conference of Student Psychiatry Societies in Sheffield. Faced with numerous […]
Chris Ham: A chance to go back to basics on health and social care reform in England?
The government’s decision to consult with stakeholders during this pause in the passage of the Health and Social Care Bill through parliament creates an opportunity to revisit the problems the […]
Cheryl Rofer: Radiation, radioactivity, and other terms
A commenter requested that I explain the difference between radiation and radioactivity. These two words are often used interchangeably by reporters, but they have different meanings. Confusing them is related […]
Martin McShane: Patients as customers
Sometimes you get a sense of cultural change: someone tells you a story and simultaneously you think “that’s a good idea” and “times they are a changin’.” […]
David Kerr: Angry bird medicine
“I want this company to be bigger than Sanofi-Aventis in ten years time” was the opening line from a (successful) entrepreneur I met the other day. He might be right […]
Cheryl Rofer: Is there a leak at Fukushima #3?
We simply don’t know. There are enough radionuclides in the outflow to the sea and in the water in the plant that it looks like a leak is possible, but […]