KevinMD.com - Medical Weblog

Suicide by drug overdose, live via webcam

This is a pretty sick story.A 19-year old told a chat forum of his intentions, and posted a suicide note on another forum before taking a drug overdose and turning on the camera.Over a thousand...

Why are doctors not screening patients for HIV?

In 2006, the CDC recommended that HIV testing should be universal. Why aren't doctors listening? There are a variety of cited reasons, ranging from lack of reimbursement, concerns about informed...

What do psychiatrists think of the new ACP depression guidelines?

The reviews are decidedly mixed. On one hand, they applaud the ACP "for taking depression seriously," but on the other, the guidelines just focus on several classes of second generation...

When a doctor talks too much

As a patient, do you feel uncomfortable if a doctor reveals too much personal information?In her weekly column, Pauline Chen found that in a third of office visits, doctors made such "self-disclosure...

Mainstream media health blogs held to a higher journalistic standard

Every major news organization now has a health blog, ranging from the Wall Street Journal to the New York Times.As such, their entries take a more down the middle approach to stories, as opposed to a...

Retaliation for being refused narcotics, or a doctor gone wild?

A gynecologist is accused of fondling himself in front of a female patient, "while asking her personal questions about her sex life and espousing the benefits of self-stimulation during an office...

The economy is hurting biotech companies

Funding to biotech companies are at the lowest level in a decade, with five companies filing for bankruptcy over the past month. Those that are surviving are looking at a very uncertain future, as...

Doctors never want to treat the underlying problem

Dilbert livens up the day.(via scanman)

Where would you rather have your leukemia treated?

Two young girls get diagnosed with the same form of leukemia, one in the UK, the other Stateside.Both girls received excellent care, but the cost in the US was almost twice as much, with significant...

What happens if you quit smoking right now?

In 20 minutes your blood pressure will drop back down to normal; in 8 hours the carbon monoxide levels in your blood stream will drop by half, and oxygen levels will return to normal; in 48 hours...