Philosophy
Do You Have A “One Problem” Doctor?
Have you seen this sign in your doctor's office? It reads, "One problem per visit, please." An editorial in the Canadian Medical Association Journal says this sign is popping up in the offices of some family physicians. So how will the one-problem- doctor affect your medical care? How did this asinine situation happen? One evening I attended a dinner to hear the President of the Ontario Medical Association announce an upcoming meeting with provincial health officials about the OMA fee schedule. The President gave the usual rally-the-troops speech but left immediately to catch a plane as she had to see patients the next morning! Can you imagine the uproar from Canadian Auto Workers if their president was a part-time leader who...Read More
Philosophy, Psychiatry
Why Do You Laugh ,There Is No One With You?
What prescription could I write to ease this patient's trouble during the holiday season? I knew that Prozac or St. John's Wort was not the answer. Nor could any of the other drugs that I normally prescribe ease her suffering. Finally, I realized the best prescription was staring me right in the face. So as she left the office I wrote a few numbers down on my prescription pad. And I hope that some readers will do the same thing. What diagnosis did I write in her record? It was Loneliness. I've never seen it in the index of any medical textbook. But at this time of year, and at other times as well, it's one of the worst medical problems....Read More
Philosophy
Coping With The Mother Of Economic Disasters
Sheer chance had me aboard the Holland America Line in the middle of the Pacific Ocean when the stock market crashed with devastating results. If I'd been in Canada I could have cried on my financial investor shoulder's while asking why so much hard earned money was going down the drain. And as the news became progressively worse I wondered if I could even afford a canoe to return to Canada. So how did my psyche cope with this "mother" of all economic disasters? Hopefully it will help others who have seen their finances melt. One I knew that unless I could walk on water there was no way of getting off the ship until it reached Honolulu. I concluded that there...Read More
Philosophy
Religious People: Shame, Shame, Shame
Why would I rather deal with the Mafia than some religious people? Because I hate hypocrisy above all other things. I know the mob has a code they follow strictly and it's crystal clear to everyone what it's all about, such as it is. But religious people talk constantly about brotherly love and yet condemn fellow humans to death. It's hypocrisy at its worst. A report in the Medical Post says that Canadians are being forced to travel to China and India to purchase heart and kidney transplants. Their only alternative is death. How can you blame these people for seeking what's been labelled "transplantation tourism" buying an organ in a foreign land? We all share the desire to live at any...Read More
Philosophy
Six Things You Should Know About A Living Will
Why have a Living Will a skeptical patient recently asked? I replied "Because no one in this world will care as much about how you die as you will". So don't say no to a LW because of unfounded myths. One I'm not going to sign a Living Will because it allows doctors to quickly pull the plug and end my life. In fact, the very opposite is true. North American doctors today spend much of their time worrying about lawyers in treating all medical situations. But when faced with a decision of whether to terminate a life they back away from it like the plague. They worry that any move to end a life may result in legal action by the...Read More
Cancer, Lifestyle, Philosophy
An Instrument That Could End Medical Madness?
Is there a device that could stop people from destroying themselves? An instrument that could prevent lunatic behaviour and premature death of millions of North Americans? It's a tall order. But Eureka, with the help of my children there's finally a solution. During a family dinner I told them about a frustrating situation that had occurred that day. My patient was taking her Mother to Florida for the winter. She also had to take along an oxygen tank. Unfortunately, her Mother suffered from incapacitating emphysema. She had destroyed her lungs from years of smoking. The daughter, a well-educated woman, was also smoking two packs of cigarettes a day. During our talk she was constantly coughing and it was obvious that she would...Read More
Philosophy
What’s So Important About “1,500”? – Gifford-Jones, 30 Years
"I've decided to start publishing your column," the editor remarked to me. Then he added, "You realize your life will never be the same again?" How true! 30 years later I've now written a newspaper column every week, 52 weeks a year, a total of 5,230 articles. It's an experience I wouldn't have missed. And what have I learned? I would gladly hang some lawyers for what they've done to medical practice. Parasitic ambulance chasers have forced doctors to take needless x-rays and other tests for fear of medical malpractice suits. This has increased the cost of medical care when medical budgets are stretched to the limit and limited the judgment of physicians. I've also learned how to lose newspapers. Years ago...Read More
Philosophy
Huge Response To Conjoined Twins Column
"I've never written before about a newspaper column, but I'm compelled to do so this time". This was the general response following my recent column questioning the birth of conjoined twins. These replies speak for themselves. "As a Christian it is wrong to end life. You do not know that these children are doomed. They may find peace, a bonding and friendship like no others. Your opinion on the rights of women and life in general frighten me." Brandi Polatty. "You will receive energetic objections from right-to-life groups. But in Canada where our health care system is funded by tax dollars we all have a stake in these decisions. These twins will be a constant drain on our health and social service...Read More
Philosophy
The Many Tragedies of Conjoined Twins
Six months ago Tatiana and Krista Hogan-Simms entered this world in British Columbia as conjoined twins. Now they and their parents have become international celebrities appearing on major television shows. In the press the conjoined twins are described as "little angels". But every time I see their pictures I wonder why anyone would allow this cruelty to happen. Do many readers agree with me? The tragedy of conjoined twins occurs in the early stages of pregnancy when the fertilized egg fails to divide completely. Few tragic newborns live long enough to be considered for surgery. Reports claim that Felicia Simms was advised by doctors that her pregnancy could be terminated, but she refused this option. I assume that she considers life of...Read More
Philosophy
The Mathematics Of Living To 85+
What's the chance of living to 85 years and beyond? Dr. Bradley J. Wilcox is the lead author of a longevity study carried out by the Pacific Health Research Institute in Hawaii. It's one of the longest studies on aging and it followed the health of 5,820 Japanese-American men for 40 years. At the start of the study their average age was 45 and they were all healthy. What happened to them depended on nine key factors. You can calculate your longevity with simple arithmetic. One - How good is your grip strength which is measured by how hard you can grasp an object? So the next time you squeeze a lemon estimate your strength. If your grip strength is strong...Read More
Philosophy
The Dangers of 80 Percent
Would you like to be connected to tubes for months to sustain life when doctors know there's no hope of your survival? Or have family members feud because none are aware of your wishes when faced with your imminent death. If you've left such an important decision to chance then there's a good chance this could happen. A study shows that 80 percent of North Americans haven't signed a Living Will. I can understand it if you're one of the 80 percent who because of religious, moral or ethical reasons, want fate to decide your final outcome it's your right to do so. But if that's not the case, overlooking a living will is a terrible risk. And it places a...Read More
Lifestyle, Philosophy
Pogo Was Right – Consumer Responsibility
How long should we be our brother's keeper? A report in the British newspaper, The Guardian, claims that being a Samaritan is coming to an end in England. Smokers and overweight people will soon be asked to sign contracts with their doctors. They will have to agree to a program to quit smoking and lose weight under a radical medical plan drawn up by the Labour government. Health secretary, Alan Milburn says it's an attempt to remind people of their own responsibilities. The document will not deny medical care to those who refuse to sign the agreement. But the government wants to make it clear that smokers and overweight people must play a role in caring for themselves by stopping smoking,...Read More
Philosophy
Terminal Sedation Is Not Death With Dignity
How much will you endure when you're dying? Many patients say, "I want enough painkiller to prevent all pain." Others add "When there's no further hope of survival give me sufficient medication to end my misery". Recently the University of Toronto Joint Centre For Bioethics issued new guidelines for doctors who treat pain. But how much pain will they stop? The new guidelines were developed by physicians, intensive care program directors, and coroners. The guidelines state that there is no limit to the amount of painkiller that can be given to relieve pain. In fact, they say that doctors should not hesitate to increase the dose of painkillers even if it hastens death. Another section of this outline states that patients may be...Read More
Gynecology, Philosophy, Sex
Congratulations, You Should Be Proud At Your Age!
It was not a good day at the office. My morning was just ending, when two female investigators from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, arrived without notice and asked to see me. I was handed an envelope and one woman immediately started to take notes. This was not a good sign. So I asked the reason for the sudden visit and was shocked to hear I had been accused of sexual misconduct. That same day I was meeting my wife for lunch so I told her with trepidation what had just occurred. She immediately laughed and said, "Congratulations! At your age you should be proud of yourself!" But I didn't share her sense of humour at the time. As a medical...Read More
Philosophy, Psychiatry
Sex for Psychiatric Patients
How times have changed! I've often complained that toe-tapping music has gone, now replaced by loud singers who shout or gyrate. We used to have more sense. But when it came to sex how much sense did we have? Not much, compared to what is now happening. At the Centre Hospitalier Robert-Gillard, the largest psychiatric hospital in eastern Quebec, a new policy allows psychiatric patients to have sex. This reminded me of Thorupgaarden nursing home in Copenhagen and their "ladies-of-the-night". Nicole-Gagnon, the ombudswoman and instigator of this change at the hospital says, "sex has always been frowned upon in this hospital, like in others, but all that's done is to force people to find other outlets. Like washrooms, stairwells or parking...Read More
Philosophy
A Letter From Singapore
This week, something I've never done before. I've often published comments from readers, but never an entire letter. But I believe this unsolicited letter from Singapore is interesting, thought-provoking and too important to toss away. As the lawyers say "Res ipsa loquitor". This letter speaks for itself. The letter reads, "I now live in Singapore, but have lived in Ontario for over 50 years. This year when I was home I read your article about Singapore justice. Why you agree with Singapore officials that we have become "irresponsibly permissive" about law and order in North America. Why our namby-pamby approach adversely affects patients emotional and physical health. And why we need a dose of Singapore justice in Canada. In Singapore the streets...Read More
Lifestyle, Philosophy
Eight Good Reasons to Make Love
Are you fed up reading about war, our failing health care system and crooked CEOs? If so, let's discuss a more pleasant topic, the way to ensure a long and healthy life. Some are convinced that jogging, a variety of diets or a daily glass of red wine is the answer. But what about sex? The fact is that making love is downright good for you. Here are eight reasons why you should put more amore into your life. It's Good Exercise Since making love involves some interesting acrobatics having sex three times a week burns about 7,500 calories in a year. This is the equivalent of jogging 75 miles! And vigorous sex consumes up to 200 calories each time. At three...Read More
Philosophy
Why we Should Allow Sterilization of a Mentally Retarded Person
If these people cannot care for themselves how can they care for a child? Would you employ them as a baby-sitter to look after your own child? If we assume that abortion should not be a method of contraception then it is morally wrong to refuse these people a sterilzation procedure The fact they cannot provide informed consent is not a valid point. Neither can they give informed consent to any other procedure such as an appendectomy or the need for an antibiotic. If there is no law it cannot be an illegal act until such a law is passed Those opposed to sterilization should take a retarded child into their home for a few weeks. They would soon change their mind. There s nothing more...Read More
Philosophy
I’ll Loan You My Daughter If This Doesn’t Worry You!
`What can we learn from history as we start 2005? Thirty years ago I filed away an article and forgot about it. An editorial in The Ontario Medical Review claimed that people were becoming obsessed with health. It suggested that if the U.S Declaration of Independence were written today it would declare that it was the pursuit of health, rather than the pursuit of happiness, that would be the third inalienable right of Americans. Another old clipping reminded me of Kissick, his Law and his daughter. The OMR article written by Dr. Samuel Vaisrub claims that years ago people tended to disregard symptoms, fight off problems themselves, were lackadaisical about disease prevention, and doctors had to prod people to look after...Read More
Archive, Philosophy
The Math Of Medical Ethics 101
"What an incredible story" I thought as I read the article. But it wasn't published in a prestigious medical journal. Rather, it was an article in the New Yorker Magazine written by Ian Parker about about Zell Kravinsky. Zell had given away almost his entire 45 million real estate fortune to charity. Then he donated a kidney to save a young stranger's life. He had even considered donating his other kidney and subjecting himself to kidney dialysis to save another young life. This is Sacrifice with a capital S! Yet thousands of his fellow citizens refuse to donate organs even after their death to those who desperately need of them. Why did Kravinsky do it? He says people simply don't understand...Read More
Cancer, Philosophy
A Bus Advertisement May Be The Answer
"Why must I wait so long for a cataract operation?" one reader asks. Another angrily asks why her mother had to die in agony from terminal cancer. This past year I've received an increasing number of letters from readers dealing with this type of problem. And during a recent trip to Oxford University in England a bus advertisement could help to solve these troubles. The bus ad read, "Now you can have the hospital you've always wanted". Since there's so much debate in this country about our deteriorating hospital system I couldn't resist calling the number on the bus and visiting Acland Hospital. I was surprised to find that Acland Hospital in Oxford was merely one of their 45 Nuffield "private hospitals"...Read More
Lifestyle, Philosophy
It’s Okay To Inhale To Stop Smoking
An economist, analyzing financial disasters, remarked that "If you keep going to hell you'll eventually get there". This warning equally applies to the millions of people who still smoke and eventually die from this addiction. Today, there is no greater madness than smoking when research proves that smoking kills. Fortunately, there's a new treatment that can help to save these needless deaths. In this case it's okay to inhale to quit smoking, with the newest smoking cessation, the Nicorette inhaler. Sir Walter Raleigh, a favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, introduced tobacco into England. But if he tried this today, authorities would hang him from the yardarm for even suggesting its use. Tobacco would be immediately banned as a hazardous substance. Now...Read More
Philosophy
The Cheapest, Safest and Best Remedy For the Common Cough
Voltaire, the French philosopher and writer, once remarked, "The art of medicine consists in amusing the patient while nature heals the disease". Year after year North Americans spend millions of dollars on medication they believe is going to help them. But it's often a waste of money when a dummy pill can cure a variety of ailments. Dr. Ian Paul, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at Penn State Children's Hospital, Hershey, Pennyslvania, reports this interesting finding in the medical journal Pediatrics. His studies show that giving your child a glass of water is equally effective in relieving troublesome nighttime coughs as expensive over-the-counter medications. The majority of cough syrups such as those in the best-selling brands Robitussin and Benylin DM have dextromethorphan as...Read More
Philosophy
Sir Isaac Newton’s Boob Lifter
How do I remember Niagara Falls? I'm standing at the brink of the falls on a cold, snowy, night with no one else around. Years ago when I practiced medicine in that city I often stopped on my way home to see this awe-inspiring sight. For others its image is the "Honeymoon Capital of the World". But I hope it won't be soon known as "Boob City". And I imagine how his law is being used wouldn't impress the great English physicist Sir Isaac Newton. Botulism toxin , historically one of the world's deadly killers, has been approved by Canada and the U.S. to treat cosmetic conditions. The result? Thousands of aging baby boomers, TV stars and others have lined up...Read More
Gynecology, Philosophy
A Cesarean Section On A Lucky Day?
Should pregnant women have the right to demand a Cesarean section even if there's no bone-fide reason for the operation? Or be allowed to have the C-section on a lucky day? Today more women are asking for this right. But is this request utter madness? Years ago it would have been sheer folly to perform a C-section unless there was a serious emergency. Women would have died from either uncontrollable bleeding or infection. Now it's a different story with improved surgical techniques and antibiotics. The International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics claims that since there's no evidence that a patient choice Cesarean has no benefits it's not ethically justified. The World Health Organization adds that a Cesarean section rate above 15 per cent...Read More
