It was winter, and our 2 year old had an earache.  Even though both my wife and I are doctors, she’s always insisted that our children see the pediatrician when they’re sick.  I was working the swing shift, so daytime sick call fell to me. Fortunately, the pediatrician was able to see him right away, […]

In 1998, a group of physicians published a small case study involving just 12 patients in the respected medical journal Lancet, claiming that their results indicated a link between the mumps-measles-rubella (MMR) vaccine and autism.  The story received wide publicity in the media and spawned a tidal wave of public concern, as well as multiple […]

I believe everyone who is physically and mentally capable should take personal responsibility for their own health and well-being, and that of their dependents. That involves living a healthy lifestyle, and seeking competent medical advice. It also includes taking primary responsibility for their and their loved ones’ personal safety. Living a healthy lifestyle does not […]

As a radiologist, being the butt of jokes in the doctor’s lounge about light sensitivity and the risk of developing decubitus ulcers is par for the course. The “banker’s hours” jokes have fallen off since the advent of 24-hour radiology service, but as for the rest, I’ve found it’s best just to smile and nod. […]

The mission of the Food and Drug Administration is ostensibly to protect Americans from potentially harmful substances.  Likely you’ve seen the agency come under fire for a variety of reasons—they’re too slow to approve new drugs and devices, they deny access to experimental treatments for terminal patients. The list goes on. As with any labyrinthine […]

Some people have faith—a steadfast belief in something, often despite a lack of concrete evidence.  Or perhaps even in the face of evidence to the contrary.  And that’s okay. For many people, faith is a powerful force, a source of comfort and strength.  For some people, faith is everything.  For me, what you believe, who […]

I’m so excited—I’m going to live forever.  Today I declared my body a Disease-Free Zone. I had thought immortality would be complicated.  I’d thought it would require a lot of research and some pretty substantial lifestyle adjustments, not to mention a lot of preventive medical care, and constant vigilance for early signs of disease. But […]

Doctors are problem solvers. Thanks to our training, that’s how we approach patients.  And problem solving, done well, requires a thoughtful process.  That applies to social and public policy matters like firearm issues as well. The essential first step when approaching any problem is to define it. Not just in general terms, but as specifically […]