MedWorm provides a medical RSS filtering service. Over 6000 RSS medical sources are combined and output via different filters. This feed contains the latest medical blog items that have been tagged with 'duty'. Sat, 03 Sep 2011 02:04:50 +0100 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=5158990&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fcan-decision-fatigue-lead-to-medical-errors%2F2011.08.26 This article adds to that understanding: Our decision-making abilities appear to be powerfully affected by the demands of repeated decision making as they interact with depleted blood glucose levels. That fatigue mounts over a day of making decisions and as blood glucose levels fall between meals. In response, we tend to either make increasingly impulsive decisions without considering the consequences or to make no decisions at all. Tierney describes a study analyzing 1,100 parole decisions by judges over the course of a year:  “Prisoners who appeared early in the morning received parole about 70 percent of the time, while those who appeared late in the day were paroled less than 10 percent of the time.” The effects reported in the article were (more…) *This blog post ... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=5158990 Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:44 +0100 5158990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4460010&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2011%2F02%2F10%2Fdivided-loyalties-symposium%2F Situationist Contributor Jon Hanson will give the keynote at an interdisciplinary symposium:“Divided Loyalties: Professional Standards and Military Duty“ Hanson’s talk is titled “Shock Therapy: Changing Unethical Behavior by Understanding its Sources.” The symposium is being held at Case Western University Law School, and is funded in part by the Arthur W. Fiske Memorial Lectureship Fund. It it co-sponsored by: Center for Professional Ethics, Frederick K. Cox International Law Center, Institute for Global Security Law & Policy, Law-Medicine Center, and Center for Social Justice. The symposium website summarizes the focus of the conference this way: There has always been some tension between the ethical, legal, and professional obligations of professionals and the ... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4460010 Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:29:26 +0100 4460010 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4322508&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fphysician-visibility-in-public-i-see-patients-and-they-see-me%2F2011.01.07 In the movie “The Sixth Sense,” there was that kid who saw dead people. I’m like that. But I see patients and their parents instead. They’re all around me. They’re watching at the grocery store when my kids act up. We meet during anniversary dinners, at Christmas Eve service, and on the treadmill at the Y. I bump into parents when buying personal effects and even during the early morning coffee run in my oldest sweats. I see patients. The follow-up dialog between the parents might go something like this: Dad: “Marge, don’t you think Billy’s colitis might be better managed by a doctor capable of pulling himself together?” Mom: “Don’t be ridiculous, Frank. DrV’s bedhead has nothing to do with his ability to care for Billy. And besides, I’ve heard tha... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4322508 Fri, 07 Jan 2011 18:00:43 +0100 4322508 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4265733&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=39187&url=http%3A%2F%2Fgetbetterhealth.com%2Fmilitary-plastic-surgery-using-liposuction-to-make-the-weight-cut%2F2010.12.18 The Orange County Register blog posted on military plastic surgery and mentioned liposuction: Army Times reports that soldiers are turning to liposuction to remove fat if extreme dieting, laxatives and other methods fail to get them under the Army’s weight limit for their height, age and gender. “Liposuction saved my career. Laxatives and starvation before an [Army Physical Fitness Test] sustains my career,” a soldier told the periodical. “Soldiers are using liposuction, laxatives and starvation to meet height and weight standards. I did, do and still do.” I am well aware of the military patient looking to stay within military parameters to stay in the service as my San Clemente office is quite close to Camp Pendleton, and I give military discounts. I have seen several of these p... Better Health blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4265733 Sat, 18 Dec 2010 17:00:47 +0100 4265733 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=4172044&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FsXfRa5kWMYU%2F By Sallie JamesI have a new paper out today on the Generalized System of Preferences, the program by which the U.S. government allows certain imports from most developing countries to enter the U.S. market duty-free. The program has benefits: some producers in some poor countries are able to sell more than they otherwise would in the U.S. market, and U.S. consumers benefit to the tune  of hundreds of millions of dollars a year because of the tariff exemptions. But the GSP still represents managed trade, and poorly managed at that. The program is designed so certain goods in which poorer countries tend to have a comparative advantage — textiles, for example — are excluded from the program, mainly because of the influence of the U.S. textile lobby. There are limits on how much... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=4172044 Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:25:56 +0100 4172044 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3764184&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F07%2F18%2Farmy-suicides-hit-all-time-high%2F For the month of June, the U.S. Department of Defense reported late last week that the number of soldiers who took their own lives — those who committed suicide — was an astonishing 32 individuals, 21 of whom were on active duty (but only one-third of those on active duty were serving in either Iraq or Afghanistan). This corresponds to the ongoing record-setting of the number of suicides in the past year — 245 who died in 2009 and the 145 who have committed suicide already in 2010. At the rate of suicides so far this year, 2010 will exceed 2009 in suicides. Who does the Army blame for this rise in suicides? Why, the people who commit suicide, of course, and the very culture they work to instill from Day One in boot camp. Tim Embree of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans o... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3764184 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 17:30:39 +0100 3764184 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3614569&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F05%2F31%2Fmemorial-day-2010%2F Another Memorial Day here in the U.S., and another year that we commemorate and remember those who’ve given their lives for our freedom and our nation. Those who have died did so that, in the future, our country might be safer. They died so that great evils could be done away with in WWII (and WWI). They died so that politicians could wage endless, unwinnable wars for political ideals (Vietnam, Korea, and now Iraq). They died, quite simply, so that we could enjoy the freedoms we so often take for granted in our country. I am grateful for the country I live in and for the sacrifices others have made to not only attain its freedom, but to keep it. Today, we remember their lives. For every veteran and every active duty soldier and individual in military uniform — thank you. Than... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3614569 Mon, 31 May 2010 13:08:11 +0100 3614569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3490743&cid=t_163895_122_f&fid=36582&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FSharpBrains%2F%7E3%2FvIrcrCiUNkU%2F (Editor’s Note: this is one of the Research Executive Briefs that will be included in SharpBrains’ 2010 market report, to be unveiled on May 24th. We asked leading neuroscientists to share findings and implications from their own recent published scientific studies in order to better forecast the development trajectory of emerging applications for cognitive health and brain fitness. Money quote: “This highlights the need for special attention in the choice of the games to be used when considering potential real-world applications.”) Brief prepared by: Bjron Hubert-Wallander, Bjorn & Daphne Bavelier, Bavelier Brain & Vision Lab, University of Rochester. 1. Main findings for 2008 and 2009: Over the past ten years, research conducted by our lab and others has s... SharpBrains blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3490743 Tue, 20 Apr 2010 20:58:02 +0100 3490743 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3346430&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34935&url=http%3A%2F%2Fmedicine.com.my%2Fwp%2F%3Fp%3D8379 Just a heads up that Standup has resumed blogging and you might want to read the latest post regarding going On Call Many doctors dread on calls. Despite doing it for many years, on calsl would always stress up anyone. The anticipation of working alone, at night with no sleep never bring joy to anyone. However, in Malaysia, doctors still do it for the sake of service. As for our director general of ministry of health, the working hours and doing it for 8 times a month is more than fair. Its a doctor’s duty in view of lack of doctors. Mainly because they leave for greener pastures to avoid having this lifestyle and working environment I agree that working 36 hours at a stretch is no joy and if the call is very busy, it is hard to concentrate the following day and mistakes are bound t... Malaysian Medical Resources blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3346430 Mon, 08 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100 3346430 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3193724&cid=t_163895_88_f&fid=35612&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheknifeman.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fquiet-darkness.html I find myself trapped, so to speak, at home. I am due to be working nights, but have been released from my burden. Surprisingly, I am not happy about this.Imagine the following,if you will; a young man is brought to your ED, having been discovered unconscious, barely breathing. It is believed he has taken a drug overdose; he is suspected of having certain other medical problems.On his arrival, he is awake, but raving. He seems incapable of conversation, sensible or otherwise. He is having to be restrained by security staff.A decision has to be made. He clearly doesn't want to be here, and is making very clear efforts to resist assessment in the ED. Does one say 'fair enough', and let him go, free to wander where he pleases? What if hurts himself? Interferes with other patients? What if som... The KnifeMan blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3193724 Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:22:00 +0100 3193724 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3185417&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2010%2F01%2F19%2Fmilitary-wives-more-likely-to-be-depressed-anxious%2F As we reported late last week, a recent study has confirmed that wives of active-duty soldiers are more likely to be diagnosed with depression, anxiety, sleep disorders and other mental health conditions. While much attention is focused on the mental health of soldiers themselves (especially with the recent rise in suicides in the military), a lot less attention is given to the families of those soldiers. This new study helps shed some much-needed light on the subject, and confirms what has long been suspected — the emotional toll for war-time deployments is much higher than anybody thought. The AP story on this issue had this quote: “Spouses tell me all the time that they want to get mental health assistance,” [wife of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff] said. &#8... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3185417 Tue, 19 Jan 2010 12:57:19 +0100 3185417 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3178747&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fwhy-are-health-care-organizations.html In conclusion, I asked readers to think about whether their own health care organization had anything resembling such a policy.  I suspect few could identify such policies.  Health care professionals need to inquire why health care organizations, including drug, device, biotechnology and health care information technology companies,  health care insurers, to hospitals, academic medical centers, and medical schools, etc, almost never have real organizational ethics policies.  Of course, the suspicion is that lack of such policies makes it easier for insiders to direct the organization for their personal benefit.  At least if we could make such policies the norm, we could remind organizational leaders that they are supposed to be upholding the mission, not linin... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3178747 Fri, 15 Jan 2010 21:22:00 +0100 3178747 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3171854&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Funiversity-president-on-commission.html The Miami Herald reported on the latest thing in executive compensation for leaders of academia (and academic medicine):Florida State University's new president will have a larger salary than his predecessor, T.K. Wetherell, and stands to make even more in bonuses as a reward for big-time fundraising.FSU trustees chairman Jim Smith confirmed Monday that Eric Barron has signed a contract that includes a base salary of $395,000 a year in state and private dollars, plus the chance to earn annual bonuses of $100,000 for every $100 million in private donations raised. He'll also get free housing and a car, Smith said, as well as a retention bonus of $200,000 after a few years.Housing and car allowances have become standard fare for university president contracts, and in recent years Florida's u... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3171854 Thu, 14 Jan 2010 16:08:00 +0100 3171854 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3163736&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2010%2F01%2Fnon-profit-health-care-organization.html ConclusionsLeaders of not-for-profit organizations, starting with their boards of trustees, are supposed to subscribe to the duty of  obedience, "to be faithful to the organization's mission,"  and the duty of loyalty, " give undivided allegiance when making decisions affecting the organization." Presumably, that can be extended to the requirement that the top hired executives of not-for-profit put the mission ahead of their own personal gain.  Thus, boards of trustees who feel that they can only retain hired CEOs by pay so high that they will not be tempted by offers from for-profit corporations have failed in their duty by hiring CEOs who put their personal financial interests ahead of the mission.  I believe that the compensation given to CareSource and Premier ... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3163736 Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:42:00 +0100 3163736 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3096878&cid=t_163895_101_f&fid=38969&url=http%3A%2F%2Ftheemtspot.com%2F2009%2F12%2F17%2Fregarding-the-duty-to-act%2F A while back, when I wrote about the duty to act, I emphasized the idea that the duty to act only extends to “on-duty” medical personnel. In fact, my exact words were, “If you are a trained medical professional and you are acting with an expectation of compensation you have a duty to act appropriately and within the scope of your training when called to assist with an emergency situation.” I figured I should emphasize the idea that trained EMTs don’t have a duty to act when they aren’t being compensated for their services. This seemed to be the point of greatest confusion. I never thought much about making it clear that while you are on duty, working as an EMT, you are required to act. I know … it seems painfully obvious. I thought so too. But over... The EMT Spot blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3096878 Thu, 17 Dec 2009 12:00:17 +0100 3096878 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3082392&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=36438&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeedproxy.google.com%2F%7Er%2FCato-at-liberty%2F%7E3%2FSbBHybuqw1E%2F By Ilya ShapiroIn today’s Washington Times, Ken Klukowski and Ken Blackwell co-authored an op-ed about McDonald v. Chicago and the Privileges or Immunities Clause titled, “A gun case or Pandora’s box?” If that title sounds familiar, it should. Josh Blackman and I have co-authored a forthcoming article called “Opening Pandora’s Box? Privileges or Immunities, The Constitution in 2020, and Properly Incorporating the Second Amendment.“  As Josh put it in his reply to the Kens, “imitation is the most sincere form of flattery.” Going beyond the title, there are several errors in the piece,  which I will briefly recap: First, the Kens argue that the Supreme Court should uphold the Slaughter-House Cases, out of a fear that reversal — and thereb... Cato-at-liberty blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3082392 Fri, 11 Dec 2009 19:29:54 +0100 3082392 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=3035924&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F11%2F27%2Fone-soldiers-suicide-story%2F While we return to our daily lives after the holidays and get into the Christmas spirit, some families will not be celebrating this year. One family is James Weigl’s, a soldier who returned home after deployment, suffered from depression, and ultimately took his own life. Forty-three percent of soldiers who commit suicide do so after returning home from deployment, demonstrating that follow-up care with soldiers after deployment is just as important as mental health treatment while in active duty. The story is an all-too familiar one. The article in the Milwaukee Wisconsin Journal Sentinel details the life of James Weigl, his active duty tour, return home, and his decline into depression. It’s a lengthy article, but it gives you an idea of how diverse the problems are that sol... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=3035924 Fri, 27 Nov 2009 18:00:23 +0100 3035924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2946867&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F10%2F31%2Fthoughts-for-halloween%2F Now for some non-concrete thoughts. I dislike Halloween. I especially hate yard decorations. For one thing, do you know how eerie a fluttering ghost or witch can be when you’re driving by in the dark, early in the morning, barely awake, trying to get to the hospital? For another, I think covering your house in Halloween images is downright foolish. Witches, for instance, are not benign jokes. Sure, many self-titled witches today probably can’t accomplish much of anything. However, that doesn’t mean the concept isn’t real. In the Bible, for example, the witch of Endor summoned the spirit of the dead prophet Samuel, who accurately foretold King Saul’s death in battle. In general, the idea of trafficking with Satan should not produce warm fuzzy holiday thoughts. ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2946867 Sat, 31 Oct 2009 15:54:49 +0100 2946867 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2934768&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F10%2F27%2Fpatient-stabs-doctor-shot-dead-at-bipolar-clinic%2F A patient being seen at the Massachusetts General Hospital’s Bipolar Clinic and Research Program attacked his physician today, stabbing her with a knife during a treatment session according to Boston Police. The incident occurred in an office building nearby the main Mass. General building, where the hospital leases space for the Bipolar Clinic: After at least one gunshot echoed on the fifth floor, two nurses from [a neighboring] office went to treat the patient, who had apparently been shot in the head by the security guard [...] “During the course of the stabbing incident, an off-duty security officer who was armed interceded,” [Police Commissioner Edward F. Davis] said. “He produced a weapon and ordered the suspect to drop the knife. When the suspect did not co... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2934768 Tue, 27 Oct 2009 20:38:36 +0100 2934768 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2823931&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F09%2Fwhy-have-governing-boards-forsaken.html We have posted frequently about the governance and leadership of academic medical organizations. While one would think that health care organizations, and especially academic health care organizations ought to be held to a particularly high standard of governance, we have noted how their governance is often unrepresentative of key constituencies, opaque, unaccountable, unsupportive of the academic and health care mission, and not subject to codes of ethics. How the governance of organizations with such exemplary missions and sterling reputations got this way has been unclear.Now there are new insights from the ongoing discussion of one of the most interesting and controversial cases of disputed organizational governance. We have often come back to the example of Dartmouth College, of which... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2823931 Wed, 23 Sep 2009 15:46:00 +0100 2823931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2782073&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F09%2F10%2Freflections-on-my-birthday%2F Yesterday, I did my civic duty and served on jury duty. It’s a reluctant responsibility many citizens in the U.S. serve, me among them. As luck would have it, I wasn’t called to actually sit on a jury, so Providence must have been shining on me a bit. An early birthday present, if you will. It also reminded me that living in a country such as the United States is a privilege, one that was earned on the backs and lives of millions of Americans who came before me. I am grateful for the opportunity offered me because of what my great grandparents decided to do — to immigrate to America with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Because of their courage, I’m here today, doing what I do. On events like my birthday, I get reflective and appreciative. I have a lot to be ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2782073 Thu, 10 Sep 2009 13:53:14 +0100 2782073 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2712156&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F08%2F19%2Fthe-situation-of-parochialism-abstract%2F Jonathan Baron recently posted his interesting paper, titled “Parochialism as a Result of Cognitive Biases” on SSRN.  Here’s the abstract. * * * I discuss several forms of bias, or fallacious thinking, that lead to parochialism, that is, a willingness to sacrifice self-interest for in-group members while neglecting or underweighing negative effects on outsiders, so that an out-group could lose more than the in-group gains from the sacrifice. In the self-interest illusion, people fallaciously think that their contribution to their group comes back to benefit them and make their sacrifice worthwhile. This illusion is larger when an outgroup is affected, and it is specific to group benefits; it is unrelated to the desire to hurt another group out of sheer competition. A se... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2712156 Wed, 19 Aug 2009 04:01:56 +0100 2712156 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2709137&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F08%2Fswine-flu-news-update-12-nurses-are.html Nursing Times has carried out a survey to find out how many of their members would be prepared to have a swine-flu immunisation.Overall 30% of survey respondents answered ‘no’ when asked if they would get immunised when the vaccine became available, compared with 37% who replied ‘yes’. A further 33% remained undecided and answered ‘maybe’.Nursing TimesThe Government’s chief Commissar for immunisations said that nurses had a “duty” to be immunised.Nurses who opt to have the vaccine can expect to be given one of two products, both of which will require two jabs roughly three weeks apart. The majority of swine flu vaccine will be the adjuvant version manufactured by GlaxoSmithKline, which contains 4mcg of antigen. The second type, manufactured by Baxter, is a whole virus vac... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2709137 Mon, 17 Aug 2009 16:21:00 +0100 2709137 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2452450&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F06%2Fmans-best-hospital-run-by-boss-of-mecc.html In January, 2009 we posted about how the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) of Massachusetts and of Partners HealthCare, made a secret oral agreement that BCBS would pay Partners at a higher rate than that given to other hospitals.Why BCBS would want to pay so much to this one hospital system was never clear. Partners does include some extremely prestigious hospitals, including the Brigham and Womens Hospital, and the Massachusetts General Hospital, ("Man's Best Hospital" in the House of God), but there are some other very prestigious teaching hospitals in Boston that were not blessed by BCBS' largess.We speculated about one possible cause: the leadership of the two organizations may have felt they had more in common with each other than with the constituencies of their own organizations... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2452450 Tue, 02 Jun 2009 18:37:00 +0100 2452450 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2441694&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2009%2F05%2F25%2Fmemorial-day-2009%2F This Memorial Day in the U.S. — like every Memorial Day — we commemorate and remember those who’ve given their lives for our freedoms and our nation. “Given their lives” is really not accurate, though, as Andy Rooney noted — these soldiers died, plain and simple. They died so that in the future, our country might be safer or democracy might be nurtured in an otherwise hostile environment. They died so that great evils could be done away with in WWII (and WWI). They died so that politicians could wage endless, unwinnable wars for political ideals (Vietnam, Korea, and now Iraq). They died, quite simply, so that we could enjoy the freedoms we so often take for granted in our country. I hope, like most people, that in the future war become less of an option ... World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2441694 Mon, 25 May 2009 10:08:36 +0100 2441694 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2414706&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F16%2Fthumbs-down%2F Let me spare any of you who were contemplating it the waste of time that would be involved in watching X-Men Origins: Wolverine. For a movie involving Hugh Jackman, one of the biggest current stars, and Wolverine, one of the most popular X-Men, and the one with the biggest dramatic potential, this was a resounding flop. The plot was absolutely inane, indeed so non-existent that I couldn’t even begin to summarize it. The villains were not particularly villainous, largely because they couldn’t seem to make up their minds whether they wanted to kill Wolverine, capture him and experiment on him, or capture him and turn him into a dangerous weapon. Again and again, Wolverine was confronted with overwhelming force, and instead of either being killed or captured (as the odds would su... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2414706 Sun, 17 May 2009 01:25:40 +0100 2414706 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2398523&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F05%2F09%2Fweekend%2F I have to admit to having gone to see the Star Trek movie, because it was nearly perfect. I was not a big fan of the TV series; I always thought they were too corny, with bad lines, silly plots, and ugly costumes. This movie, on the other hand, takes the best of Star Trek, and puts a more modern turn on the production. The battles were the usual meld of metal flying and crashing, and parts of the plot were incomprehensible (characters who acted on information known to the audience, although it’s not clear how the character knew). But the acting and the portrayal of the characters and their interactions were perfect, and after all that’s what a movie about the origin of Captain Kirk and Spock needs to be about. Kirk had exactly the right mixture of responsibility and humor. The ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2398523 Sun, 10 May 2009 00:39:44 +0100 2398523 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2382300&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F05%2Fpushing-doctors-into-dual-mandate-and.html Physicians are being pushed steadily into an untenable position. On one hand, they are professionally obligated to render optimal care to each patient based on individual need. On the other hand, they are increasingly being looked to by bureaucrats and bioethicists as serving another role--for society--as the rationing arms of cost control.The effect of this would require doctors to give optimal care to some patients but not others, probably based on mandatory invidiously discriminatory categories of age, disability, perhaps even politically incorrect lifestyles such as smoking and obesity (but never, for example culturally acceptable risky behaviors like promiscuity). This dual mandate, if adopted, would place doctors and other health care professionals in a terrible conflict of interest-... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2382300 Fri, 01 May 2009 16:23:00 +0100 2382300 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2306945&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F04%2Fterry-pratchett-writes-about.html The prolific British author Terry Pratchett has a moving and frank article about what it is like to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's. There is much to digest, including how the medical system in the UK seems inadequate to address serious conditions such as this requiring specialized care. But I think this is the heart of the piece. From Pratchett's column:It occurred to me that at one point it was like I had two diseases--one was Alzheimer's and the other was knowing I had Alzheimer's. There were times when I thought I'd have been much happier not knowing, just accepting that I'd lost brain cells and one day they'd probably grow back or whatever...It is a strange life when you "come out". People get embarrassed, lower their voices, get lost for words. Part of the report I'm helping to launch ... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2306945 Mon, 06 Apr 2009 15:54:00 +0100 2306945 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2304569&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F04%2F05%2Fa-bit-late%2F Yes, I know Lost is almost concluded; and here I am starting the first season. My only excuse is that I was waiting to make sure it would have a conclusion, before I got involved. My favorite part of the show is Jack, one of the main characters, who is a surgeon. The writers seem a little confused about what kind of surgeon he is; in the first episode, he refers to having learned not to fear when dealing with a potentially catastrophic bleed during an operation on the cervical spine of a young woman. Characters who don’t like him refer to him as “the spine surgeon.” However, halfway through the season, his most serious conflict with his father, previously the chief of surgery at the same hospital Jack worked at, is revealed to be related to an incident in which his father... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2304569 Sun, 05 Apr 2009 23:08:37 +0100 2304569 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2297362&cid=t_163895_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fdismissed-on-diabetes-alert-day.html Just a note to let you all know that my group was automatically dismissed from Jury Duty today,  so I am officially off the hook.  I can hardly believe it.  Let’s hear a communal sigh of relief everyone, please. Why, thank you!  And thank you for all your great insights and suggestions as well.   And now [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2297362 Tue, 24 Mar 2009 22:05:36 +0100 2297362 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2297364&cid=t_163895_134_f&fid=34841&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.diabetesmine.com%2F2009%2F03%2Fjury-duty-diabetes-yech.html I’m supposed to report for jury duty tomorrow morning, and I am not happy about it. Not to be unpatriotic, but the truth is, this could be a major interruption of my work and family life — and I’m a bit worried about the diabetes side of things as well. The letter I received from the [...] (Source: Diabetes Mine) Diabetes Mine blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2297364 Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:00:48 +0100 2297364 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2276214&cid=t_163895_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FrUuCAZ0-YJs%2F I was mad when Jill got out of jury duty just by saying that she was the mom of an autistic child. For years I considered it simply my civic responsibility to try to get out doing jury duty, and especially so after I was called in August, 2001. Alex at that time was 3; he hadn’t started preschool, and at home he was a real handful when not going back and forth on his rocking horse. Sequestering wasn’t something I could handle as a parent right then; any relief I might have experienced while waited on in a hotel would’ve been shot to pieces by Jill the instant the trail ended and I was sent home. We had a lawyer friend I’ll call Pamela. Pamela told me, “Just tell the judge if you’re called that you have an autistic child, and they’ll let you out of jury duty!” I reported to ... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2276214 Mon, 16 Mar 2009 22:57:43 +0100 2276214 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2267622&cid=t_163895_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FzfA9g90Fmws%2F You know what I wish? I wish things were a little easier. I wish there were more tax exemptions and credits for special therapies and childcare. Our childcare costs are lower than they used to be, thanks to respite through our Medicaid Waiver, but they’re still higher than those for families with typically developing kids. Alex is almost 11 and can’t be left alone. Ever. I wish those caring for a family member with an atypical situation were entitled to more paid leave. In a country where people without kids bitch about parental leave and co-workers who take time off to care for sick kids, it’s not going to happen. But I can still dream, can’t I? When it comes to jury duty, I wish exemptions were easier to get. Reader Bonnie Sayers (see first comment) wrote about he... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2267622 Sun, 15 Mar 2009 18:02:04 +0100 2267622 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2260246&cid=t_163895_133_f&fid=35096&url=http%3A%2F%2Ffeeds.b5media.com%2F%7Er%2Fb5media%2FAutismVox%2F%7E3%2FGjoI2f9YQFs%2F I don’t work outside the home, these days. Recently, there’s been some freelance work, luckily, but I don’t have to be anywhere. And given Alex’s schedule, I don’t see how I can. For a few years, he had an afterschool program that returned him home by bus at around 6:00, but that was only three days a week. This year, no after-school. He’s home at 4:30 every day. If there’s a job that would get me home in time to meet Alex’s bus (after meeting Ned’s bus at 3:30), I’d take it. A lot of the mothers I know don’t work for pay outside the home. “It’s just not possible, given Sasha’s therapy schedule,” said one. “During the day is when I catch up on sleep if I have to,” said another. (OK, that was me. I’d definitely miss mak... Autism Vox blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2260246 Fri, 13 Mar 2009 12:33:30 +0100 2260246 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2256074&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2009%2F03%2Fduty-to-die-in-idaho-legislature-close.html The legislative process has become so overwhelming, that unless one hires a professional lobbying group to keep track, laws can pass quietly without any public attention at all.That seems to be the case in Idaho, where the Senate has passed a Texas-style futile care bill. The bill is so bad, it permits doctors who want to refuse wanted treatment to violate a patient's written advance directive. From the bill, S. 1114, section 394504A (4):If the ethics committee agrees with the attending physician that the treatment requested by the patient, the patient's advance directive or surrogate decision maker is medically inappropriate or futile, the attending physician and health care facility shall take reasonable action to assist the patient or surrogate decision maker to arrange the patient's tr... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2256074 Mon, 09 Mar 2009 17:54:00 +0100 2256074 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2141324&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34765&url=http%3A%2F%2Fhcrenewal.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Fat-one-academic-medical-center.html A post on the Health Care Blog opened a window into the thinking of top leaders of health care organizations. The post was written by Gary S Kaplan MD, the CEO of Virginia Mason Medical Center, a well reputed US academic medical center. It seemed generally well-intentioned, and was focused on the creation of an organization of US health care CEOs "dedicated to transforming health care and creating a more sustainable health system."But my interest today is not this organization or its future plans.Dr Kaplan's post included,We, unfortunately, in the current payment system, reduce our profitability by doing the right thing. Despite my very supportive board of directors, they will not allow me to lead our organization into bankruptcy by doing the right thing. We need to change our payment syst... Health Care Renewal blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2141324 Wed, 28 Jan 2009 07:54:00 +0100 2141324 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2095236&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2009%2F01%2F10%2Fnot-that-simple%2F In addition to the unrealistic portrayal of doctors (the only halfway realistic one I’ve seen ends up being murdered), there’s another thing the entertainment media does that really bugs me. Having seen a certain number of victims of serious automobile accidents, I have no stomach at all for the big chase/crash scenes which seem to be a staple of any movie these days. No matter what it’s about, it’s got to have at least one chase scene; one if it’s a romantic/comedy, two or three if it has any pretenses to the action category. Sure, it’s a lot of adrenalin: speed, fast changes in angle, and then crash and cars and trucks go flying overhead, flipping, smashing into each other and every object nearby, with a shower of sparks and explosions. Everyone knows ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2095236 Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:30:41 +0100 2095236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2092547&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34730&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychiatrist-blog.blogspot.com%2F2009%2F01%2Flet-me-be-judge-of-that.html So here I am, juror number 206, sitting in the juror assembly room. I have not been called for a case but I am patiently waiting, having read the New York magazine from cover to cover and learned all about the best new restaurants of 2009, the new Mamet play and the latest exhibit opening at MOMA.It's been a pleasant---or at least not odious---experience so far. The parking was plentiful, free and easy to locate. The chairs are comfy, the court house is within walking distance of several decent restaurants and I even have free WIFI. It's kind of like a better version of an airport terminal, without the screaming babies. (Oh yeah, and no mildew.)After checking in, the morning started with an orientation video that reminded me of those black and white Bell Lab films they used to show us when... Shrink Rap blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2092547 Fri, 09 Jan 2009 16:20:00 +0100 2092547 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2075524&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F12%2F29%2Fadvance-planning%2F Things are a little hectic in my house at the moment, as I am engaged in one of the less-publicized but still quintessential activities of residency: packing three days in advance. I’m going to work in the morning, where I’ll be on call overnight. After rounding in the morning, and staying till the stroke of noon (having been advised in advance not to dream of skipping out a moment early), I’ll race traffic to the airport, park my car, and take off for a few days. (Most residency programs arrange an exchange: one half of the workforce will pull double duty for Christmas, while the rest have a few days off; then switch for New Year’s.) This closely-choreographed maneuver entails: emptying everything out of my car that I don’t want to sit at zero degrees for fou... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2075524 Tue, 30 Dec 2008 01:55:07 +0100 2075524 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=2017448&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F12%2Flady-warnock-is-future-of-our-culture.html The UK's Independent has published an excellent feature story on the beliefs and theories of Lady Warnock, one of Britain's most influential moral philosophers. (We've discussed her views previously here at SHS.) Warnock is an enthusiastic purveyor of the culture of death, supporting not only euthanasia but a duty to die. From the story, byline Paul Vallely: Surprisingly, perhaps, she is quite happy with the notion of the "duty to die", which most people find a good deal more controversial. A couple of months ago, in an interview with the Church of Scotland's magazine Life and Work, she said: "If you're demented, you're wasting people's lives--your family's lives--and you're wasting the resources of the National Health Service. I'm fully in agreement with the argument that if pain is insuf... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=2017448 Sat, 06 Dec 2008 17:39:00 +0100 2017448 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1968641&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F11%2Fuk-official-denigrates-elderly-with.html Sickening. Just sickening. A public official in the UK who is "Labour's czar for the elderly," posits a duty to die by having society refuse to medically support demented patients, and denigrates them with the V-Epithet to boot. From the story: Dame Joan Bakewell says she does not want people to be kept alive because of machinery when their 'identity has ceased to exist.' Old people should be allowed to die if they become 'vegetables', Joan Bakewell has said. Labour's czar for the elderly said she had made a living will that will mean she is 'not kept alive if I'm a vegetable'.She added that people should not be helped to go on living by machinery if they had outlived their normal lifespan. The 75-year-old television presenter also called for laws that would allow terminally ill patients t... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1968641 Tue, 18 Nov 2008 22:20:00 +0100 1968641 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1863263&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F08%2Ffiasco%2F Note to self: just because the recipe in the New York Times food section only has three ingredients and a cooking time of fifteen minutes does not mean that you will be able to make it come out looking like the picture. This arrangement for cooking potatoes in a frying pan looked simple, but clearly they were working with a much more expensive frying pan than I have. It might still taste good, if I can get all the charred bits off. . . after all only half the total amount of potato is burned. . .        (Source: Cut On The Dotted Line) Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1863263 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 23:31:18 +0100 1863263 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1859936&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F07%2Fsocialism-reborn%2F Two conclusions for the night: 1) Obama is a smooth talker, but what he’s selling is nothing more than pure old-fashioned socialism, just barely warmed over. It’s unfair for CEOs to make more than schoolteachers? It’s unfair for Fortune 500 companies to make billions of dollars a year? That sounds good to middle and lower class Americans - if only we could get our hands on some of that money - but it’s economically wrong. Those CEOs and companies create jobs. Their wealth is not harming the rest of us. Economics is not a zero-sum game: one person making more money doesn’t necessarily take anything away from me. Two places to look for more facts about McCain: an NRO piece about Obama’s ties to communists and terrorists, and another piece documenting Obama... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1859936 Wed, 08 Oct 2008 02:11:14 +0100 1859936 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852769&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F10%2F04%2Fprescience%2F Driving home from the hospital, I got stuck in traffic around a recent accident. Sitting and waiting, I calculated that from the amount of debris on the road and the number of flashing lights involved, it must have been a fairly serious accident, which would mean a good likelihood that at least one person involved would show up as a trauma alert somewhere. And only five minutes from my hospital. . . Two minutes later the trauma pager started going off, describing that accident. Not sure what the moral of that is; maybe not to carry a trauma pager when I’m not on trauma call. But it was fun to know more than anyone else in the traffic jam about what was going on.        (Source: Cut On The Dotted Line) Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852769 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 18:05:01 +0100 1852769 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1852489&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F10%2Frita-marker-tells-duty-to-die-advocate.html Rita Marker, the head of the International Task Force on Euthanasia and Assisted Suicide knows more about the politics and facts of the facilitated death agenda than anyone else on earth. In this "open letter" to Baroness Warnock, who SHS readers will recall recently renewed her call for the UK to accept a duty to die once one becomes a burden, Marker adopts a The Screwtape Letters approach, to explaining to us all the euthanasia game that is afoot.Telling Warnock that people can't swallow her callous death agenda whole, Marker advises the Baroness to follow the path blazed by her USA counterparts, that is, to take her time and feed her people the cultural hemlock in smaller, bite size pieces. First, Warnock must toss aside her cold candor in favor of gooey euphemisms for killing. From Mar... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1852489 Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:34:00 +0100 1852489 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1812990&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F21%2Fte-deum%2F Another magnificent piece of music: Haydn’s Te Deum, which was performed for a visit of Admiral Nelson to the Austrian court in 1800. It can be sampled (and even better, acquired) here. This ancient hymn is glorious in itself, and Haydn’s triumphal score sets it beautifully. Some great lines: Te Deum laudamus, te Dominum confitemur. We praise thee, O Lord; we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. Te aeternum Patrem omnis terra veneratur. . . Thee, the Father everlasting, all the earth doth worship. . . Te gloriosus apostolorum chorus, te prophetarum laudabilis numerus, te martyrum candidatus laudat exercitus. . . Thee, the glorious choir of the apostles, Thee, the admirable company of the prophets, Thee, the white-robed army of martyrs doth praise. . . Tu rex gloriae, Christe. Th... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1812990 Sun, 21 Sep 2008 15:35:13 +0100 1812990 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1809629&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F09%2Fpushing-duty-to-die-in-uk.html I am concluding a very successful trip to MA and CT, giving a series of speeches to advocates for, and defenders of, people with developmental and cognitive disabilities, in which I have warned against utilitarian bioethics and its explicit and implicit push toward the so-called "duty to die." This view is even more pronounced in the United Kingdom, where one of the most prominent ethicists is a woman named Baronness Warnock. As reported by the Telegraph, Warnock has recently called on dementia patients to kill themselves to spare society the burden of their care. From the story: Elderly people suffering from dementia should consider ending their lives because they are a burden on the NHS and their families, according to the influential medical ethics expert Baroness Warnock. The veteran G... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1809629 Fri, 19 Sep 2008 22:14:00 +0100 1809629 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1783154&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F10%2Fstill-not-medical%2F At loose ends lately, I’ve been exploring some of the food blogs (Just Food, Japanese Kitchen, Gourmet Traveller, and Greek Food, to name a few). These have a few effects on me: 1) tempt me to buy exotic ingredients that I have no real need/use for in order to try some of their recipes 2) inspire me to cook more real food at my house. I would even consider trying some food blogging of my own, except I have no camera, which seems to be an essential part of the genre, and after all, my cooking is of a very mundane variety, only interesting because I’m reinventing the wheel by discovering it all on my own. Some lessons learned: Baking cakes is dangerous. Either you have to take the whole thing to work, in which case the nurses are thrilled, and make such loud comments that the att... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1783154 Thu, 11 Sep 2008 02:09:22 +0100 1783154 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1775931&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F08%2Fperspectives-2%2F I got to the evening service yesterday, and spent some time chatting with other young people afterwards. Or, to be more precise, listening to them chatting, since I only have one topic of conversation these days, and I try not to impose it on people outside the hospital. They were discussing how long an 8-hr business day is compared to a day of college classes, and how much longer a 10-hr day is, when they get really busy and the boss makes them work late for a day or two. I was laughing to myself. We residents work six hours on a weekend day, and consider that we have the day off. We work 13-14 hours, and are happy to get home at a reasonable time. 15 is annoying, but it comes with the territory. I really had not comprehended what life is like for people who pick a more normal career. 8 ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1775931 Mon, 08 Sep 2008 23:54:41 +0100 1775931 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1773422&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F07%2Fdixit-dominus%2F I didn’t make it to church this morning. I’m feeling almost guilty about it, I don’t know why. I thought for the first time in six weeks I’d get there. I even dressed up before going to the hospital, just to be efficient. Then the attending was late, some patients were more complicated than expected, and a teammate got stuck in the OR and I had extra work to do. . . I could have rushed out, but it would have been irresponsible; there were labs to tidy up, orders for tomorrow to put in, and it takes time to sign out properly to the on-call team. So I didn’t make it. I’ve been listening to this CD non-stop for the last several days; one of my absolute favorites: Chanticleer’s Mexican Baroque. The best tracks are a setting of Psalm 110, which was one ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1773422 Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:59:07 +0100 1773422 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1770817&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F06%2Flaid-back%2F I’m having a great time with transplant. Still haven’t really had much in the way of surgery to do, but with the whole weekend ahead, I’m hopeful that something will turn up. Otherwise, this is great. Some surgery residents dislike transplant, because you have to do so much medical management (by definition, a transplant patient has lots of serious medical problems - diabetes, difficult-to-control hypertension, history/risk of strokes, cardiac problems, liver dysfunction), and because they regard this rotation as a waste of time, since so few residents actually consider transplant as a career. I don’t know what they’re complaining about. I don’t want to do transplant (it has to be the worst lifestyle outside of neurosurgery: completely unpredictable, wit... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1770817 Sat, 06 Sep 2008 15:02:20 +0100 1770817 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1764446&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F09%2F04%2Fa-peek-at-politics%2F In the absence of any medical subjects of interest to write about, I’ll throw in my two cents worth about Sarah Palin: As someone who determined from the minute his name was mentioned that I would never vote for McCain - I’m impressed by his VP choice. I don’t think it’s enough to make me vote for McCain (if you read this blog, you’ll know that I’m too far off the ultra-right wing/libertarian side to like his straight-down-the-middle politics), but Palin is certainly enough to make me think two and three times. She knows an easy solution to the rising gas prices (drill in ANWR; why do we have to give all our oil money to the Arabs?); she supports gun rights; she’s lived out the pro-life commitment to the value of all human lives (keeping a Down&#82... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1764446 Fri, 05 Sep 2008 02:06:22 +0100 1764446 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1709988&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F08%2F15%2Fat-home-2%2F I can’t remember the last time I had a day off every week. For the last few months, I’ve been getting my days off in odd clumps here and there, and then working two or three weeks straight at a time. The one good thing about this month is that the chief is giving days off every week. I almost don’t know what to do with myself. The concept of not going to see how my patients are doing for one day is quite startling. I’ve read nearly the entire section on trauma in Greenfield (the most gigantic, detailed surgery textbook there is, from a basic science perspective; Master of Surgery tells four ways to do every operation ever invented, but that’s beyond what I need right now). All I’ve got left is the chapter on pregnant trauma victims, and then a lengthy ch... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1709988 Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:09:13 +0100 1709988 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1689271&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=36089&url=http%3A%2F%2Fthesituationist.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F08%2F08%2Fself-handicapping-and-managers-duty-of-care-abstract%2F David Hoffman’s intriguing new article, “Self-Handicapping and Managers’ Duty of Care,” just came out in Wake Forest Law Review. It is also available on SSRN. Here’s the abstract. * * * This symposium essay focuses on the relationship between managers’ duty of care and self-handicapping, or constructing obstacles to performance with the goal of influencing subsequent explanations about outcomes. Conventional explanations for failures of caretaking by managers have focused on motives (greed) and incentives (agency costs). This account of manager behavior has led some modern jurists, concerned about recent corporate scandals, to advocate for stronger deterrent measures to realign manager and shareholder incentives. Self-handicapping theory, by contrast, te... The Situationist blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1689271 Fri, 08 Aug 2008 04:01:31 +0100 1689271 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1638060&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F07%2F18%2Ffree-market%2F After work I stopped by the only farmer’s market in the city that doesn’t close before I get out of work, and was pleasantly surprised to find some good vegetable still around, and the farmers eager to dispose of the produce. I think I walked away with ten pounds of corn, zucchini, cucumbers, and tomatoes, for five dollars. I also acquired home-made sharp cheddar cheese, and fresh honey. It’s a good thing I waited to go shopping till I had the weekend off, to cook all of this. I have a bad habit of flipping through the Living section of the newspaper when I go to the medical library, and there’ve been all these articles lately about the joys and virtues of cooking and eating fresh, local produce (the Slow Food movement, or something like that). Apparently it is only... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1638060 Fri, 18 Jul 2008 23:30:53 +0100 1638060 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1554701&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F06%2F29%2Fpoetry%2F I have a Cherish the Ladies CD I’ve been listening to on the drive home from work for the past few days, Threads of Time. They set a poem by William Yeats to music. It’s a perfect arrangement, and the song is hauntingly beautiful; the only problem is it tempts me strongly to play hooky, and disappear off into the mountains. The Lake Isle of Innisfree I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1554701 Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:10:35 +0100 1554701 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1477801&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34825&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.wesleyjsmith.com%2Fblog%2F2008%2F05%2Flife-ends-that-was-worthy-of-life.html In this utilitarian age when bioethicsts tell us that some lives are not worth living based on "quality of life" judgments, it was interesting to read about Dianne Odell, who just died at age 61. She had polio when she was 3 and spent most of her life sustained by an iron lung and the loving care of her family. From the story:Life at 133 Odell St. came to revolve around Dianne, with her parents taking turns going to church so someone was always home to feed her and talk to her. The family never took vacations. At Christmas, they would squeeze Dianne, inside the metal machine, into the dining room for the holiday dinnerBut today, some utilitarian bioethicists think such devotion is beyond the pale, and indeed, that the requirement of family sacrifices on behalf of an elderly or disabled per... Secondhand Smoke blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1477801 Fri, 30 May 2008 08:52:00 +0100 1477801 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1464416&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F22%2Fpurposeful-activity%2F At the beginning of the month, one of the interns told me, “Have fun with vascular. Every day on that service, by 4pm, I wanted to jump off the roof.” I told myself I was determined to keep a better attitude than that, and then made a note to see how long I could keep it up. As you can tell from previous posts, I think it’s not too bad yet (although as an excuse for the other intern, perhaps less busy this month, in my usual white cloud style). Nevertheless, by 4-5pm, I start to cringe whenever anyone talks to me. Things invariably fall apart at this time of day. Postops hit the floor with urinary retention, hypertension, hypotension, tachycardia, bradycardia, lack of pain control, family members who need to be talked to. All of which I enjoy dealing with, but not all at ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1464416 Fri, 23 May 2008 01:08:14 +0100 1464416 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1461401&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F21%2Fbouncy%2F I seem to be saying this a lot lately, and I hope it’s not getting monotonous, but: I am so happy to be where I am, doing what I am. Every time I walk into through the doors labelled “OR attire required beyond this point,” I am thrilled to be one of the people privileged to walk through and belong there. It’s like a secret kingdom, hidden inside the hospital, which is completely closed to 90% of the doctors and nurses here - and I have the key. I’m walking in a lot, because the last couple days have been full of consults and admissions. Every hour or so, I turn around and there’s another patient showing up; or that’s what it feels like. I spend hours every morning discharging people, and by evening the list is longer than it was to start with. But... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1461401 Thu, 22 May 2008 00:30:52 +0100 1461401 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1454348&cid=t_163895_109_f&fid=34750&url=http%3A%2F%2Fpsychcentral.com%2Fblog%2Farchives%2F2008%2F05%2F20%2Fa-support-group-for-combat-ptsd%2F In an effort to help soldiers returning home from active combat duty, we’ve recently begun a support group for people who’re dealing with combat PTSD and related issues. This independent support group is pseudonymous and open to all military members who want to exchange support and advice with others. (PTSD is posttraumatic stress disorder and affects many soldiers who’ve seen active combat duty.) Please spread the word about this important resource. We hope members of the military find this combat PTSD forum helpful for their psychological needs. (Source: World of Psychology) World of Psychology blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1454348 Tue, 20 May 2008 16:11:47 +0100 1454348 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455094&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F19%2Fwhy-you-should-not-visit-body-worlds%2F Somewhere in the last couple of years, I was near a city where the Body Worlds display (or one of the copy-cat shows) was stopping. After thinking about this for years, I’ve had enough of the ads (as it keeps travelling around the country), so here you go. There are two primary ethical objections to these displays: 1) Our common humanity is denigrated by dissected bodies being displayed to public view as a matter of entertainment and moneymaking. From a Christian perspective, the body is an integral part of what it means to be human. The Bible describes God forming Adam’s body and breathing life into it, and says that Adam was made “in the image of God.” To turn the human body into an object to be displayed for the enjoyment of crowds makes this crowning miracle of... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455094 Tue, 20 May 2008 01:39:15 +0100 1455094 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1455095&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F19%2Flibertarian-reading%2F A GOP insider reveals a conspiracy to prevent Ron Paul supporters from being heard at state and national conventions. It’s nice to have our suspicions confirmed (how come Paul was winning 10-15% in most primaries, a strong 3-4th place, and yet was almost never mentioned as a frontrunner, whereas Giuliani, who polled way behind him, was much more prominent? and how come someone who was winning 15-20% in the later polling states, with people deliberately coming out to register their objections to the McCain victory parade, is not getting any recognition from the national party?) Anyway. It’s always special when a member of the conspiracy group (not that Doug Wead seems to approve of the general plan to silence Ron Paul and his supporters) admits that it exists. My brother and I ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1455095 Tue, 20 May 2008 00:44:43 +0100 1455095 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1417959&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F05%2F02%2Faccidentally%2F The “special features” section on DVDs is uniformly worthless, except for this one revelation: even the greatest stories, the ones that come closest to the ancient myths, are made by people who have no idea what they’re doing. Even when the characters are closest to being true heroes - chivalrous men and the women who go with them - the creators when they talk about the story can only spout modern pop-psychology nonsense. How can they tell stories about commitment and sacrifice and redemption without understanding it? I know the idea that all happy stories follow redemption/wedding arc, so I see how the plot can be accidental, but how can they get the characters right without understanding any of the truth behind it? (Source: Cut On The Dotted Line) Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1417959 Fri, 02 May 2008 23:28:27 +0100 1417959 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1397862&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F24%2Fsearch-hits%2F I just thought I’d share that, although some of the most common search terms that lead to my blog are the expected, like “internship” and “what to do with an NG tube” (at least those people know they need to ask), one of the most puzzling lately has been “what is a priority check?” Which suggests a level of cluelessness so intense that I don’t even know where to begin. (Source: Cut On The Dotted Line) Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1397862 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 22:49:09 +0100 1397862 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1395236&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F23%2Fwater-or-fuel-for-the-flames%2F For someone who spends as much time communicating as I do, I’m obviously still not very good at it. Since between work and Pascha services this week I don’t have much time, let me, as the fastest way of saying what I really think about Mormonism, refer you to a post I made this spring, back when Romney was a viable contender. You can find it right here. Basically, I conclude that Mormonism is a false religion, just as much originated by Satan as Islam is, in that he probably inspired two men (Mohammed and Joseph Smith) to write blasphemous lies against Jesus. Mormonism, unlike true Christianity, does not regard Jesus as divine, the only-begotten, unique Son of God. Mormonism teaches that God was once a human, and that all humans (or at least all males) can become gods in their... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1395236 Thu, 24 Apr 2008 02:43:21 +0100 1395236 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1392632&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F22%2Fthe-real-problem-with-the-flds-ranch%2F You know the reason everyone is really so rabid about the polygamists? It’s not just the matter of teenage mothers (who, after all, are a common enough phenomenon in this society; here, at least, they’re respected as legitimate, and the fathers are involved with their children). No, it’s the women’s clothes. Modern Americans take one look at their appearance - which I would describe as graceful, elegant, sweeping, modest dresses and beautiful swept-up hair - and react viscerally, I believe because they’re convicted by this total contravention of modern society’s flagrant embrace of everything vulgar and obscene. It’s almost as though men think they have a right to see barely-clothed women, and are affronted by these women denying them that privileg... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1392632 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:55:27 +0100 1392632 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1392633&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F22%2Frandom-thoughts-on-church-and-life%2F I betook myself to the Coptic Pascha evening service tonight after work. I missed Palm Sunday service through falling asleep post-call, and not being able to muster the energy to get myself out of bed after a 15min nap. So I felt bad about that, and I considered giving up on the enterprise of keeping Pascha and working 13-15hrs a day at the same time. But then there wouldn’t be an Easter that meant anything to me, and that would ruin the whole year, and that would be pretty bad. So I dragged myself to church after work, not entirely thrilled about a 1hr round trip, and two hours of service (allowing for missing the first hour, and skipping the last 45min due to the sermon being entirely in Arabic). Somebody please kick me the next time I consider missing Coptic church. I was so glad... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1392633 Tue, 22 Apr 2008 22:19:56 +0100 1392633 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1386132&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F20%2Fthrilled-2%2F I am so happy to be a surgery intern. I don’t know if I mentioned that lately. I am thrilled that I get to work with these patients, and no others, with these attendings, and no others. So what if I have to get to the hospital a couple hours before the sun rises; I’m there to see people with cholecystitis, and appendicitis, and aortic aneurysms, and cancer, and incarcerated hernias. Sooo much better than coming in later, and seeing people with hypertensive crises and strokes and weird metabolic disorders that got out of whack. These patients are all interesting, because they all have surgery in their past or near future - and it’s great. Sometimes, now, I get home while there’s still light outside. Perhaps I should stop cursing daylight savings time. It is, after al... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1386132 Sun, 20 Apr 2008 18:45:29 +0100 1386132 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1356573&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F04%2F07%2Fcomfort-food%2F I made molokheya the other day, finally. I had bought a frozen package (I’ve never seen it otherwise, except sitting in piles on the streets of Cairo, which even the organic purists would have to admit is less appetizing than sanitized in a frozen plastic bag) much earlier in the year, but somehow never got around to making it. Molokheya is the ultimate Egyptian comfort food (actually, I guess it has to compete with kushari and besboussa (another one I made recently) and kunafa). One of our cookbooks reports that this is what the Egyptian peasants came home to eat after working on the pyramids, or what the women took out to the fieldworkers since pharaonic times. I couldn’t tell you what it’s made of, since no one I’ve ever met has been able to give an English, or e... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1356573 Mon, 07 Apr 2008 23:14:21 +0100 1356573 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1336924&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F03%2F29%2Fmy-own-weekend-rant%2F Dr. Schwab’s Surgeonsblog is one of my favorite blogs ever. He has tremendous stories, and tells them very well, and I am inspired by his example as a caring and competent surgeon. Lately, though, he’s taken to posting political and religious rants (his word) on the weekends. Creationists are a common target. I’ve got to respond to his latest post, but so many ideas came to mind I thought it would be better to write on my own blog. Dr. Schwab’s post opens with an 8min clip of an ABC news segment on two creationist men who give tours of a Denver science museum to Christian homeschoolers, giving the creationist point of view in contradiction to the evolutionary teachings of the museum. First, two things about the video: the two men, while I applaud their beliefs and ... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1336924 Sun, 30 Mar 2008 00:24:25 +0100 1336924 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1219441&cid=t_163895_87_f&fid=34595&url=http%3A%2F%2Fnhsblogdoc.blogspot.com%2F2008%2F02%2Fcrippen-diary-2008-february-1.html What do you want to do when you grow up...February 2008 (1)A duty day.I arrived at work just after 7.30 and already there is a queue at the desk. The job of the duty doctor is to pick up the urgent phone calls of partners who are away (one on holiday, one on maternity leave) and then, once all booked appointments are gone, any patient who says their problem cannot wait until tomorrow gets a phone call from me. If I agree that it will not wait until tomorrow, I see them. I have a fully booked surgery in the morning, but my afternoon is unscheduled allowing me to pick up all such emergencies.My booked morning surgery was stressful. The whole day was fraught, I did not stop, and the phone calls did not stop. I left the Health Centre at 6.57 pm and “no”, Allan, I am not staying on another ... NHS Blog Doctor blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1219441 Fri, 08 Feb 2008 22:45:00 +0100 1219441 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1166559&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2008%2F01%2F21%2Fcopasetic%2F One of the night nurses told me the other day when I arrived to round that all my patients were “copasetic.” I don’t remember ever hearing this word before, but it stuck in my mind and I couldn’t stop repeating it to myself. Finally, I had to look it up. Wikipedia seems to have the widest collection of possible origins for it. Various suggested etymologies include a Chinook trade dialect, a Cajun phrase, Chicago gangsters, and the space flight program. But my quest for understanding led me to this addictive website, World Wide Words, which in addition to copasetic sets out to explain other odd words like the American absquatulate, the misunderstood decimate, and the fascinating floccinaucinihilipilification (I dare you to guess what that one means before clicking on... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1166559 Mon, 21 Jan 2008 21:02:00 +0100 1166559 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1100114&cid=t_163895_113_f&fid=34853&url=http%3A%2F%2Femergencygadget.com%2Fblog11%2F2007%2F12%2F17%2Fspotlight-in-a-small-way%2F                     This little LED flashlight rocks!  It plugs into your 12V cigarette lighter to charge and has up to a 2 hour continuous usage time.  It’s an LED flashlight that is durable and water tested that only runs for about $15. This could be useful in all matters of emergency needs and it convienently is always [...] (Source: Emergency Gadget) Emergency Gadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1100114 Mon, 17 Dec 2007 21:48:37 +0100 1100114 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=1002598&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F11%2F04%2Finsanity%2F Or, what I think of Congress’ trying to change the position of the sun in the sky. They’re not Joshua, you know, although apparently most members of our esteemed representative body would benefit from a head examination on that account. Let me see here: from November to February we have “standard” time, and from March to October we have “daylight savings time.” That makes five months on “standard.” We now spend less than half the year in the real time zone. Back when I went to grade school, which is admittedly getting to be a ways back, and was not in a government-funded setting, either (that could be the problem), I was given to understand that “noon” was a definable moment when the sun was directly overhead. Or, to quote the dic... Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=1002598 Sun, 04 Nov 2007 14:14:51 +0100 1002598 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=985682&cid=t_163895_83_f&fid=36527&url=http%3A%2F%2Fcutonthedottedline.wordpress.com%2F2007%2F10%2F27%2Fcooks-night-off%2F The problem with all the pumpkin recipes out there is that they’re arranged for canned pumpkin. Whereas freshly frozen pumpkin has a lot more water in it. That, combined with running out of sugar, makes one gooey, yucky cake. And my roommate’s fat-free cream cheese makes pretty awful cream cheese icing. At least I didn’t use the recipes that call for “one box of yellow cake mix.” What kind of a recipe is that? That’s not cooking! (Source: Cut On The Dotted Line) Cut On The Dotted Line blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=985682 Sun, 28 Oct 2007 04:21:04 +0100 985682 http://www.medworm.com/index.php?rid=564827&cid=t_163895_113_f&fid=34853&url=http%3A%2F%2Femergencygadget.com%2Fblog11%2F2007%2F04%2F23%2Fflaresafe-flashlightsmoke-detectorsos-alarm%2F If you’re one of those people who have everything for the ‘Big One’, this is probably something you don’t have.  The Flaresafe flashlight, not only lights your pathways for up to 50 hours, but also triples as a Smoke Detector and an SOS alarm/strobe finder.  It is made from ruggedized plastics so it’s sturdy and [...] (Source: Emergency Gadget) Emergency Gadget blogs http://www.medworm.com/rss/comments.php?id=564827 Mon, 23 Apr 2007 15:12:51 +0100 564827