I developed a strong interest in medicine and becoming a doctor at the beginning of high school. I liked the idea of being of service, the social respect doctors are afforded, and the bread and butter (financial reward) was fair enough. […]
Richard Smith asks: Can the rich save the world?
Mathew Bishop, one of the authors of Philanthrocapitalism , last night told the audience of a Lancet debate packed into the grandeur of the Royal Society of Arts in London, that the rich—like Bill Gates, Warren Buffet, and Carlos Slim—could save the world. […]
Julian Sheather on the day that human nature changed
At a certain point in life you start eyeing the word ‘crisis’ suspiciously. Inflationary pressures in the media devalue the linguistic coin and you could be forgiven for thinking that journalists have given up getting out of bed for anything less than a fully fledged catastrophe. But even a troglodyte like me cannot escape a […]
Joe Collier on being critical
Being critical is a central part of me. It has been crucial to my work as an editor, a teacher, an advisor, a consultant, a reviewer and an author. We are not talking trivial, gratuitous, knee-jerk or offensive criticism. Rather, it is being critical from a standpoint of knowledge and understanding in which the process […]
Bhaskar Narayan on eating Es
I need to eat more healthily, so I’m going to cut down on foods containing E numbers. Here’s my plan. I must stay away from tomatoes, as they’re full of E160d (lycopene) and I’m giving up oranges as they contain lots of E300 (Vitamin C). Spinach and cabbage are definitely out as both are big sources […]
Juliet Walker: BMJ in the news
A meta-analysis suggests that everyone over a certain age should be given blood pressure lowering drugs to prevent the risk of heart disease. The research has received widespread press coverage. The Daily Telegraph quoted a Stroke Association spokesperson who said, “Whilst blood pressure medication is one of the safest and most studied medications, they do have […]
Harvey Marcovitch on who are the Philistines now?
I have reached the age when I look forward to a literary festival more than a rock concert. I relish the pre-opening canapés, the excited buzz around the bookstall, the effusiveness of the organisers as they greet their guests, the agreed myth that the authors are there to entertain us rather than sell their work. […]
Richard Lehman’s journal blog, 24 May 2009
Floppy iris, diabetes, virtual surgery, and blood pressure lowering are just a few of this week’s splendidly discussed topics in Richard’s blog. […]
Stephen Ginn on self help: friend or foe?
There was a page advert in the Metro this week for a three days seminar with TV hypnotist Paul McKenna and pals which promised to “Change your life in three days.” […]
Joe Collier on working with the media
Medicine’s relationship with the mass media is fickle with clinicians praising its judgement one minute (when they are subject to media approval) and cursing its trickery the next (when the object of criticism). The truth is that the media deserves a more reasoned attitude, a view I have come to after working closely with the […]