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Second Opinions

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

A photo of a senior woman in a hospital bed listening to a physician.

When Strangers Deliver Bad News to Patients

All too often, I end up giving prognoses to patients I barely know

A male physician leans on a window sill and looks out at a sunny day.

Is It Time to Explore Alternative and Encore Careers in Medicine?

A new way to build back better

An Antidote to Provider Shortages: In-House Travel Staffing

UPMC launched the first agency of its kind, others will likely follow

A female physician fits a blood pressure cuff onto the arm of a man with down syndrome

Are We Equipped to Care for People With Intellectual, Developmental Disabilities?

Low accreditation standards are contributing to health disparities

A skeptical looking male physician with his finger on his temple

Stop Blaming Patients for Their Conditions

It's ultimately counterproductive

A male physician in a white coat holds up and points to a help wanted sign

The Entire Healthcare System Is on the Brink of Breakdown

Policymakers must help address the national emergency of healthcare workforce shortages

UK public advertising campaign posters which read: GET BOOSTED NOW

(When) to Boost or Not to Boost, That Is the Question

Countless complex questions remain

A bandaged man in a hospital bed tries to bribe his female doctor who is refusing

Are There Consequences When a Patient Harasses Their Doctor?

Standardized policies to address this issue are paramount

A young adult male studying at home takes notes while looking at his laptop

Reimagining the Step 1 Exam Dedicated Study Period

The exam is now pass/fail, but the time leading up to the test is still valuable

A male healthcare worker in full protective gear looks through a window on a door in a hospital

The Demise of the Social Contract in Medicine

Recent health policy changes benefit patients but ignore demoralized healthcare workers

A pain scale chart over a photo of a large white capsule laying on other capsules.

Is 'Big Pharma' To Blame For the Opioid Crisis?

More complex and actionable issues are at the root of the problem

Poise incontinence pads on the shelf in a grocery store

Let's Break the Incontinence Taboo

Too few of our patients know that treatment is an option

A group of young Black medical students at college

Pipeline Programs Create a Path Toward Health Equity

We need more people in medicine working to serve their own communities

A woman wearing a turtleneck sweater with the neck pulled up to cover her face

When Will They Find Out I'm an Imposter?

Intellectual self-doubt stems from factors beyond individual control

An illustration of a woman standing between a doctor and patient, their words going through her head.

Medical Translation Sacrifices Accuracy for Understanding

In health facilities and the pharmaceutical industry, this has consequences for patients

A Black man sits on the edge of his bed and looks out the window.

I Woke Up One Morning and I'd Lost My Identity as a Doctor

Foreign-trained physicians like me face immense barriers to practicing in the U.S.

A censored swearing speech bubble on a photo of a young male physician looking at his smartphone

I Didn't Match My First Time Around

And I'm doing just fine

A large group of senior citizens gather for a party in their retirement community.

Who Will Take Care of Our Aging Population?

Compassion fatigue is hollowing out the elder care workforce

Printed on the side of a truck on a highway: We鈥檙e reducing salt in our food faster than you can say 鈥榮odium chloride鈥�.

The U.S. Can Learn From the World's Salt Problem

Most countries struggle to reduce sodium intake, but interventions abroad have helped

A female physician looks with distrust at her male colleague.

A Medical Career Littered With Sexual Harassment

My experience is not unique. We must do better

A photo of the Indianapolis FedEx shooter, Brandon Scott Hole.

Tracing a Killer's Path to Mass Shooting

Mental health system reform is one tool in a broader playbook against gun violence

A photo of Merck鈥檚 Molnupiravir bottle and capsules.

Getting COVID Antiviral Pills Into Patients' Hands

Here's how to foster equal access to two treatments that may soon be authorized

A photo of surgeons performing a kidney transplant.

A Look at Pig Kidneys in the Broader Transplantation Puzzle

Advancements across the field are accelerating in real time

A photo of the headquarters of Moderna Therapeutics in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Will Moderna Ever Learn to Share?

The company's dispute with NIH over who invented the COVID vaccine has huge implications

A portrait of a female surgeon in the operating room.

What Is a Surgeon 'Supposed' to Look Like?

Gender bias makes an already challenging field that much tougher

A mature male physician and a young female physician having a conversation in a hospital hallway.

What Does It Mean to Be a Great Mentor?

Here are a few qualities in effective and trustworthy teachers

A single dose of Suboxone lies next to a spoon and syringes

Buprenorphine Misuse: What's the Reality?

New study highlights need to expand access to buprenorphine for OUD

A photo of Colin Powell

Is Multiple Myeloma a Greater Threat to Black Patients?

Incidence and treatment disparities combined with a heightened COVID risk is cause for concern

A portrait of a senior male surgeon in a smock.

Should Surgeons Have a Mandatory Retirement Age?

A number may be arbitrary, but age-related cognitive and skills testing can protect patients

A close up of a prescription bottle and several tablets of Oxycodone

Prescription Pain Killers Can Be a Slippery Slope

We can prevent patients from falling down the rabbit hole

A male physician listens to his female hospital translator in an examination room with his female patient.

Is Essential Patient Information Lost in Translation?

Consistent assessment for translator needs promotes patient safety

An overweight pre-teen boy sitting on a couch playing video games.

Childhood Obesity Is Soaring to New Levels

Kids' weight has spiked during the pandemic, but it's part of a long-term trend

A stethoscope hangs on the fencepost of a barbed wire fence around a field with an out of focus church in the background.

So You Don't Want to Practice Rural Medicine

Many aren't aware of the unique opportunities for providers and much-needed care for patients

A close up of a man scratching the psoriasis on the back of his hand

How Should Patients With Autoimmune Diseases Approach COVID Vaccination?

Mixed messaging and a lack of tailored research leaves providers and patients in the dark

A young woman sits on the table in the examination room waiting for the doctor.

Focus on the Patient, Not Only the Disease

Building relationships and trust is everything

A young boy sits in a bed covered by mosquito netting in Kenya, Africa.

Eradication of Malaria Is Within Reach

Distributing the newly recommended vaccine is the next challenge

An old photo of a man selling elixir.

Medicine Must Sanction the COVID Quacks

Intent doesn't matter when patients are being harmed

Medical school graduates take the Hippocratic oath at a cloaking ceremony.

Which Residency Should You Choose?

Listen to my opinion, and then promptly ignore it

A close up of a job search website on a laptop screen.

The End of Job Security in Healthcare

We need to reverse several dangerous trends

A bottle of double strength L-Arginine 1000 mg tablets on its side, tablets spilled out.

NO Treatment for COVID?

New study suggests arginine supplementation may help in cases of severe illness

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