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Second Opinions

Essays and opinions from our readers, always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial

A photo of a senior man taking a cognitive test.

Without Early Detection, Fighting Dementia Is an Uphill Battle

A brief assessment in primary care can help identify patients most at risk

A photo of a male nurse checking a patient鈥檚 IV medication in a hospital intensive care unit

Clinicians Aren't Always to Blame for Medical Errors

Organizational culture plays a central role in patient safety

A photo of a woman napping with her hand on her pregnant belly.

The Dangerous Reality of Pregnancy in the U.S.

All states should offer 12-month postpartum Medicaid coverage

A photo of the vials and packaging Leqembi for injection.

Our Health Systems Aren't Ready for the Full Approval of Lecanemab

Screening, administration, and eligibility concerns remain

A photo of a male physician scowling at his laptop.

From Doxxing to Doctor Death Threats

Online harassment of physicians and scientists goes beyond trolling

A photo of an empty examination room.

When the Doctor-Patient Relationship Crosses the Line

Upholding trust, ethics, and patient rights

A photo of the corpse of a body donor in a plastic bag in a morgue.

Breathing New Life Into 'Body Donors'

To the most sincere gift I have ever received, I thank you

A photo of Brian H. Williams, MD, next to the cover of his book.

I Never Asked Why the Bodies Kept Coming

An excerpt from Brian Williams' forthcoming book on racism, violence, and how we heal

A photo of a male physician and his female patient in the examination room.

I Turned to Physician Gig Work. You Could Too.

For me, the pros outweigh the cons

A photo of a young mother breastfeeding her baby on a city bench.

Could Extreme Heat Make It Harder to Breastfeed?

We need more research on the impact of environmental factors

A photo of a mature male hospital CEO standing in the doorway of a room or patients beds.

Could You Run Your Hospital Better Than the CEO?

There are clear benefits to physician-run hospitals

A photo of striking healthcare workers holding up handmade signs.

A Manager's Perspective on Healthcare Unionization

Her response was not at all what I expected

A close up photo of a man holding a box of Paxlovid.

Did FDA Apply Rigorous Standards in Approving Paxlovid?

Evidence for all relevant studies should be accessible

A close up photo of a senior woman鈥檚 hand holding a Medicare card

Oh, You Have Medicare? We'll Skip That Test.

Patients on public insurance have a right to know if they're being treated differently

A photo of a stethoscope laying on a rainbow flag.

The Case for Mandatory LGBTQ+ Health Education in Medical School

Pride is not just for June

A photo of an albuterol inhaler laying on a checked tablecloth.

Schools Aren't Prepared to Treat Asthma Attacks

Every school should have a stock albuterol program

A photo of a SNAP/EBT advertisement in front of boxes of spaghetti.

How I Became a Physician on Food Stamps

Expanded SNAP work requirements will do more harm than good

A photo of mother playing with her infant son.

Why Can't I Be Both a Good Doctor and a Good Mother?

You don't have to put your parenting plans on hold

A photo of Greg Abbott using a wheelchair ramp to the dais in the Texas House chamber

When You Know Better, Do Better for People With Disabilities

Anti-DEI laws harm care for a broad range of marginalized groups

A photo of a female caregiver holding the hand of her female hospice patient.

Dying With Dignity: A Look at the Advantages of the Medicare Hospice Benefit

The program is both cost-effective and compassionate

A photo of a pipette hovering over a petri dish laying on genetic testing results.

How to Overcome the Catch-22 in Precision Medicine Research

Improving the patient experience will go a long way

A photo of a MD Now Urgent Care clinic in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.

Why Urgent Care Is More Urgent Than Ever

These facilities support our overburdened system

A photo of a male physician with his hands up to defend himself.

We Shouldn't Carry the Full Weight of Responsibility for Our Own Workplace Safety

The government must do more to prevent violence against healthcare workers

A photo of a female member of a hospital cleaning staff wiping down the handholds on a bed.

Overuse of Some Disinfectants Can Do More Harm Than Good

Health systems must eliminate unnecessary uses of QACs

A photo of a male nurse letting a little boy listen to his hearbeat with a stethoscope in an examination room.

Want to Solve the Nurse Shortage?

Create healthier workplaces for our nurses

A photo of an unhappy looking overweight boy sitting on a piece of gym equipment.

What Happens When We Classify Kids' Weight as a 'Disease'?

The AAP obesity guidelines stand to worsen stigma and mental health

A photo of a female physician performing a colonoscopy.

Warning: Prior Auth for Colonoscopy Is the Wrong Way to Go

The policy adds delays to care and may worsen health outcomes

A photo of a woman standing in front of shelves of products in a pharmacy.

Tackling Barriers to OTC Birth Control Pills

FDA approval would be a critical step, but we must address other access issues

A photo of a little boy in a wheelchair.

Should FDA Grant Accelerated Approval to Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy Gene Therapy?

Waiting for the results of the SRP-9001 confirmatory trial may be a better move

A photo of a teen boy scowling at his mirror reflection.

Profiteering Off the Body Insecurity of Teens

Keep dangerous supplements out of kids' hands

A photo of a female pediatrician looking at her laptop while a mother and son sit on the examination table.

Choosing Pediatrics Is a Poor Financial Decision

We can change this by addressing the pay gap between child and adult medicine

A photo of a physiotherapist assisting a patient with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

The Broader Significance of a New Drug for a Rare Form of ALS

The tofersen trial offers hope and lessons for the fight against ALS

A photo of a man holding a Narcan dispenser in front of an addiction training poster.

DEA: Clarify Your Stance on Harm Reduction

Legal ambiguity is preventing doctors from best serving patients

A computer rendering of a man tied to a giant covid virus and dragging it along behind him.

Are We Ready for the Long COVID Long-Haul?

The COVID public health emergency may be over, but this condition isn't going away

A photo of a sign outside of a business offering Ozempic injections.

Weighing the Consequences of Weight-Loss Drugs

We need more discussion of the potential harms

A computer rendering of white and blue rubber gloved raised fists.

How I Became a Union Doctor

We formed the first-ever emergency medicine union to promote patient safety

A photo of a female medical school graduate during the graduation ceremony.

You've Graduated Medical School! Now What?

Take time to relax and prepare ahead of residency

A photo of a female radiologist performing a mammography on her Black patient.

Proposed Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Are Good, but Not Enough

Specifics for older women, Black women, and those with dense breasts are needed

A photo of two female physicians and a female patient wearing a hospital gown sitting on an examination table.

The Patient Case Against Requiring Medical Chaperones

What sounds good in theory falls short in practice

A photo of a woman waving to a male physician and nurse as she leaves her hospital room with a suitcase.

You're Ready for Your Patient to Leave the Hospital. But Are They Ready?

Discharge must be a coordinated effort by the healthcare team

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