Perhaps inevitably, surgeons tend to see patients through the lens of surgery. And to the extent that this is the case, it would certainly include the estimated one-third of people in the U.S. who are generally classified as obese. In recent years, doctors have...
In the first part of this post, we began discussing the debate between doctors and midwives about women going through labor and perhaps even giving birth while immersed in warm water. One level, the debate is about safety. After all, terrible birth injuries or even...
Doctors and midwives don't always see eye to eye. Neither group has a monopoly on the truth about what's best for women in labor. And so the current debate between the groups on water immersion during the birth process needs to be examined closely. In this post, we...
In the first part of this post, we began discussing the issue of medical professionals with addiction problems that put patient safety at risk. As we noted, outright contamination of medications intended for patients is one thing. But there is also the problem...
Drugs tests of professional athletes have become commonplace in many sports. Such tests have come to be seen as integral to maintaining the integrity of the game - and in identifying individuals who may need help in dealing with an addiction problem. Why, then, aren't...
One of the most critical steps in effective medical care is the diagnosis. Once physicians can accurately identify and confirm the injury or illness from which a patient is suffering, they can get that person on a treatment plan. Generally speaking, the sooner a...
In the first part of this post, we began discussing the problem of antibiotics-resistant "superbugs" that can make hospital-acquired infections potentially lethal. One such superbug is called "C. diff." As we noted, it can cause deadly diarrhea infections. In this...
In an effort to cut down on prescription errors, many large pharmacy chains in New Mexico and elsewhere are starting to use automated machines to fill their customers’ orders. The idea is that a computerized machine is less likely to make the mistakes that lead...
The problem of hospital-acquired infections is one of the recurring stories we are following in this blog. As we noted in our February 28 post, one of the reasons that medical checklists were originally developed was to promote better hand-hygiene protocols that would...
In the first part of this post, we began discussing the balance that medical professionals must strike regarding the use of C-sections. As we noted, doctors must move quickly to perform them when needed in cases of fetal distress. But C-sections must not be overused...
