A recent report stating that one in 50 school children carries an autism diagnosis appears to confirm anecdotal evidence that we are experiencing an increase in the autism rate.
But there are a number of things that should be considered in a discussion of these findings -- and leading that discussion should be methodology.
These new data from the CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) are culled from a ...
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Politicians, financial experts, pundits and main street America would love to predict what’s going to happen to America in the next five years. But we don’t have to dust off the Dow Jones or the S&P, or even wonder what the Feds are going to do about Medicare, taxes, the debt ceiling or Afghanistan.
All we have to is understand the five stages of grief first developed by Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross.
Elizabeth ...
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While I am currently a second year medical student, my story is one of a sister.
When I was six years old, my mother asked me a question that would forever change my childhood: “Honey, would you be alright with having a foster child join our family? It would mean a little boy coming to live with us for a while.”
My response did not take much thought; how could I refuse ...
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My office consultation for the 50 year-old woman was her complaint of chest pain. I could not help but glance at her insurance and it was for Medicare. I have always been fascinated with what types of disability people have which qualifies them for Medicare and SSD, (Social Security Disability), before the usual age of 65. To say that I have observed bizarre and inequitable awards would be a gross ...
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Brought to you by MedPage Today.
1. Baldness Linked to Prostate Ca Risk in Blacks. Early-onset baldness seemed to significantly increase the odds of prostate cancer in African-American men, including diagnosis of more advanced and aggressive disease, as well as diagnosis at a younger age.
2. MRI for Low Back Problems Deemed 'Overused'. More than half of outpatient lumbar spine MRI scans weren't ...
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God helps those who help themselves.
-Something that sounds like truth but fortunately isn’t mentioned in any religious text
“I’m gonna beat this thing again, Doc! I just know it!”
Over the course of several years, I helped care for a man with a very rare cancer that recurred over-and-over. With each new tumor, he became more focused on beating the disease and despite the repeated setbacks, he remained eternally positive. He spent ...
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Having to confront an indeterminate outcome that might be bad seems to cause more anxiety than having to confront an outcome known to be bad.
In one study, patients requiring colostomies (a rerouting of the passage of stool from the rectum to an opening in the abdomen) that were potentially reversible were actually found to be less happy six months after their operation ...
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Recently one of our readers posted this comment:
“If any Shrink Rapper ever has the time and inclination it would be interesting to read about what you would do to fix the mental health system, particularly the issue of involuntary hospitalization, if you had unlimited funds and political resources. You've been in the trenches, it would be great to hear your thoughts.”Over on Peter Earley’s blog I see that ...
Multi-tasking has never been my forte and so I like to keep my schedule organized. Mondays, I see all of my on-treatment patients. Tuesdays and Thursdays I see new patients in consultation. Wednesdays are reserved for treatment planning and research projects. But Fridays—well, Fridays are usually the best day of the week. Not only is the weekend approaching, with time to spend on my menagerie and the ever present home ...
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Test your medicine knowledge with the MKSAP challenge, in partnership with the American College of Physicians.
A 54-year-old woman is evaluated during a routine examination. She is very concerned by her lack of interest in sexual intercourse. The patient feels like she "just doesn't want to be touched." She used to enjoy intercourse and does not know why she feels this way now, but she acknowledges that it is causing ...
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"A comprehensive and extremely useful roadmap for doctors."
-Eric Topol, MD, author of The Creative Destruction of Medicine
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Past 6 Months
Dear lawmakers: This is what it’s like to be a doctor today
Matthew Moeller, MD | PhysicianA gun owner responds to Sandy Hook
Edwin Leap, MD | PhysicianIs Chris Christie too obese to run for president?
Jeffrey Parks, MD | PhysicianIf I’m wrong about guns, can you please explain why?
Claire McCarthy, MD | PhysicianPrimary care doctors may no longer be needed
Doug Olson, MD | PhysicianWalgreens moves into primary care, and it’s our own damn fault
Kevin Pho, MD | Kevin's Take