It is instructive and interesting to read about Senator Edward Kennedy’s treatment for his brain tumor. The linked article describes the change in direction between May 20th of this year, when Kennedy’s brain cancer was first disclosed and surgery was not discussed as a possible treatment, and two weeks later, when neurosurgeons performed a “successful”….
Continue ReadingArchives for July 2008
Doctor-Patient Relationships Turn Sour
Tara Parker-Pope recently had an article on how fewer and fewer patients trust their doctors. About one in four patients feel that their physicians sometimes expose them to unnecessary risk, according to data from a Johns Hopkins study published this year in the journal Medicine. And two recent studies show that whether patients trust a….
Continue ReadingMore on Medicare and Testing
In our previous post, we discussed Dr. Peter Bach’s comments on Medicare funding for unnecessary (in his opinion) testing. In response to Bach’s article on the subject, the NY Times published readers’ letters, most of which were highly critical of Bach’s proposals about Medicare and testing. The first letter, from Dr. Brant S. Miller, is….
Continue ReadingMedicare, Tests and Time
Peter Bach, former adviser to the Medicare and Medicaid administrator, wrote a NY Times op-ed arguing that the Medicare system pays doctors for how many tests they run with a given piece of equipment but not for how much time they spend with patients. Readers responded with letters on the subject. From the op-ed: Medicare….
Continue ReadingPatients Find Online Discussion Comforting and Useful
The Washington Post has a thorough and informative article on HealthCentral Network, an online start-up based in Arlington that gives curious readers information on health issues and forums where they can discuss ailments with others. The site also has a system where visitors can find doctors or patients blogging about their illnesses. The owners of….
Continue ReadingMedicare Won’t Pay for Injuries Caused by Hospital Neglect
Starting October 1, 2008, Medicare will no longer pay for eight hospital-acquired conditions that could be prevented if hospitals followed the proper guidelines. Those eight conditions are bed sores, objects left inside the patient during surgery, falls that occur when the patient is in the hospital, blood incompatibility, air embolism, mediastinitis (infection of the area….
Continue ReadingStudy: 24% of Pregnant Women Feel Poorly Informed by Gynecologist
A Spanish study, conducted on 250 participants of varied nationalities, shows that 24% of pregnant women feel poorly informed by their gynecologists and that nearly half do not take any pre-natal course. Considering the medical, social and emotional importance of pregnancy and childbirth, it is especially vital for pregnant patients to be informed and in….
Continue ReadingThe Red Cross: A Safe Source of Blood?
The American Red Cross collects and gives out about 43 percent of the blood given to medical patients in this country, which is why it may be unnerving to learn that the organization has not been following federal quality-control standards. From the article: The F.D.A. found shortcomings in the way the Red Cross screens donors….
Continue ReadingTomatoes Are Safe, Say the FDA and CDC
Officials with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that the all types of fresh tomato associated with the recent salmonella warnings are now safe to eat. From the article: The FDA had been gradually clearing tomato-growing regions in the United States and Mexico since it….
Continue ReadingBenefits and Limitations of Healthy Diets
Tara Parker-Pope discusses a New England Journal of Medicine study that compared a Mediterranean diet, an Atkins diet and a diet with about thirty percent fat based on American Heart Association Guidelines. The study had obese participants, who lost (on average) only 6 to 10 pounds over two years. From the article: The biggest weight….
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