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Second Opinions

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

A photo of a female medical school graduate during the graduation ceremony.

You've Graduated Medical School! Now What?

Take time to relax and prepare ahead of residency

A photo of a female radiologist performing a mammography on her Black patient.

Proposed Breast Cancer Screening Guidelines Are Good, but Not Enough

Specifics for older women, Black women, and those with dense breasts are needed

A photo of two female physicians and a female patient wearing a hospital gown sitting on an examination table.

The Patient Case Against Requiring Medical Chaperones

What sounds good in theory falls short in practice

A photo of a woman waving to a male physician and nurse as she leaves her hospital room with a suitcase.

You're Ready for Your Patient to Leave the Hospital. But Are They Ready?

Discharge must be a coordinated effort by the healthcare team

Can the Joint Commission Lead Healthcare to a Greener Future?

Environmental protections and patient health can never be taken for granted

A photo of an anti-abortion center in Worcester, Massachusetts.

How to Spot Anti-Abortion 'Crisis Pregnancy' Centers

And why you and your patients need to know what they really are

A photo of a blue rubber gloved hand holding a pre-filled syringe.

Why Is One Dose Suddenly Enough for the mRNA COVID Vaccines?

FDA and CDC have made yet another questionable decision

A photo of a table of free food set up on the sidewalk in front of a home with a sign which reads: FREE FOOD COMIDA GRATIS

Does the General Public Understand the Social Determinants of Health?

It's time for better education

A photo of a person holding up a sign outside the Supreme Court building which reads: DEFEND DREAMERS

It's a Precarious Path From Dreamer to Doctor

DACA recipients face barriers to education and practice

A photo of a mother and her son riding on an autism awareness float in Laredo, Texas.

How Every City Can Promote Health Equity for People With Autism

Lessons from Laredo, Texas

A photo of Anthony Chin-Quee, MD, next to the cover of his book.

How Could I Possibly Know What Was 'Best' for My Patient?

An excerpt from Chin-Quee's new book, I Can't Save You

A photo of various kinds of pills spilling out of a rolled up $100 bill.

You Choose: Food or Medications?

The suffering caused by exorbitant drug prices is all too clear for doctors to see

A photo of a boy suffering from autism sitting at a desk in a special needs school.

Will Proposed ACGME Requirements Have Consequences for Kids With Autism?

More strategic and thoughtful updates are necessary

A photo of the Peter Grinspoon, MD, holding his book SEEING THROUGH SMOKE

Doobie No Harm: Doctors and the War on Drugs

An excerpt from Grinspoon's new book, "Seeing Through the Smoke"

A photo of a man wearing a suit and holding a briefcase facing a group of healthcare workers wearing scrubs.

Suits vs Scrubs: The Evolving Healthcare Workplace

The patient pays the ultimate price

A photo of surgeons performing bariatric surgery.

Will Obesity Drugs Change the Bariatric Surgery Landscape?

The two approaches can fit together in practice, but questions remain

A photo of a little boy in his room holding various pills and capsules in his hands.

Polypharmacy Isn't the Answer for Adolescent Mental Health

Youth need broader access to non-pharmaceutical interventions from trained professionals

A photo of a mature man sitting on the edge of his bed and holding his painful back.

We're Treating Low Back Pain All Wrong

Let's reexamine the current approach to treatment

A computer rendering of a covid virus in front of the U.S. flag.

The Promise of the $5 Billion Investment in 'Project Next Gen'

Here's how to make it money well spent

A photo of doctors and nurses talking in a hospital hallway.

The 'Flow' Framework Can Help Retain Healthcare Workers

We need a workplace that supports clarity of goals, personal control, and concentration

A photo of a man sitting at a table outdoors and lighting a marijuana cigarette.

Marijuana Is Not the Solution for PTSD

Evidence shows it does not treat PTSD in the long-term, and may worsen symptoms

A photo of a depressed looking surgeon.

The Most Agony-Filled Scream I've Ever Heard Came in the Wake of a Shooting

We cannot stand idly by as the death toll grows

A photo of a surgeon holding a kidney prior to transplantation.

Monopoly Be Gone: A New Chapter in U.S. Organ Procurement and Transplantation

A recent announcement from HHS has the power to transform our deeply flawed system

A photo of a young male physician talking to a mature male physician in a hospital hallway.

Nepotism's Deep Roots in Medical Education

The consequences for fairness and diversity are far-reaching

A photo of a female healthcare worker holding out her pink rubber gloved hand.

The Best Medicine for Healthcare Workers: A Living Wage

California's proposed minimum wage increase is a model for other states to follow

A photo of the entrance to the Moderna headquarters in Cambridge, MA.

Moderna's Steep COVID Vaccine Price: Corporate Greed or Capitalism?

Lessons learned and next steps for public-private vaccines

A photo of physicians and nurses having a team meeting in a hospital.

Resiliency Starts With High-Reliability Healthcare Systems

Individual team member resilience will follow

A photo of a senior man sitting on an examination table in a hospital.

Health Inequity Should Be Labeled as a 'Never Event'

Let's set a goal of zero

A computer rendering of two generic health and dental insurance cards.

A Conservative Blueprint for Universal Healthcare

Achieving universal coverage is possible using the ACA as a framework

A photo of an upset looking young man with his hands on his head sitting in front of a laptop.

The Unmatched Need Not Suffer Alone

Here are a few ways medical schools can provide proactive support

A photo of the signage outside of the FDA headquarters in Washington, D.C.

FDA Has Neglected Clinical Trial Transparency 鈥� Plus $45 Billion in Fines

It's time for more aggressive enforcement of the law

A photo of surgeons in the operating room.

Can the Surgicalist Model Solve OR Staffing Challenges?

New solutions are needed to address growing workforce shortages

A photo of a young female physician visiting her senior female patient in hospice.

Hospice Care Is Not Giving Up, It Is Leaning In

Hospice benefits should be expanded

A photo of protestors in front of the Supreme Court building in Washington DC.

How Overturning Roe v. Wade Changed Match Day 2023

Abortion restrictions are a physician workforce issue

A photo of a smiling transgender teen male.

Treating Gender Nonconforming Youth Goes Beyond the Physical

We must approach care for every patient from the lens of treating the entire individual

A photo of a female physician during a telehealth visit with her young male patient.

Life-Saving Telehealth for Opioid Use Disorder Hangs in the Balance

The U.S. could soon face a preventable public health crisis

A photo of medical training dummies in a medical school.

A Better Way to Measure and Rank Medical Schools

Good assessment is about rating, not ranking

A photo of a billboard advertising a vasectomy clinic.

A Surge in Vasectomies: Sustaining the Demand

To increase participation, let's reduce the points of friction

A photo of two mature female physicians laughing in a hospital hallway.

Four Key Steps to Advance Women Leaders in Medicine

It's time for more equitable representation

A photo of a sign in the window of a closed hospital which reads: HOSPITAL CLOSED

The Cost of Yet Another Pediatric Hospital Closure

A national trend toward pediatric service consolidation is restricting access to care

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