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Second Opinions

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

A photo of a male physician talking to his male patient in his office.

Tough to Swallow: Clinicians Are Neglecting Alcohol Use

More widespread screening and support for reduced drinking are essential

An overhead shot of an open prescription bottle of Adderall XR capsules.

How to Keep Patients Safe During an Adderall Shortage

Individualized, harm-reductionist treatment plans are critical

A photo of Monique Gary, DO, MSc

How to Make Meaningful Moves Toward Health Equity in Cancer Care

Addressing the three R's: resources, research, and racism

A photo of Rebekah Fenton, MD, MPH

Allies as Mediators in the Healthcare Workplace

Stand up and offer to advocate for those with marginalized identities when discrimination occurs

A photo of a box of Narcan Nasal Spray sitting on a marble counter top.

Over-the-Counter Naloxone Has the Power to Save Lives

But removing barriers to access is an essential next step

A photo of Loperamide products on the self of a Kroger grocery store.

What Clinicians Need to Know About Loperamide Misuse

While cases have declined, use of loperamide as an opioid substitute still poses serious risks

Beyond Memorization: AI Can Revolutionize Medical Education

Tools like ChatGPT could catalyze the trend toward a "flipped classroom"

A photo of a female nurse at the bedside of a senior woman in hospice care.

Death Literacy Among Healthcare Professionals Is Dismal

Greater education is the need of the hour

A photo of a crowded hospital hallway.

Patients Are Dying in Emergency Department Waiting Rooms

We call on HHS and CMS to help address the issue of ED boarding

A photo of a male college student resting his head on his arm while studying in a library.

Faking Your Way Through Medical School

What can medical schools do to ease student anxiety over uncertainty?

A computer rendered cutaway of an avian influenza virus

What Bird Flu Reminds Us About Influenza Pandemics

We must be prepared and proactive

A photo of a female physician standing in front of her sad female patient in the examination room.

Managing Miscarriage in the Emergency Department and Beyond

In any medical setting, here are a few ways to provide support

A photo of a young physician talking to his senior male patient in his office.

There's No 'Recipe' to Reduce Dementia Risk -- Yet

Until more evidence emerges, here's how to discuss it with patients

ChatGPT Is More Like Penicillin Than Precision Medicine

It has useful healthcare applications but can't replace human sensibility

A photo of an anesthesia machine turned off.

The Wild West of Non-Operating Room Anesthesia

Preserving patient safety is essential

A photo of a man holding out a check.

It's Time to Pay Clinical Trial Participants More

Accelerating trial enrollment can catalyze access to much-needed medications

A photo composite of a measuring tape and a Wegovy injection pen.

Do Weight-Loss Startups Have a Future?

Here are my predictions for the industry

A photo of a man typing a question into the ChatGPT interface on a laptop

Are AI Chatbots in Healthcare Ethical?

Their use must require informed consent and independent review

A photo of nurses on strike in New York City.

Winning the Impossible: The Power of a Nurses' Strike

The victories in New York can inspire better staffing practices nationwide

A photo of a male physician standing between a young adult male and female receiving infusion therapy and reading magazines.

Ketamine Clinics Are Jumping Ahead of the Evidence

New mental health treatments must be approached with caution

A winter photo of Harvard Medical School in Cambridge, Massachusetts

Winners & Losers of the Mass Exodus From U.S. News' Med School Rankings

Who comes out on top?

A photo of human-shaped targets at a gun range.

'Stand Your Ground' Laws Are a Greater Health Threat Than Mass Shootings

They must be repealed

A photo of female medical students watching male physicians performing an operation.

Protected States Can Expand Access to Abortion Training

A proposed fund in New York can be a model for others to follow

A night photo of a police officer standing behind crime scene tape at the scene of a shooting.

Where Is Our Operation Warp Speed for Gun Violence?

In the face of slow policy change, healthcare professionals can put a Band-Aid on the bleeding

A photo of a mature man sitting on a balcony in a robe looking at his laptop.

Like Many Physicians, I鈥檝e Forgotten How to Relax

"Sorry, no WiFi 4 U"

A screenshot of a portion of the boys body mass index chart.

Extended BMI Charts Help Address the Pediatric Obesity Crisis

They provide an important tool for screening and managing patients

A photo of Mark E. McIntyre II, MD, MBA

I Love Residency. Mic Drop.

Finding the right program can make all the difference

A photo of a sign outside of a CVS pharmacy advertising free flu and covid vaccines.

'Annual COVID Boosters for All' Is All About Convenience

But that doesn't make it the right move

A photo of a mature female nurse and young male nurse discussing a patients chart in a hospital hallway.

Use Our Existing Nurse Workforce to Educate the Next Generation

Addressing the nursing shortage begins with nurse educators

An overhead shot of a man holding a colorful pen over non-compete agreement form.

Held Hostage: The Toxicity of Physician Noncompete Clauses

It's high time they're banned

A photo of a male physician sitting in front of a computer, rubbing his eyes.

Death by 10,000 Clicks: The Electronic Health Record

Here are a few steps to relieve the burden

A photo of a sign which reads: YOUNG PEOPLE ARE DYING OF COLORECTAL CANCER on the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

We're Underutilizing Genetic Testing for Colorectal Cancer

Universal germline testing should be part of the standard of cancer care

A photo of an urgent care center in a strip mall.

The Urgent Care Center Fail-Safe Is Failing Americans

Stricter regulation and licensing can improve care and access to care

Is Healthcare Innovation Possible Within the Current System?

Reflections on the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation (CMMI)

A photo of a mature woman caring for her daughter who is in a wheel chair due to multiple sclerosis.

We Can Do More to Help Our Patients' Caregivers

Our healthcare systems would crumble without them

A computer rendering of a cannabis leaf inside of a green capsule.

The Unfulfilled Promise of Cannabis for Cancer-Related Symptoms

Medical cannabis is currently too far removed from the standards of medical practice

A photo over the top of a computer monitor of a worried looking man with his hands on his head.

Yet Another Issue Is Disrupting the Healthcare Workplace

Responding to portal messages in "real time" is just the latest assault

A photo of a male physician sitting in a chair holding a stethoscope

I Never Wanted to Be a 'Doctor'

Medical school was a stepping stone to a nonclinical career

A female pathologist and female assistant examine a uterus with endometrial adenocarcinoma

Myth-Busting Pathology Misconceptions

There's so much more to the field than most people realize

Annual Check-Up: Mark Cuban鈥檚 Cost Plus Drugs

2023 is destined to be another big year for the young company

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