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Second Opinions

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

A computer rendering of an artery blocked by plaque.

The Widowmaker: Clarifying the Record for Our Patients

Fear shouldn't drive medical intervention

A photo of a mushroom based pain relief ointment on a tray in a wellness clinic.

Is 'Wellness' Bad News for Healthcare?

The growing industry is a double-edged sword

A photo of a woman speaking to a female physician who his holding a clipboard.

Your Patient Has Been Dealt a Hand With Four ACEs. What Now?

In cancer survivorship, we must address patients' psychological wellness

A photo of Matthew Perry.

What the Matthew Perry Tragedy Reminds Us About Ketamine Use

We must develop multi-disciplinary safety standards for ketamine clinics

A computer rendering of sickle cells blocking blood flow.

Too Many Kids With Sickle Cell Disease Aren't Getting Appropriate Preventive Care

Findings from my recent study shook me to my core

A photo of a statue of J. Marion Sims in Central Park, New York City.

How Should Unethical Legacies in Medical History Be Handled?

Reexamining legacy and revoking reverence help restore medical integrity

A photo of medical staff attending to Noah Lyles after the finish of the Men鈥檚 200 meter final.

An Olympic-Sized Miss in Managing COVID-19

Did high stakes lead to foregoing prevention and mitigation?

A photo of Evan Gershkovich at Andrews Airforce Base after he was released from Russian prison.

Surviving Russian Prison: Evan Gershkovich's Health After Incarceration

We wish him the best support in reintegrating back home

A photo of a female physician holding an IUD with her out of focus patient in the background.

I've Seen the Extreme Pain of IUD Insertion

CDC's new guidance is a good first step, but more is needed to acknowledge women's pain

A photo of a nurse drawing blood from a male patient.

Blood Test for Colon Cancer: Panacea or Hype?

This newly approved testing modality brings challenges and opportunities

A photo of pall bearers carrying a casket.

Death Is Inevitable. It's Time We Learned to Talk About It.

By fostering honest and compassionate discussions, we can provide patients with more dignity

A photo of Simone Biles at the Tokyo Olympic Games.

A Leave of Absence -- From Medicine or the Olympics -- Is Not a Sign of Weakness

Taking a step back is sometimes necessary to move forward

A photo of a nurse holding a bag of intravenous medication.

PBMs Are Stacking the Deck Against Patients and Independent Physician Practices

Infusion services and other therapies must be delivered without delay

A photo of a container of urine on a drug testing form.

He Hadn't Had a Drop of Alcohol in Nearly a Year -- But the Test Said Otherwise

Faulty testing protocols threaten the freedom of those entangled in the U.S. legal system

A computer rendering of mpox virus particles.

Mpox Is Becoming More Deadly. We Need Global Action Now to Prevent Another Pandemic.

A new, more dangerous variant has emerged

A photo of a tired looking new mother sitting on a couch with her baby on her lap.

The Postpartum Cliff Doesn't Need to Be So Steep

Extending the standard of care to at least 1 year post-birth can save lives

A photo of a senior woman receiving care at home by a female nurse while her husband looks on.

Extend the Hospital-at-Home Waiver Before It's Too Late

Older adults should continue to receive care where they feel and heal their best

A photo of packages of Plant Based Organic Burger Patties for sale in a supermarket.

Plant-based Food and Drink Labeling Is a Battlefield

Public health considerations are missing in action

A photo of Anthony Fauci, MD, during a Senate hearing on the federal response to the covid pandemic.

What Is 'Character Assassination' in Medicine?

The consequences affect not only the targeted clinician but patients and institutions too

A photo of a medical training dummy in a hospital bed.

Medicine Made LGBTQ+ Health the Problem. Medical Schools Can Help Course Correct.

Medical training has let discrimination go unchecked for far too long

A photo of a portable ultrasound machine next to a woman lying on a hospital bed.

POCUS and Malpractice: Separating Fact From Fear

The benefit to patients from point-of-care ultrasound should outweigh litigation concerns

A photo of a female pharmacist at a shelf of medicines.

Community Pharmacy Gets an Unfairly Bad Rap

I'd like to set the record straight

A photo of diary cattle.

Fighting Blind: There Remains Much We Don't Know About the H5N1 Outbreak

Here are key questions we need to answer to prevent larger crises

A photo of the Capitol building in Washington, DC.

Another Medicare Cut for Physicians? Look to Congress, Not CMS

Medicare patients and providers deserve better

A photo of a male hand holding a pen over a non-disclosure agreement form.

Non-Disclosure Agreements Have No Place in Medicine

Just because something is legal doesn't mean it's ethical

A photo of the cover of The Connection Cure next to a photo of the author Julia Hotz.

Doctor's Orders: A Social Prescription for Health

An excerpt from Hotz's book, The Connection Cure

A photo of a man holding a smartphone displaying the CrowdStrike website.

Lessons for Healthcare From the Global IT Outage

A robust and resilient infrastructure can help ensure continued access to care

A photo of a male doctor with an I VOTED TODAY pin on his white coat.

We Want You, Doctor, to Help Get Out the Vote

Heath systems and clinicians can engage patients and care team members

A photo of Anthony Comstock.

The Zombie Law That Threatens Abortion Access

Congress must ensure the Comstock Act does not encroach on reproductive rights

A photo of a male physician shaking hands with a robot.

Doctors Should Think of AI as a Medical Student

A new approach to the tech-physician partnership

A close up photo of a male physician shaking his female patient鈥檚 hand.

First Impressions Count in Healthcare

By modifying our habits, we can improve the care experience for all

A photo of a cup, a plate of crumbs, and a mostly eaten apple inside of an empty refrigerator

USPSTF Says Evidence Lacking for Food Insecurity Screening 鈥� Now What?

Despite the draft recommendation for primary care, physicians and policies can make a difference

A photo of a bloodied Donald Trump being escorted off the rally stage by Secret Service agents.

What the Trump Assassination Attempt Says About Gun Violence

Democrat, Republican, or other, physicians must discuss this as a public health issue

A photo of a female psychiatrist listening to her mature male patient.

How Authenticity and Self-Disclosure Fit Into Psychiatric Care

We've come a long way from the "blank slate" model

A photo of Peter Buxtun in San Francisco.

We've Been Here Before: The Politicization of Drug Pricing

Ensuring medication access does not have to come at the cost of innovation

A photo of an out of focus female physician with her head in her hand.

Devaluing Our Residents Is Not Without Consequences

Let's take better care of our young medical workforce

A photo of Ozempic and Wegovy injection pens and a bottle of Rybelsus tablets.

Shedding Criticisms: The Real Weight of Misunderstanding Obesity

Stigma and misconceptions create barriers to medication uptake

A photo composite of points of light on a grid over a photo of a male physician using a tablet.

Healthcare AI Is an Exciting Frontier 鈥� But Don't Forget About Equitable Development

Unequal access threatens to worsen disparities

A photo of a nurse tending to a COVID patient in the ICU.

The Hardest I've Cried

Notes from a physician fighting helplessness and misinformation

A photo of a stethoscope lying on a rainbow flag.

The Cass Report, Evidence, and Ethical Thinking on Pediatric Gender-Affirming Care

Appropriate care for this population requires access, not restriction

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