Publishing is at times a joy and also a curse. The process can be taxing both emotionally and in terms of time commitment, but I know that it is the system to which we as researchers subscribe, and in which we participate as volunteers. I will admit that the some of the best moments on […]
Richard Lehman’s journal review—23 July 2012
JAMA 18 July 2012 Vol 308 247 The coming of interferon beta as a treatment for multiple sclerosis in the mid-1990s marked a turning point. For patients with MS, it was the first glimmer of hope that there might be effective treatment on the way, even though it was costly and came with unpleasant side-effects, […]
Alvaro Bermejo: Removing the social and structural barriers impeding the global HIV response will advance medical efforts no end
This week the world’s largest gathering of HIV experts, policy makers, activists, and people living with HIV will convene in Washington for the 19th International AIDS conference, brimful of optimism at recent biomedical advances and heralding the end of AIDS. At the International HIV/AIDS Alliance we applaud the progress made to stem the epidemic; getting […]
Veena Rao: Should under-nutrition in India be addressed as a population issue?
The time is ripe in India to consider under-nutrition as a population issue, rather than a women and children’s issue, as it is viewed presently by government, governmental advisors and experts, and other stakeholders. Apart from worrisome child under-nutrition indicators and infant, child, and maternal mortality rates, indicators of under-nutrition and anemia among adult males […]
Domhnall MacAuley: “See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.”
“See me, feel me, touch me, heal me.” I didn’t recognise the words but the sentiments were familiar. Words of inspiration from a song that helped shape the paintings, drawings, and sculptures of Claire Halliday, a relatively unknown Irish artist. Stumbling upon her work in a far corner of a group exhibition on the ground […]
Desmond O’Neill on the medical and ethical themes in Prometheus
Switching off can be hard in medicine. No matter where one turns, the observational reflex kicks in, prompted by the goitre of the newscaster or the Bell’s palsy of the bank teller. And we can run but they won’t hide, as I found out at a late night outing to Prometheus, the latest instalment of […]
Sandra Lako: Clinical work
Monday marked my first full day of clinical work at the Ola During Children’s Hospital. I spent the day in the outpatient department talking to parents, examining children, making an initial diagnosis, and starting treatments. It was a delight to be able to care for children again. It has been difficult to combine my management/coordinating […]
Tiago Villanueva: The aftermath of doctors’ industrial action in Portugal
Senior doctors, junior doctors, pregnant doctors, doctors on holiday, and doctors from all around the country protested against the Portuguese government’s healthcare policies last week. The march took part on the 11 July in front of the Ministry of Health in central Lisbon. Over 90% of Portugal’s doctors took part in the two days of […]
Anna Dixon: Evolution or revolution: the story behind the Health and Social Care Act 2012
It was often difficult to know who to believe during debate about the Health and Social Care Bill. The public were faced with baffling technocratic details from government with no accompanying compelling narrative to explain the need for such significant reforms, alongside sensationalised claims from some who opposed it that the bill spelt the end […]
Julian Sheather: Anders Breivik and the social uses of psychiatry
I have been gripped by the trial of Anders Breivik and was intrigued to see the BMJ hosting a Maudsley debate this week about, loosely speaking, Breivik’s “sanity.” The debate ran under the headline question of whether fanaticism is a form of madness which gave a slightly odd spin to the proceedings. As Tom Fahy […]