Madely Health Headlines Commentary for January 11, 2011

What is the evidence for fluoridation? Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Reference:

Community Water Fluoridation: Questions and Answers

Preventing Dental Caries: Community Water Fluoridation

Dr. Yoni Freedhoff outlines in an article written in this month’s CMAJ how Health Canada is pushing a policy that will allow fortification of foods with vitamins and minerals without any evidence that it will improve public health. Moreover, there is a real risk of overconsumption of said additions to our food supply that can [...]

Ottawa Citizen journalist Dan Gardner castigates, and rightly so, how Olympic athletes sell out to corporations for oodles of cash without any consideration for the potential harm to public health outcomes. His column can be read here.

Madely Health Headlines Commentary for December 9, 2009

H1N1 pandemic severity update Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

I am not a fan of how newspapers use headlines to misrepresent stories to provke unwarranted fear, and heightened risk perception. Today, the Ottawa Citizen published two stories about seasonal and H1N1 vaccine. The first story, For Guillain-Barre survivors, flu shot stirs up unwelcome memories, emblazoned on the front page has all the elements of [...]

If your doctor offered the option of a blood test to determine what diseases your child will develop in their lifetime, what would you do? This option is soon to be a reality.

I thought it might be fun and interesting to present some of the medical stories of 2004 that did not make the front page, yet illustrate an undercurrent of fantastic potential.

Deborah decided she had had enough of smoking marijuana. Last week’s column reviewed how her addiction affected her psychosocial development. Deborah was pondering why she continued to smoke four to 10 joints a day to the detriment of her health, desires and life goals.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen December 30, 2003 Original Title: The top medical news stories of the year The December issue of the Harvard Health Letter reviews the top 10 significant medical achievements and events for 2003 and their potential impact.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen December 19, 2003 Original Title: Cycling the virtual highway WARNING: Before you read any further, I have to confess that I am a cycle nut. Forgive my indulgence in sharing my love of this world with you in one column.

The history of medicine is fascinating. Today we have the means to combat vicious infectious childhood diseases. New cancer therapies and cancer vaccine research hold tremendous promise. Technological advances have improved our society’s ability to produce food in record amounts.

Preparing medical and family history and other details in advance helps a family doctor tune into your needs.

The effects of this current heat wave and high humidity levels are particularly dangerous for children and the elderly. Children have parents who oversee their well-being and protection from the elements. Many elderly people on the other hand do not have this level of care. They remain confined to their residences, nursing homes or apartments, some without the benefit of air conditioning.

You can prevent heat-related illness with an understanding of how summer heat affects your body.

We are in the midst of a large-scale data collection and evaluation process of West Nile virus infection and outbreak in North America. Although West Nile virus affects other areas of the world like Europe, the Middle East, Russia, Tunisia, Morocco and South Africa among others, it is difficult to extrapolate their experience to the North American arena. The North American West Nile virus is genetically distinct and seemingly more virulent than strains from other parts of the world.

Times like these sharpen our attention to the frailties of life. The SARS outbreak illustrates the public perception of risk.When faced with a death rate of three to four per cent, we all want to be able to protect our family and friends from harm.

Dr. Tony Hsu, a Welland pediatrician in practice for 30 years died last week, his body recovered from Lake Ontario. Humiliated and abused by the Medical Review Committee (MRC), his plight, profiled by CTV’s Avis Favro last November, showed us a caring and dedicated physician destroyed by the committee. Dr. Hsu worked on-call one every two nights, provided free service to the Children’s Aid Society and was respected and admired by his patients and colleagues alike.

How have society’s changing attitudes about sexual activity and responsibility affected our teenage children?

The Medical Institute for Sexual Health, a U.S. non-profit group promoting sexual abstinence outside marriage, lists the devastating toll laissez-faire attitudes have had on our teens.

A recent front-page story in the Citizen remarked how a Health Canada anti-tobacco campaign using Olympic skaters Elvis Stojko and Josée Chouinard did not have much influence on reducing or quitting cigarette use. Indeed, how effective are health promotion campaigns?

A recent column by Christina Spencer, John Robson’s radio commentary on CFRA and Citizen Editorial eloquently criticized the Quebec government’s abuse of legislative power over its physician population. In Quebec, all physicians who have worked in an emergency room in the previous four years will now be forced to work in them whether they wish to or not regardless of their qualifications to do so. Should they refuse they will be slapped with a $5000 daily fine.

A recent Dave Brown column touched upon the thorny issue of patient chart transfer requests. He cited the case of one individual who expressed his irritation with transfer fees that he felt should be free of charge. Copyright law analogy provides the basis for his assertion. His claim is that patient chart notes are paid by the patient through taxation and as such did not belong to the physician. The physician writing the notes does so for the patient who subsequently owns the record.

Recent and projected health technology and treatment advances pose interesting dilemmas regarding the human lifespan. Nanotechnology, stem cell research, gene therapy, new drug therapies, cancer vaccines and electromechanical life support devices are just a few of the lines of research and development in our quest to cure disease and maintain our health. These are indeed exciting times.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen August 21, 2002 Original Title: Who Wants to Save a Million Dollars? Despite the problems in our health-care system, there are some roses worth our attention. One such rose is the Riverside Acute Care Medical Centre. Unfortunately, if the Ottawa Hospital administration has its way, the rose will whither [...]

Many patients express their disdain over medication dispensing fees. All Canadian pharmacies charge this fee. I too had some misgivings about the fees but did not have the necessary background to draw any firm conclusions. Further enquiry to determine their origin and their original purpose was needed. Do people get value for their money? Why do dispensing fees vary? A spokesman for the Ontario Pharmacists’ Association (OPA) addressed these issues in an interview several weeks ago.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen July 9, 2002 Original Title: Who Wants to be a Millionaire How much are doctors paid? It varies depending on the medical specialty. Certainly some specialties provide a greater income for its practitioners but on average most physicians are not pulling in the big bucks as perceived by the [...]

Parents are forever vigilant protecting their young children from some of life’s harsher realities. It is indeed frustrating and indeed infuriating when parents encounter unexpected situations that expose their children to potentially deleterious actions and images. Their child-rearing timetable explodes. They have to now enter damage-control mode.

How patients and health care providers handle illness can be a source of inspiration for many. Their stories are seldom told. Bad news tends to pique our interest more so than good. Many of these people are true heroes.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen April 30, 2002 Nudge, nudge, wink, wink, say no more! – Eric Idle – Monty Python’s Flying Circus Recent reports in the National Post and Ottawa Citizen about Health Canada’s failure to disclose to Canadians in the mid 90′s the lead risk in Turkish raisins is another example of [...]

School children tend to set the agenda when it comes to what health info they want

Despite numerous health advisory and information campaigns, inroads into curbing or modifying deleterious adolescent behaviours remain wanting. There are many reasons, including competition from television and movies, advertising, peer pressure, academic responsibilities, development of independent attitudes and rebelliousness, and their own social calendar

Sunday will mark the fifth anniversary of the death of my brother, Dr. Steven Dworkin, age 32. His senseless death continues to haunt me and I suppose will forever do so.

Some days or weeks, for good or bad, become more memorable than others. They serve up a combination of events that can turn your day into a rollercoaster of emotions.

Such a day occurred in early March. There were 20 patients that day, some with straight-forward problems, others alone in the wilderness.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen March 12, 2002 Federal Health Minister Anne McLellan mused recently about the obesity epidemic as if this was some new revelation.

The decision by YM magazine to quit printing diet tips and use models who reflect the body image of the majority of teens is welcome news.

Throw away those old truisms about cigarettes. Here are some new ways to talk to teens about smoking.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen January 15, 2002 Column draws fire from some readers and support from others Last week’s column on breastfeeding difficulties provoked passionate responses. I was accused of being uneducated, unethical, unprofessional and a menace to medical students and residents because allegedly I promoted formula over breastmilk. Others whole-heartedly agreed with [...]

In his latest video Osama bin Laden appears as a man with health problems. It is difficult to diagnose anyone by his or her picture and this evaluation must be viewed in this speculative context.

In Ontario there are two drug programs designed to reduce the burden of medication costs: The Ontario Drug Benefit Program (ODB) and the Trillium Drug Program (TDP). The ODB covers the cost of medications for seniors, welfare recipients and the disabled. The TDP, a co-payment plan varies with an individual’s or family’s income.

Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen, November 27, 2001 In 1674 Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek, through his new invention, the microscope, looked at his own saliva. His discovery of an unseen world teeming with life led to the development of microbiology. It has also led to the now modern neuroses that “all germs are evil”.

Our child protection laws are designed to protect the defenseless. Those that are responsible for enforcing these laws have a difficult job to do. This is made even moreso by a flawed complaints process.

Beginning September 7, 2001, The Discovery Health Channel (DHC), an offshoot of the Discovery Channel will be available to Canadian digital cable and satellite subscribers. I had the opportunity to preview three new shows scheduled to premiere September 8, 2001.

Attending a conference entitled The Scientific Review of Alternative Medicine, a number of physicians noted that the placebo effect was a very powerful force and motivator with respect to the success of alternative medicine practices such as therapeutic touch, chiropractic, herbal remedies and the like.

Some women can sail through pregnancy with nary a problem while others can have a difficult time. The basis for treating these conditions rests entirely upon individual circumstances. If these problems interfere with ones ability to function consult with your doctor. Ask about the available treatment options. It is important to have options and to be comfortable with the decision one makes when opting for a particular treatment.

In June of 2000 my Dad was hospitalized for some surgery. He related the following story to me that made me stop and think about how we treat our patients and where, perhaps, some of our interpersonal skills come from.

You are in a line for a movie and you pass gas or do some other embarrassing activity. Your first reaction usually is “Oh my god, they all know I did it!” This is a remnant of your teen years. Teens are naturally self- centered and experience that reaction you had about ten times more intensely sometimes on a daily basis. Despite the teen horror stories, most adolescents cope well with their development process.

Mr. H., a World War II veteran was posted 24 times in 27 years while serving in the Canadian Armed Forces. He is proud of his accomplishments and his actions demonstrate quiet dignity and honor. He has told me stories of his military life. Stories about sacrifice, dedication, honor and integrity that children, not to mention some adults should hear. Now, at age 78 I have told him he has inoperable kidney cancer because it has spread to his lungs. He would not survive the operation.

Nothing is too wonderful to be true. Michael Faraday (1791 – 1867) Insight, untested and unsupported, is an insufficient guarantee of truth. Bertrand Russell, Mysticism and Logic (1929) Everyday we are bombarded with health claims and gadgets to “improve” our already healthy lifestyles. Statistics and facts are used to convince us to buy into the [...]

Eight years ago, two Ottawa doctors went back to high school to start the first in-school medical centre of its kind in Canada
Adolescents are an under-serviced population — and there are several factors that contribute to this phenomenon.

In June, my dad was hospitalized for some surgery. He related the following story to me: My dad walked the ward after his surgery whence he came upon an elderly woman near the nurse’s station.

One Halloween several years ago, my brother Steven shaved his head, coloured himself green, put two devil horns on his head and taught his class clad in only a pair of green shorts. I’m sure they still talk about it at the University of Chicago. I keep a picture of that Halloween stunt. And I look at it often.