Most of us know the word “placebo.” It’s a Latin word meaning “I shall please.” Along comes a word I’d never heard before yesterday — but it has application in areas of my work. The word is “Nocebo” — more Latin — meaning “I shall harm.” I heard the word from a broadcast producer, Stacie, […]
The Nocebo Effect: The Potentially Deadly Version of “It’s All in Your Head” Read More »
(May 20, 2008 – find an update to this post) [Let me begin this post with a bit of a disclaimer. My husband is a retired veteran of the Air Force — 20+ years — before I knew him, but that doesn’t diminish my pride in the fact that he served our country. His son
I’ve watched and heard plenty of controversy from those who are either upset, or elated, that ABC will be airing an episode of its new TV show, Eli Stone, tomorrow night. Eli Stone is a lawyer who defends a lawsuit imposed by a family who believes that a vaccination caused their child to develop autism.
Eli Stone, ABC, Autism, and My Take on the Controversy Read More »
Unless you have a developmentally disabled child or adult in your life, this is something you may never have thought about before. When I was a child, I knew of other kids who spent their lives in wheelchairs, or went to special schools. When I got to college, I used to volunteer in a state-run
What’s New? Developmentally Disabled Children Grow Old Read More »
Regular readers of this blog know that my mother suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. That means our entire family suffers from the “long good-bye.” My dad, in particular, has been a saint of a caregiver, but he has watched the love of his life descend into the hell that strips them both of their quality of
A Reversal for Alzheimer’s Disease? Maybe. Read Behind the Headline. Read More »
Regular readers of this blog know that my mother suffers from Alzheimer’s Disease. That means our entire family suffers from the “long good-bye.” My dad, in particular, has been a saint of a caregiver, but he has watched the love of his life descend into the hell that strips them both of their quality of
A Reversal for Alzheimer’s Disease? Maybe. Read Behind the Headline. Read More »
From 2002 to 2003, about 101,000 Americans died from preventable causes ranging from diabetes to bacterial infections and surgical complications, so says a study releases this week. The reports are based on results from a study undertaken by the Commonwealth Fund, a private New York City based health policy foundation. The study took place among
Why Does the US Have the Worst Rate of Preventable Deaths Among Industrialized Nations? Read More »
Yesterday’s post, where I told the stories of three (+2) victims of MRSA infections, raised ire, blame and excuses from commentators and emailers alike. Never mind that they were stories of five people who are infected with MRSA, one of whom has basically been left to die. Never mind that the frustration levels of these
MRSA: Victimization and Shooting the Messenger Read More »
