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Second Opinions

Essays and opinions from our readers, always thought-provoking, sometimes controversial

A photo of police officers standing on a residential street behind an ambulance.

Clinicians Too Play a Role in Community Violence Intervention

Collaboration between different program types is key

A photo of Donald Trump shaking hands with Robert F. Kennedy Jr. during a rally in Duluth, Georgia.

RFK Jr. Threatens the Very Fabric of Healthcare

A vote to give Kennedy power is a vote against public health

A still from the television show M*A*S*H with Hawkeye Pierce, B.J. Hunnicutt, Margaret Houlihan, and Major Charles Emerson.

Dark Humor Allows Us to See the 'Light' in Medicine

But don't forget to speak softly and tread carefully

A photo of a female physician pressing an I Voted Today sticker to her white coat.

Vote: Your Health and Your Patients' Health Depend on It

Civic participation is linked to better community health

A computer rendering of antibodies attacking a COVID virus.

Old Drugs, New Tricks: The Power of Medication Repurposing

COVID highlighted the untapped potential of existing treatments

A photo of a high school football game.

We Can Better Protect Kids From Head Injury in Football

Making youth football safer requires a collective effort

A photo of three hospital patients sitting in the waiting room and looking at their phones.

Why Medicine Is Bad at Customer Service -- And How to Fix It

Healthcare is one of few industries still lacking in convenience

A photo of a female physician using sign language to communicate with her female patient who is also wearing a hearing aid.

Going Beyond Hearing Aids for Equal Care Access

Hearing loss is only becoming more prevalent

A photo of Brian H. Williams, MD, and the cover of is book The Bodies Keep Coming.

I'm a Black Trauma Surgeon. Ending Gun Violence Demands Fighting for Racial Justice.

An excerpt from Williams' book, The Bodies Keep Coming

A computer rendering of a transparent human head with Broca鈥檚 area of the brain highlighted.

A Case of Broca's Aphasia

An excerpt from Theodore H. Schwartz's book, Gray Matters: A Biography of Brain Surgery

A photo of a female physician comforting her female patient.

Anatomy of a Suicide Crisis: Life After Abuse

Love shouldn't hurt

A photo of a bag of IV fluids hanging from a pole as seen from a patient鈥檚 perspective.

What Will the IV Fluid Shortage Mean for Hospital Finance?

A more strategic approach to production is key to preventing crises like this

A computer rendering of a uterus.

'My Womb Isn't My Legacy'

We must look beyond women's childbearing potential in healthcare and society in general

A photo of a mature man sitting at a cardboard voting booth.

The Deathbed Regrets Voter Guide

Don't regret your vote

A photo of Donald Trump speaking at his campaign rally in Coachella, California.

Hey Trump: It's Time to Release Your Medical Records

An informed electorate is essential in a fair election

A photo of rolls of I Voted stickers.

The Cure to Gun Violence Begins at the Ballot Box, Not the Trauma Bay

The most impactful solutions extend beyond the clinical walls to the halls of government

A photo of Kamala Harris and Donald Trump during the ABC News debate.

Women and Children First -- Or Not

A look at the presidential candidates' records on maternal and child health

A close up photo of a robot hand manipulating a computer keyboard.

Doctors, Not AI, Should Authorize Treatments

A new California law shows the way

A photo of Kieran Murphy, MD, and the cover of his book The Essence of Invention.

How Unconventional Thinkers Unlock Medical Innovation

An excerpt from Murphy's book, The Essence of Invention

A photo of a woman taking a photo of a check with her smartphone to make a deposit.

Want Electronic Reimbursement? That Will Cost You a 5% Fee.

Predatory insurance fees underscore need for physician payment reform

A photo of a scalpel in a white rubber gloved hand.

Female Genital Mutilation Happens in America, Too

Physicians must partner with their patients to provide appropriate care

A close up photo of a mail-in ballot for the 2024 presidential election.

Election Got You Stressed and Anxious?

Here's how to maintain your composure when patients have differing views

A photo of surgeons about to put a kidney on ice after removal from a living donor.

It Shouldn't Be This Hard to Donate an Organ

Financial support and incentives can help close the living donor gap

A photo of the Inupiaq settlement on Little Diomede Island in Alaska.

To Improve Indigenous Health, Expand Community Health Aide Programs

Ensuring care access for remote communities is essential

A photo of a box of mifepristone tablets and a bottle of misoprostol tablets.

The Real 'Danger' Is Reclassifying Abortion Pills as Controlled Substances

Louisiana's new law threatens the health and safety of pregnant women

A photo of a female physician wearing a Vot-ER badge.

Just What the Doctor Ordered: Civic Engagement Can Improve Community Health

The upcoming election is an important reminder of the value of voting

A photo of a man holding a Saxenda injection pen.

Should I Prescribe Liraglutide to a 6-Year-Old Patient With Obesity if FDA Approved?

I anticipate benefits outweighing potential risks in only a select few situations

A photo of colposcope and equipment in a an examination room.

Women Should Not Have to 'Just Deal With' Gynecological Pain

Expectation setting and open discussions are key

A photo of a street mural depicting a wildfire with a skeleton next to it saying: No Worries.

The Wildfires May Be Contained but their Impact on Youth Mental Health Is Raging

It's time for a strategic approach to climate anxiety

A photo of a senior male physician talking to younger male physician as they walk down a hospital hallway.

The Ebb and Flow of Mentorship in Medicine

Former mentors may need space to move on from their professional lives

A photo of Warren Hern, MD, and the cover of his book Abortion in the Age of Unreason.

The Disease of Nine Months: Caring for Women Before and After Roe

An excerpt from Hern's new book, Abortion in the Age of Reason

An 1898 painting by Raja Ravi Varma titled: Shakuntala looking for Dushyanta.

Reclaiming the Night in the Wake of 'Abhaya's' Murder

To everyone in medicine: don't underestimate the gentleness of Indian women as weakness

An abstract painting.

An Indian Doctor Was Just Raped and Killed. This Is Not an Isolated Incident.

An examination of what's driving sexual violence against women in medicine

A computer rendering of a pertussis infection.

Vaccine Hesitancy Is on the Rise. So Is Whooping Cough.

Clear and respectful communication is key to preventing outbreaks like this

A photo of prescription pill containers wrapped in U.S. paper currency.

How to Help Patients Save on Drug Costs

Even in the face of slow to no policy change, we can still increase access

A computer rendering of doctors rubber gloved hands holding up signs which read: On Strike.

Healthcare Unionization Isn't the Only Option

In this changing workplace, managers and leaders can do better for their staff

A photo of a female physician taking the blood pressure of a pregnant woman.

An Action Plan for Hypertension in Pregnancy

The prevalence is unacceptably high, especially in Black women

A computer rendering of mpox viruses.

Mpox: Lessons From 2022 for Future Preparedness

We must be ready for possible systemic complications

A photo of a female pharmacist on the phone behind the counter at a CVS pharmacy.

The Best Prescription for Safety in Pharmacy

Well-being and safety in the profession have come a long way, but the work isn't done yet

A photo of Piedmont Henry Hospital in Stockbridge, Georgia.

A Georgia Woman's Death After Delayed Abortion Care Was Preventable. Who's to Blame?

Physicians need more clear guidance and protocols from their healthcare systems

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