Author's posts
Government surveillance: How electronic prescription records are changing medicine
Every time an American fills a prescription, a searchable electronic database record is made. This record is kept, like the paper records of a few decades ago, to allow for verification of medications dispensed in the U.S. But in the past, to access th…
Genetic testing may help cure or condemn those who suffer from addiction
In a recently published study, it was found that a set of 4 genes (JUN, CEBPB, PRKCB, ENO2, or CEBPG) was shown to predict the diagnosis of heroin addiction with an accuracy rate of around 85 percent. This is an amazing development and could open the d…
Adolescent exposure to alcohol may predispose to addiction
Have you ever wondered why some people always seem to be in pain? Or why someone can receive a prescription for a minor procedure and immediately feel drawn to drug use? Scientists may have recently figured out one of the reasons for these behaviors, a…
Navigating the new minefield of ER medical practice
The practice of medicine has always been difficult. In the best of times, physicians must make fast decisions under very stressful conditions. Every time a doctor navigates a crisis, they reflect on what decisions they made and how they might improve. …
From mental health facilities to prisons: a concerning shift
According to a report from the U.S. Department of Justice, 37 percent of the people in prison have a history of mental health problems. This was not always the case. The United States at one time had state mental health facilities, where those with men…
Can ketamine and SSRIs offer a complete depression treatment?
We have a problem with current recommendations for depression treatment. Thirty-five percent of patients will not go into remission or get any relief at all from SSRIs and SNRIs. And even when it does work, it takes about six weeks to start having an e…
Cannabis compounds in fracture pain relief and healing
In a recent study published in the Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, it was found that two compounds found in cannabis, cannabidiol, and cannabigerol, may not just ease the pain of fractures but also speed up fracture healing. The study, titled …
Navigating subpoenas and EHR integration
What do you do if you get an administrative or court subpoena to produce “all” medical records on one or more patients? Are you sure that your electronic medical records can even create a true “legal” chart? With everything reco…
Physicians behind bars: the consequences of medical misjustice
In 1985, Mr. Charles McCrory was on trial. Charles had found his wife dead, and her family was convinced that he was responsible, despite the fact that Charles denied any involvement and just wanted to grieve in peace. There was no real evidence agains…
A breakthrough in chronic pain detection?
Recently, a group of researchers at the University of California, San Francisco, reported that they may have found the holy grail of pain management. They accomplished this by performing “the first-in-human, long-term direct brain measurement of …
