Pope Francis passed away this morning at the age of 88. Just weeks ago, he had spent 38 days hospitalized at Rome’s Gemelli Hospital for what was described as “double pneumonia,” before returning to his Vatican apartment to recover. H…
Category: Hospital-Based Medicine
When empathy becomes “toxic”
For years, empathy has been seen as a moral virtue that binds relationships, the antidote to pain and suffering while caring for patients. But lately, empathy is facing a surprising backlash in society and the medical profession. From being called R…
How hospitals are quietly taking control of physicians
Doctor, if you have recently had occasion to be granted a visit with upper hospital management in the plush executive suite, most surely it was you who stood out quite conspicuously. Being greeted, hopefully politely, by one of the administrative secre…
Why hand washing isn’t enough to stop infections in hospitals [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Emergency physician W. Frank Peacock discusses his article, “What if a doctor didn’t wash their hands between patients?” He explores the critical role of…
Mastering the language of medicine [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Pediatric neurologist Paige Kalika discusses her article, “Learning the language of medicine: from student to fluent physician.” Paige compares mastering medic…
From retail to medicine: a doctor’s journey through burnout and bureaucracy
Long ago, before I started practicing medicine, I worked in the retail sector. I was 15 years old when I earned my first real paycheck. Surely, I worked other odd and end jobs before that first “real job.” I mowed neighborhood lawns, shovel…
Unpacking the Faustian bargain of modern medicine [PODCAST]
Subscribe to The Podcast by KevinMD. Watch on YouTube. Catch up on old episodes! Internal medicine physician Corinne Rao discusses the article, “The Faustian bargain of modern medicine.” In this episode, Corinne explores the modern health c…
The NIH is under fire: Why public trust in science is fading
Many moons ago, I worked in a forensics lab for a pair of professors who were husband and wife—a chemistry dynamic duo. I had a wonderful time in bench research, learning about different explosives and even doing site visits in Los Alamos, where many o…
A stroke patient’s unwavering love: Caring for his wife amidst his illness
A 90-year-old gentleman has been admitted to our ward under the care of a neurologist. He was diagnosed with an ischemic stroke after experiencing weakness in his left upper limb and slurred speech. His mental status is fluctuating, and the stroke has …
The Faustian bargain of modern medicine
The concept of a “Faustian bargain” originates from the legend of Dr. Faustus, a figure from German folklore who trades his soul to the devil in exchange for worldly knowledge and power. Doctor Faustus is Christopher Marlowe’s most re…
