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Second Opinions

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

A computer rendered close up of a COVID virus.

Why I Hope the COVID Pandemic Isn't Over

More dwindling before it "ends" would promote better health outcomes

A computer rendering of a transparent head with the prefrontal cortex of the brain highlighted

How Is Our Prefrontal Cortex Faring in this Toxic Era?

A less toxic future would be a saner choice

The FDA and CMS logos on two computer rendered joined puzzle pieces

The Healthcare Landscape Is Changing. Our Regulatory Practices Should Too.

Closer collaboration between FDA and CMS is the need of the hour

A photo of a male physician looking at MRI images on a computer

The Truth About What Health Information Exchanges Can and Cannot Do

They have the potential to be an incredible tool, but improvements are needed

A photo of a tired looking female physician leaning against a window.

Is Burnout Destroying Emergency Medicine?

It doesn't have to: here are four unique ways to address the issue

A photo of Ken Paxton in front of the Supreme Court building.

Politicians Must Stop Playing Doctor

Personal ideology should not guide medical care, even for abortion

A photo of a man self-injecting Mounjaro.

How Should Health Plans Respond to Surging Interest in Weight Loss Drugs?

Studies suggest coverage is warranted for certain populations

A photo of ready to eat meals in the refrigerated food section of a grocery store.

What We're Getting Wrong About Nutrition and Mental Health

Helping patients understand the connection and improve their diet can go a long way

A photo of a man holding a handmade sign which reads: You can鈥檛 be worth $11 billion and declare bankruptcy!

The Sackler Family Can Act Today to Compensate Opioid Overdose Victims

But it appears unlikely they will take this course of action

A photo of a $100 bill sticking out of a prescription medication bottle

Would You Switch a Patient's Medication if You Knew the Cost?

Optimizing price estimate alert design and logic should be a priority

A photo of a Flovent inhaler.

Are Your Patients Prepared to Switch Their Asthma Inhaler?

With the discontinuation of Flovent, we must prevent gaps in care

A photo of a man typing a college essay on a laptop.

A Culture of Silence Persists in Medicine Despite #MeToo

We see it as early as the medical school application process

A photo of nurses tending to a patient with covid.

In This Wave of Respiratory Illness, Primary Care Is Drowning

The spike in illness coupled with staff shortages is stretching us thin

A photo of an ICU nurse in full protective gear during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Our Healthcare Data Infrastructure Is Abysmal

A critical lesson from the COVID-19 crisis

We've Done Away With a Critical Source of Drug Use Data

It's time to bring back the Arrestee Drug Abuse Monitoring (ADAM) survey

A photo of a police officer holding handcuffs next to a nurse tending taking the blood pressure of a male patient

Prisoner First, Patient Second

How hospitals ignore the rights of incarcerated patients and how they can do better

A photo of an exasperated mature male physician with his hand on his head holding a smartphone

A Doctor's Obligation as a Private Citizen

We must be thoughtful about how we share our views with the public

A photo of a thoughtful looking young woman sitting in front of her laptop in a dark room

Why I Disclosed My Disabilities When Applying for Residency

My health conditions are an important part of my personal narrative

Image of a chrome whistle on a wooden office desk.

A Nurse Told Me to Lock Myself in an Exam Room. A Patient's Dad Was Looking For Me.

We must put an end to gun violence in healthcare facilities

A photo of a robot hand holding a stethoscope

Emotional Intelligence Must Guide Artificial Intelligence

Together they can ensure quality and holistic patient care

A photo of a glass jar of chemotherapy medication connected to intravenous tubing.

Lessons From the Chemotherapy Shortages: Invest in Generics

We need more sustainable solutions to ensure treatment access

A photo of a mother and her daughter with a male physician in an examination room.

I'm Sorry, Your Patient No Longer Has Medicaid Coverage

Too many kids are still suffering the consequences of the Medicaid "unwinding"

A photo of a stressed female healthcare worker in protective gear.

Burnout Relief, Made Easier

Healthcare leadership must prioritize staff mental health

A photo of a male architect in his office looking at construction documents

Four Benefits of Including Physicians in Healthcare Design

Insights from medical training and experience can improve the built environment

A photo of the word cure in a dictionary.

'Curable': A Case for Precision of Language

Patients need a clear description of their prognosis

A photo of a male physician taking the blood pressure 0f a woman sitting next to her husband

Is Your Patient Married? Check Their Spouse's Blood Pressure, Too

Couple-centered strategies can help manage hypertension

Extend Landmark PEPFAR Program Now

Saving lives is more important than politics

A photo of a female physician in her office typing on a keyboard

Something Special Happens When We Share Stories About Our Patients

Written narratives have the power to heal

A photo of a stressed looking young mother holding onto the bars of the crib as her baby sleeps

A Medical Breakthrough for Postpartum Depression Within a Deeply Flawed System

Issues of equity and access persist for mental healthcare

A photo of a man in a solitary confinement cell.

Clearing Patients for Punishment: The Truth About Solitary Confinement

Here are two steps to help eliminate this inhumane practice

A photo composite of charts and graphs over a photo of a business man looking out the windows of a high rise office building

The 'Bottom Line' Should Not Eclipse the Doctor-Patient Relationship

It's time to reassess the direction in which medicine is heading

A computer rendering of DNA editing with CRISPR.

A Closer Look at the Approval of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Therapy for Sickle Cell Disease

This landmark event brings up broader considerations and implications for other diseases

A photo of the interior of a CT scanner.

Grappling With Our Deadliest Cancer

Here are essential steps to improve lung cancer screening

Yes, Conversion Therapy Efforts Still Exist in Medical Practice

Leading health associations want to end this harmful approach

A photo of a pink rubber gloved hand hanging bags of donated blood

Doing More With Less Blood

Blood management programs can save money and resources

A photo of Navid R. Ghaffari, MD

Pursuing My Passions: Why I Didn't Do Residency After Medical School

Deciding how to spend my time has been exciting ... and daunting

A photo of a mature male physician writing a prescription in his office with his female patient

How Much Pain Is 'Enough' to Prescribe Opioids?

A compliance plan can help optimize clinical decision-making

A close up photo of a lit cigarette in a man's fingers.

Don't Neglect Tobacco Use in People Experiencing Homelessness

Cessation programs can save lives and improve financial stability

A photo of a young female physician looking at MRI scans of her patient鈥檚 brain.

Charting the Course: From Young Adult Leukemia Patient to Oncologist

My experience shaped how I care for patients today

A photo of a female physician taking notes while talking to a young girl.

To Report or Not to Report Suspicions of Medical Child Abuse?

What the 'Take Care of Maya' ruling could mean for abuse accusations

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