Andrew Griffith's Blog, page 14

Year 1, Week 16: Lesson in Poor Communications

1:16 It has been a hospital week, with the usual daily visits to my mother-in-law. Her recovery continues, but given the nature of her surgery, it takes time. While her medical care is very good, patient communications is another matter: Tuesday, her oncologist recommended she go directly home after hospital, and not go to a [...]

Neuroscience – Under Attack – NYTimes.com

A good piece on the current fad to ‘blame’ everything on neuroscience, the populizers that are most guilty, and society’s tendency towards shortcuts. Quote: The problem isn’t solely that self-appointed scientists often jump to faulty conclusions about neuroscience. It’s also that they are part of a larger cultural tendency, in which neuroscientific explanations eclipse historical, [...]

How I learned to appreciate the struggles of others who don’t fit in

Thoughtful piece on self-exclusion and empathy for others. I am not sure this works in all cases; sometimes self-exclusion can lead to excessive righteousness and judgement of others (e.g., some variants of religion or intellectual snobbery). However, interesting reflection, that would have benefited from some examples of the author’s increased empathy or tolerance. Quote: Being [...]

Why data is the key to better medicine — and maybe a cure for cancer — Data | GigaOM

Some good examples on how big data is being used in healthcare and how its further use in improved understanding of cancer genetics is hampered by lack of more data and related infrastructure. Quote: He [University of California Santa Cruz researcher David Haussler] — along with others in the field — thinks cloud computing could [...]

The movement against obesity threatens many livelihoods

Not quite sure if the author is being serious or ironic, but the underlying point that our economy has industries that benefit from obesity, is valid. As a result, the difficulty of introducing labelling, regulation or other measures to reduce obesity, is harder. The list of industries that benefit: Magic weight loss supplements that promise [...]

The Snake in the Garden – NYTimes.com

A good reflection by Pico Iyer on anxiety, expected and unexpected events, and some mental tricks we can use to diminish anxiety. As most of share these kinds of anxieties, well worth reading. Quote: Besides, many kinds of anxiety are natural, almost healthy, especially if they’re concerned with others; a parent who didn’t worry about [...]

Heard the one about women at the office? – FT.com

On humour, power and gender relations, a different take by Lucy Kellaway of the FT: This all rings a distant bell, but I fear there is something more sinister at work. If laughter varies with gender, it varies even more with power. The single fastest way of understanding the balance of power and alliances in [...]

Do annual physicals do more harm than good?

More on the value of annual physicals  (see Let’s not get rid of the annual physical, Death of the Physical? Primary Care and its ‘Archaic’ Exam). In essence, to be useful, a physical should not be like a ‘fishing expedition’ through tests to find abnormalities, but more a review of family history and discussion with the patient [...]

Dr. Eben Alexander’s Tells of Near Death in ‘Proof of Heaven’ – NYTimes.com

An interesting account of Dr. Eben Alexander, a former neurosurgeon, and his near death religious experience. A vivid account, but not without controversy as he shares his experience in his book, Proof of Heaven. Quote: “My own experience,” Dr. [Martin] Samuels added, “is that we all live in virtual reality, and the brain is the [...]

5 steps to establish a partnership for shared diagnosis

Another in a series of articles and lists on how to work with your doctor, and one of the better ones. Interestingly, she advises patients to know how to tell a story, to engage the doctor more in the issues being discussed. Find a physician who agrees with shared decision-making for diagnosis. Express your intentions [...]