Grand Rounds 5:18
Grand Rounds is up at MedPage Today; thanks to Dr. Val for hosting.
Tue, January 20 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Assumptions
Not sure who “we” is, but Matt Yglesias doesn’t speak for us: Oftentimes we just kind of assume that doctors are perfectly benevolent, perfectly knowledgeable people who are doing nothing all day but diligently trying to understand what’s best for patients. Around here, we don’t make this assumption because we know better. We do think [...]
Mon, January 19 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Robots want to probe my prostate
My local hospital sent me a glossy four page brochure about all the great things they can do to my body. The star of this document is the Da Vinci Surgical Robot – apparently, the hospital just bought its second robot, which is mostly used for prostate surgery – and the rest of the brochure [...]
Sat, January 17 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Who’s it for?
As a way to tie together some recent themes on this blog, I want to ask a question: who is our health care system for? The pat answer is “for everyone”, but that’s not entirely correct. Our health care system should be accessible to everyone who needs it, but the need is what defines and [...]
Sat, January 17 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Well spent
Two years ago I went to DC to lobby for SCHIP expansion, as part of Ecumenical Advocacy Days. (I don’t consider myself a paragon of Christian virtue, but I try to live up to my own beliefs, sometimes.) Call me crazy, but I think it ought to be easier for parents to insure their kids. [...]
Fri, January 16 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
RSS
Just a note: I realized it’s not obvious that I have an RSS feed (also an Atom feed) for this blog , so I added a link icons in the sidebar. Be sure to add a feed to your reader, so you don’t miss any of my scintillating bloggery. (please?)
Fri, January 16 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Just for the record
This isn’t at all a plug for votes for my blog – thanks to the other person that did – but take a look at the Medgadget poll results so far for their “Medical Blog Awards”. (You have to click on each poll, and then click to see poll results.) As I’m writing this, all [...]
Thu, January 15 2009 » Uncategorized » 3 Comments
Half-face
I saw Dark Knight a few weeks ago at last, and meant to mention it – specifically because of the treatment of Two-Face. This is one of those situations in which a little medical knowledge was maybe a bad thing. Sure, it’s a comic book – but obviously Christopher Nolan goes to some length to [...]
Thu, January 15 2009 » Uncategorized » 1 Comment
Portraiture
Just so you know this blog isn’t all charts and boring numbers, I thought I would include a picture of myself – or at least part of me. Going through old medical records, I found a CD with some pictures from a 2006 EUA. So: this is my rectum, from the inside. Yes, that’s blood. [...]
Wed, January 14 2009 » Uncategorized » No Comments
Two myths, four charts
In comments on a previous post, Peter has come to the defense of Dr. Rich – arguing that universal care will inevitably drive physicians away from “the government’s system”, and so “the government must absolutely prohibit self-pay”. So claim #1 is that doctors will be dissatisfied with a “government” healthcare system. Claim #2 is that [...]
Wed, January 14 2009 » Uncategorized » 4 Comments
