Second Opinion

For more than a century, there has been a nefarious fascination with engineering society in ways that disadvantage the most vulnerable.

Evidence-based recommendations from groups like the US Preventive Services Task Force are only as effective as the screening tools currently available.

Medical schools must address unprofessional behavior early, as student misconduct often predicts future disciplinary issues and patient harm.

Digital communications are playing a larger role in health care, but transparency and equity are being forgotten.

Being a surrogate decision-maker for someone at the end of life isn’t easy, but there are steps you can take to ease the burden. 

Let's examine the evidence and clarify what we really know about measles and why it's important.

Requesting a test or procedure from a clinician can raise tricky issues

Takotsubo Syndrome provides strong evidence for the link between mind and heart

Even when things go right, the outcome may not be what was expected.  

Anthrax – an example of how the US Government has worked to stop the spread of disease

Without warning, and with no time to develop alternative approaches, funding just stopped.  People are dying.

Data suggests that barriers may exist with adults being aware of this option for care at the end of life.

We often make choices that are short-sighted and seem to serve our own interests rather than the interests of all

As Congress debates cuts to Medicaid (the health insurance program for the poor and disabled) in order to deliver a tax cut to the wealthy, it risks a cascade of negative effects on our entire health care system.

USAID is a powerhouse of humanitarianism and global security

Statistics can be intimidating.  But before you decide to begin a treatment you should ask what the expected benefit will be to you.

It’s hard to tell, but we have no way to know for sure. 

AI is increasingly being used to collect and process clinical information. Whether this is a good thing depends on who you ask.

When one in three people have an abnormal lab test, does it become a disease?

By collecting health data across large populations of people, we can identify patterns that help us all.

Unfortunately, I can offer no strong advice.  The drugs seem to be effective, but, like with any new drug, we just don’t have all the answers.

Music has benefits that relate hope and social connections

Fluoride has proven so successful that it would be crazy to deprive children of its benefits

The risks are rising, and state and government officials are not taking this seriously.

Philanthropy has enabled several expensive private medical schools to offer all students free tuition. Has this changed the practice of medicine?

Why do drug companies push drugs to the public that just don’t work?

Medicine and spirituality often interact, but clinicians and patients can often find themselves in very different places.

Slouching has a rich history, but its medical consequences need to be better understood. 

Migration is at an all-time high worldwide. It can impact health in many ways. 

We often have to decide if a treatment we are taking is working and whether or not to continue it.

How can a country so rich in resources and farm production have people who still go to bed hungry?

A model of eye care to increase access without compromising on quality

Climate change and increased moisture have altered the habitat for mosquitos.  

Finding an effective treatment can be tricky, but it need not be a pill.

At present, the role of genetics testing in the diagnosis or treatment of depression is not ready for prime time. 

Dairy farmers play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our milk.  But, they all need to make public health their top priority.

We are not helpless, and the situation is not hopeless.  We can’t wipe out mental illness, but we can enact reasonable gun control to protect the public.

For those Americans with end-stage kidney disease, insurance coverage is never an issue. Why can’t we provide this universal coverage for others with expensive chronic conditions?

Research is required to be evaluated to protect research subjects.  But, in many cases, this is not happening.  

Hospitals strive for early discharge, but it may not be in the patient’s best interest.  

For those with worrisome symptoms the test might be useful, but it has problems when used to screen people for disease who have no symptoms  

We still have a lot to understand about bird flu (H5N1), but elephant seals have given us new reasons to worry.