“Phew! At least you don’t have something bad.” “I know doc, but what is it?” I’m afraid that in medicine, we too often focus on the former, and not enough […]
US healthcare
William Cayley: Planning for uncertainty
Martin Marshall could not have said it better in his recent blog—the idea of the 10 minute consultation is a travesty . . . except that sometimes it is not. […]
William Cayley: To doctor is to diagnose
I appreciated Richard Smith’s recent discussion of mental models—too often, I think, we simply carry on with practice as usual (or, “life as usual”) without sufficient critical attention to the […]
William Cayley: Less is more
Both seasoned clinicians and learners in today’s medical environment receive both explicit and unspoken messages that the best medicine involves advanced technology, the latest medications, and highly specialized care. Evidence […]
Elizabeth Loder: US medical specialty boards: accountable to whom, for what, and how?
Elizabeth Loder examines charges of lax oversight and governance at organizations that assess doctors. The medical specialty boards that test and certify US doctors are facing a tough test of […]
Art Cohen and Selwyn Ray: The lessons of late April in Baltimore
After years of suffering and resignation about disrespect and mistreatment at the hands of local police, young and older African-American residents of inner city west and east Baltimore, joined by […]
John W McEvoy on the Baltimore riots
When I came to Baltimore from Ireland in 2008 many people said I was crazy. I often heard from friends and colleagues, “Be careful, that’s where they made The Wire.” […]
Neal D. Barnard and Angela Eakin: Yes, cholesterol matters
In February 2015, the US Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee reported that dietary cholesterol was no longer a “nutrient of concern.” According to the Committee’s report, “available evidence shows no appreciable […]
William Cayley: Are you depressed?
“Do you feel down, depressed, or hopeless? Are you bothered by little interest or pleasure in doing things?” Now that the practice I work for is part of an accountable […]
David Kerr: Dr Uber
The hot topic in the technology world at the moment is the so called “sharing economy.” A great deal of money is being made by companies, such as Uber and […]