by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
President Obama’s pick for the new surgeon general, Regina Benjamin, M.D., is drawing a little controversy. She appears overweight.
Here at My Family Doctor we have a little argument going on whether this should matter.
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Last week Congress passed a bill that gave the FDA regulating authority over tobacco. The president is sure to sign it. It is supposed to be a blow to the tobacco industry and their advertising efforts. No more flavored tobacco or “light cigarette” claims.
But I have a few questions: (more…)
By far our most popular web article has been the pros and cons of universal health care originally printed in our January/February 2008 print edition. Now that we know a little more about what the Obama administration is planning, we asked the debaters to follow up with their thoughts.
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Health-care rationing is coming, but what form will it take? Limiting by age? Predicted life expectancy? And who will make these decisions?
Two recent medical review studies give us a glimpse into the future. (more…)
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Have you ever had an X-ray? Probably so. What would modern medicine be without them? I can’t count the times I’ve seen a kid with a hurt wrist thinking it was a sprain but I ordered an X-ray just in case and surprise, surprise. There’s a little fracture.
But sometimes we might depend on them a little too much. (more…)
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Have you ever been watching one of those ads for prescription drugs touting how wonderful the drug is … then they go into detail about side effects like may it may cause blurred vision, anal leakage, heart palpitations, blindness, maybe death? Why do they do that? You don’t see it on all drug ads, just some. Are these drug companies just more open and truthful than others?
Stay tuned for “the rest of the story.”
(more…)
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Can you believe the Peanut Corporation of America was sending out their products knowing they had a problem?
The PCA, of course, is responsible for the salmonella outbreak that has sickened closed to 600 and killed at least eight. Their own records allegedly show positive salmonella cultures in 2007 and 2008. Apparently, they just retested until they got a negative and sent the contaminated product on its way. The FDA is conducting a criminal investigation.
What do you think? If true, should someone go to jail?
Wait, there’s more.
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Unless you have asthma, you probably don’t know the cost of inhalers doubled starting the first of the year. This wasn’t due to market factors or greedy pharmaceuticals, nor did it improve quality of or access to health care. It was due to a government regulation, just like the regulations on the mortgage, auto and airline industries that have contributed to their bankruptcy.
by 
James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
I’m jumping the gun a bit, but I thought you should have a heads up in case President Obama mentions the new buzz phrase “medical home” in his State of the Union Address.
Since his election, President Obama hasn’t said much about universal health care, although I’m sure that’s his long-term goal. He’s mostly talked about cutting costs, with a definition only politicians can get away with: Lower costs means slowing said costs’ growth. Instead growing 10 percent per year, maybe we can slow to 6 or 4 percent.
Of course any improvement, without diminishing quality, will be welcome. Obama’s plan so far is to update health-care technology, such as implementing electronic medical records and (I hope he means) streamlining red tape. Time will tell how much that will really save.
DOCTOR ORGANIZATIONS’ IDEA FOR HEALTH-CARE REFORM
Not to be left out of the health-care reform debate, professional medical organizations are pushing their own agenda. The concept of a medical home is big among primary-care groups like the American Academy of Family Physicians, American Academy of Pediatrics and American College of Physicians (internal medicine doctors). The American Medical Association also thinks it’s a good idea.
WHAT IS A PATIENT CENTER OR PERSONAL MEDICAL HOME?
by James Hubbard, M.D., M.P.H.
Let’s face it. The conscience protection rule is all about abortion. It could be called the abortion protection rule.
It’s a regulation the Bush administration issued that applies to employers who receive federal funds. It ensures that they respect employees’ right to refuse to participate in medical treatment that goes against their conscience. In other words, they can’t be forced to do things they think are wrong. They can’t be fired for refusing to go against their beliefs. They can’t be fired for not participating in abortions.
You can read the full 31 page pdf file at the Federal Register. Depending on whom you ask, it’s a step backward or a step forward, too broad or too narrow. Pro-life groups love it. Pro-choice groups abhor it as much as the NRA hates gun regulations.
But what are the pros and cons of the conscience protection rule? That partly depends on what you believe as fact or fiction.
