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Second Opinions

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

A photo of a Banksy mural of a dumpster fire next to a boy catching snowflakes with this tongue, titled: Seasons Greetings

We Can Put Out the Dumpster Fire of the U.S. COVID Response

I see reason for public health optimism in 2023

A photo of a male ophthalmologist standing in his office.

The Eye Surgery Turf War Isn't Serving Veterans

The VA should hold strong to its updated care guidelines

A photo of a Norman Rockwell triple self portrait

Treatment Is a Two-Way Street

High-functioning doctor-patient relationships can be mutually rewarding

A photo of a new mother holding her perterm infant in the kangaroo method in the neonatal intensive care unit

Consider What Happens When We Don't Care for NICU Parents

Here's how hospitals can support parental mental health

A photo of ophthalmologists performing LASIK surgery on a female client.

FDA's Proposed LASIK Warning May Leave Patients Less Informed

The agency's recommendations should balance risk with benefit

A photo of Anthony Fauci, MD, presenting on the AIDS epidemic in 1987

Tony Fauci's True Legacy

As he steps down, I'd like to recognize his enduring commitment to explaining complicated science

A photo of a subway advertisement promoting covid masks with an anti-masking sticker covering it.

What the Never-Ending Mask Debate Is Really About

Hint: It's not the science

A photo of the headquarters of US Food and Drug Administration in Silver Spring Maryland

'Constant Turmoil' at FDA Makes Our Food Less Safe

Reflections on a new report about the agency's Human Foods Program

A computer rendering of covid viruses.

Are Subphenotypes for Long COVID Beneficial?

A new study can help physicians evaluate potential treatment approaches

A photo of a skeptical looking male physician with his finger on his forehead.

A Medical Take on the Word of the Year: Gaslighting

Doctors are trying to function in a very broken system

A photo of a senior woman using a practice staircase in a physical therapy clinic.

Physical and Occupational Therapy Are on the Medicare Chopping Block

Cuts could be devastating to patient care if Congress doesn't take action

A photo of a Makena auto-injector pen laying on a shelf in a medicine cabinet.

Why Does Makena Remain on the Market?

Misguided equity claims do not resolve issues with the accelerated approval program

A photo of Arthur Lazarus, MD, MBA

I May Be Old School, but I'm Not Outdated

Pejorative labels deepen divides between generations of practitioners

A photo of an apologetic male physician, hands in the air, pleading.

What Happens When We Apologize to Our Patients?

There is incredible power in admitting error

A photo of a male radiologist attaching an immobilization to a woman laying under a blanket prior to radiotherapy

I'm a Neurologist, Hear Me Roar

If I wasn't believed when seeking care, what chance do non-physicians have?

A photo of a female physician looking at a computer monitor.

Shouldn't Doctors Be Paid for Responding to Health Portal Messages?

Cleveland Clinic's billing plan has sparked much-needed conversation about physician compensation

A photo of a surgeon performing eye surgery on a female patient.

Keep Eye Surgery in the Hands of Ophthalmologists

The VA's updated eye care guidelines will lower the standard of care for veterans

A Dangerous Chilling Effect in Gender-Affirming Care

Gender-affirming facilities must continue offering information and resources, despite threats

A photo of a man holding a table which displaying a message that reads: There is no Internet connection.

Hospitals Can Help Patients 'Get Connected'

The Affordable Connectivity Program enables telehealth access for vulnerable patients

A computer rendering of red and blue cords tied to a stethoscope and pulling in separate directions.

Stop Passing Off Politics as Evidenced-Based Medicine

Scientific results cannot be understood through a framework of rigid political doctrine

A photo of a nurse wearing a surgical mask while tending to an infant suffering from respiratory syncytial virus.

Our Pediatric 'Immunity Debt' Is Really an 'RSV Debt'

The virus is now collecting what it is owed

Portrait of a diverse medical workforce.

An Affirmative Action Ban Would Be Devastating to Patient Care

A pending Supreme Court decision could erode progress on improving diversity in medicine

Medical technology concept of a 3d rendering cyborg doctor.

Doctor, You Are Still Human

Prioritizing personal mental health and well-being remains essential

A photo of a night rocket launch with a red moon in the background.

Treating Obesity Should Be Our Healthcare Moonshot

Behavioral health changes alone will only do so much

A photo of Gabriel Bosslet, MD, MA, with his family.

Ridden With Shame as a 'Gray Area' Drinker

Like many doctors, I decided I had to get sober

A photo of signage outside of the Centers for Disease Control headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia.

CDC's Updated Opioid Guidelines Are Necessary, but Not Sufficient

Additional steps are needed to calibrate opioid access and undo harm

COVID Long-Haulers in Rural America Need More Support

From a larger disease burden to fewer resources, these communities are struggling

A photo shot from behind the shoulder of a senior physician giving a lecture to medical students.

Why Do 'Well-Rounded' Newly Minted Physicians Lack Life Skills?

Now is the time to integrate "life skills" trainings into medical education

A photo of a wayfinding sign at a hospital with directions to the Emergency department and the words: NOW HIRING

A Remedy for the Federally Funded Physician Shortage

Raising or eliminating the cap on residency spots can make all the difference

A photo of a young man sitting across a desk from a young smiling woman in her

The Questions You Should Be Asking in Medical School Interviews

More information is always better when choosing an institution

A photo of a little girl in a bed in a hospital hallway, holding the hand of a male nurse leaning on her bed rail.

'I've Never Seen Anything Like This' in the Pediatric ED

Greater awareness and support can help reduce the strain

A photo of a woman touching her tongue to a spoon.

'Licking the Spoon' Can Help Patients Take Their Meds

A powerful motivator to encourage psychiatric medication initiation

A woman walking into an abortion clinic

Don't Report Your Abortion Patients to Law Enforcement

Self-managed abortion does not legally need to be reported

Medical school professor lecturing to students in lab.

Predictive Analytics Can Boost Medical School Diversity

The MCAT isn't the only tool to evaluate future physician success

Medical form on a table, diagnosis HIV.

The USPSTF Process Is in Jeopardy

A recent U.S. District Court ruling challenges the legitimacy of all task force recommendations

Illustration of Plato鈥檚 Allegory of the Cave.

Allegory Is a Powerful Tool in Medicine

Just be sure the message isn't lost on the patient

A crowded ward of the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU).

Where Will All the Sick Children Go?

A surge in viral infections among kids is straining hospital capacity across the country

Photo of an elderly woman in a state of worry at home.

Don't Normalize Depression in Older Adults

Access to treatment among seniors is critical, just as with any other age group

A photo of Shoshana Ungerleider, MD

My Risk Revealed: A Confirmed BRCA2 Mutation

My dad's cancer diagnosis offered me invaluable information

A photo of the U.S. Supreme Court building in Washington, DC.

'Pill Mill' Docs, You May Be in for a Big Scare

Two recent Supreme Court cases have major implications for physician practice

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