Med Articles

The British medical journal The Lancet surveyed a number of studies that discuss troubling statistics on suicide and depression among American physicians. The subject is not new, but the studies attempt to provide a few new insights.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/09/doctors-suffer-burnout-ultimate-tragedy-suicide.html

For doctors who suffer from burnout, the ultimate tragedy is suicide

The hysterical patient during a busy ER shift

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/02/hysterical-patient-busy-er-shift.html

by VeronicaB, MD

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/08/art-medicine-power-human-touch.html

Though I had a less than comfortable childhood, I did not know what I missed in nurturing until I played football at around age 10. The coach, a big burly man, with a voice as huge as his girth, put his hand on my shoulder as he explained something to the team.

The art of medicine and the power of human touch

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/05/cookbook-medicine-detracts-compassionate-care.html

Why cookbook medicine detracts from compassionate care

by Greg Smith, MD As a psychiatrist , part of my job is to listen as you tell me about symptoms that bother you every day. If I can help you put these symptoms into a framework such as a syndrome or a disease, then we can work together on trying to figure out how to treat them.

Speed dating techniques to screen medical students

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/07/implications-nebraskas-illconceived-fetal-pain-law.html

Implications of Nebraska’s ill-conceived fetal pain law

Danielle Deaver, a nurse, was 22 weeks pregnant with her second child when her water broke. Doctors determined that her membranes had ruptured and there wasn’t enough amniotic fluid to support the fetus.But because of Nebraska’s law, Deaver could not obtain an abortion and was forced to live through “10 excruciating days” waiting for her extremely premature fetus to be born even though doctors were sure it would never survive.

Dr.

TED video: Turning medical education inside out and upside down

http://academiclifeinem.blogspot.com/2011/06/ted-video-turning-medical-education.html

Working as a psychiatrist is very rewarding.

Aspects of psychiatry this doctor appreciates

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/03/aspects-psychiatry-doctor-appreciates.html

One of my New Year’s resolutions this year was to come up with monthly “resolutions” for myself and for anyone who follows this blog. Cooking Light magazine (which is one of my favorite sources of recipes and ideas for healthy living) had the same idea, so I am shamelessly borrowing their healthy habits ! It’s a lot easier to commit to 30 days of a new habit than a full year.

http://wellnessrounds.org/eat-healthy-fats-julys-healthy-habit/

Eat Healthy Fats (July's Healthy Habit) | Wellness Rounds

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/01/opinion/01gribben.html

TODAY, after four arduous years of examinations, graduating medical doctors will report to their residency programs. Armed with stethoscopes and scalpels, they’re preparing to lead the charge against disease in its ravaging, chimerical forms.

Practicing Medicine Can Be Grimm Work

It happened 25 years ago and I never forgot it. I’d been in the forefront of women’s consciousness-raising; I recognized that women had been professionally downtrodden for years (in certain fields), and hoping to do my part to balance the inequity, I opted for female doctors whenever possible.

http://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2011/06/gender-sole-determinant-choice-doctor.html

Using gender as sole determinant for a choice of doctor

I’ve always had a hard time identifying myself as a feminist.

Examining medicine through the lens of women's rights

Michael A.

Why doctors shouldn't leave their emotions behind

When you close an abdomen after a failed rescue, the OR is silent

I didn’t know her name until it was over, much too late. What I knew was she was thirteen and that on this winter day someone in her family had been pulling her behind their car, on a sled. No doubt laughing and looking in the rear-view mirror, the person driving had whipsawed around a corner, and the young girl — probably screaming (fear?

Reasons why medical students burn out and become depressed

As I finished my 24-hour call recently, I was reminded of a 2009 study revealing a decline in empathy as medical students transition from their mostly-didactic second year to third year, which is essentially an apprenticeship in the hospital with lecture as an afterthought. I began my third year with what most would argue is the most difficult rotation, surgery, and my experiences over the past 5 weeks have sparked introspection on the things that cause medical students to burn out and wall themselves off during the clinical years.

Outcry in America as pregnant women who lose babies face murder charges | World news

Across the US, more and more prosecutions are being brought against women who lose their babies. Photograph: Alamy Rennie Gibbs is accused of murder, but the crime she is alleged to have committed does not sound like an ordinary killing.