Questions began circulating about the Pfizer TV and magazine commercials for Lipitor earlier this month. You’ve seen them — Robert Jarvik, the supposed “inventor of the artificial heart” touts his use of Lipitor as his way of controlling his cholesterol levels so he won’t have a heart attack like his father did. He runs. He […]
Jarvik’s Lipitor Commercials – Was Any of It True? Read More »
This New York Times letter to the editor caught my eye… Second opinions are so very necessary in a case of a difficult diagnosis, or when treatment will be needed for chronic recurrences of a disease, or in particular when a patient needs surgery. Patients are way too often intimidated at the thought of telling
Three Cheers – Cardiology and Second Opinions Read More »
The subtitle reads, “Good physicians know the bad ones in their midst. Why don’t they point fingers?” Good question, don’t you think? The article, entitled Doctors Who Do Harm, tells about doctors who maim and kill — as their colleagues stand by, watch, and don’t tell a soul. Why? According to Arthur Levin, of the
Reader’s Digest “Outrageous” Tells Michael Skolnik’s Story Read More »
The FDA came out with a report on the negatives of botox injections… It’s like deja vu, isn’t it? Where is common sense? Read this post at About.com, Patient Empowerment.
Smoking and Botox — Wishful Thinking and Common Sense Read More »
Perhaps the most basic of patient empowerment skills is the ability of patients to ask questions of their doctors. The AHRQ (Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality) recognizes that an informed patient will be a healthier patient — and has put together a video they plan to run (and already have in some places) on
Do You Ask Your Doctor Questions? Read More »
Regular readers of this blog know that I encourage patients to step up when they notice that a healthcare worker is getting ready to touch them and has not washed his/her hands. Why? To protect oneself from MRSA and other possible deadly superbug infections, that’s why! It could mean the difference between life and death,
Making Handwashing Part of the Routine Read More »
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 »
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 »
