Monthly Archives: February 2014

Mammograms Revisited

Mammograms Revisited

This is the third rail in medicine.  Anyone who touches it fears getting emasculated by the Komen foundation.  More and more data, however, shows the risks of overdiagnosis.  I remember harassing women like Marie Myung-Ok Lee   http://heymancenter.org/people/marie-myung-ok-lee/   into getting mammograms.  Now I am thoroughly embarrassed about my previous overconfidence.  Like many things in medicine, the benefits are oversold and the risks minimized.  It’s OK to question your doctor and common wisdom.  Good for you Marie!

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Simpsons have it Wrong

Simpsons have it Wrong

I’m hoping I wasn’t the basis for the awesome Simpson’s Doctor!

The only problem is that it’s not true! Doctors are like plumbers: the more we screw up the MORE we get paid! It’s a wonderful system from my end. Some regulations are going into effect to try to stop the incentive to make you sicker so you stay in the hospital longer, but I’m dubious they will be terribly effective. And if you die? We still get paid by Medicare!

Creating disease out of Aging

Creating disease out of Aging

Nice op/ed about one of the many ways we try to turn aging into a disease.  As with most medical interventions, however, there are unintended consequences.  Notwithstanding the physical side effects, I’m really opposed to telling an otherwise healthy person that they have a medical “condition.”

I guess “lose weight, get more exercise and eat right” just doesn’t sell billions 😦

http://nyti.ms/1fpVKjd