Words are important: Improving doctor-patient communication
On the first day of medical school, one of my anatomy lab professors emphasized to us, “Words are important.” If
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ethics
Organ donation: Opt-out or opt-in?
Many people need critical organs like hearts and lungs, yet a worldwide shortage of available organs leaves many to die
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The importance of case-based study in ethics consultation
Ethics consultation is tough stuff. Ethics consultants seek to identify and address value-laden conflicts or ethical uncertainties in cases involving
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When breastfeeding isn’t best
The joy of a new baby brings new challenges, not the least of which is breastfeeding. These challenges are compounded
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Big data, brain science and mental health care
The Atlantic recently ran a fascinating article about improving the effectiveness of psychotherapy by using big data to inform practice. In
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Harm and medical ethics
Imagine your spouse has been cheating for the past 10 years, but you are completely unaware of their infidelity. The
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‘Let Me Down Easy’: Play highlights end-of-life decision making
“What you are will show, ultimately. Start becoming what you would like to become in the bigger scheme of things.”
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Life played richly: Learn to live a life of fulfillment
In her critically acclaimed one-person show, Let Me Down Easy, Anna Deavere Smith re-enacts interviews with people observing the rich
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What is palliative medicine?
In the last 50 years, medicine has focused successfully on the cure and long-term management of many diseases. That in
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Healthcare market consolidation: What the dialysis industry tells us
There’s an American aversion to anti-competitive market practices. A capitalist society assumes that competition means more innovation, more choices, and
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