Doctors and other health care professionals are too often socialized and pressured to become “efficient task completers” rather than healers, which leads... more
The two doctors charged for their roles in the events leading up to actor Matthew Perry’s death were both involved... more
The term “Narrative Medicine” (NM) refers to a range of activities, including close reading and reflective writing about literature, designed... more
There is an idealized version of physician-patient communication that is taught in medical schools, reinforced with acronyms like PEARLS, SPIKES,... more
The National Institute on Drug Abuse defines addiction as a “chronic disease” occurring in the brain – Many believe this... more
In his book, The Present Illness, American Health Care and Its Afflictions, physician and historian Martin Shapiro, MD, PhD, MPH... more
A recent NEJM article and accompanying podcast episode (“Tough Love”) authored and hosted by the Journal’s national correspondent sound... more
“Sonny’s Blues” is a 1956 story by the author, James Baldwin, about a “sensible” and pragmatic algebra teacher and his... more
In a 2021 episode that we reran last month, “About me being racist: a conversation that follows an apology,” Saul... more
We are re-running this episode from 2021 because we’re releasing a sequel next month in which Saul reflects on his... more
For years, when physicians order tests to assess lung function, or blood work to determine kidney function, or look up... more
The practice of urine drug testing during pregnancy and then often reporting positive results to Child Protective Services triggers a... more
Direct, covert observation of health care is a novel and underutilized tool to assess health care trainees and clinicians. In... more
In the prior episode we learned that there is no evidence that time-limited testing improves test validity and that, in... more
There is a widely held perception that being able to complete a test quickly is an indication of mastery when... more
Stefan interviews co-host Saul about his experiences becoming a doctor with a learning disability. This episode, first run in 2020,... more
A recent New York Times article, titled "When Doctors Use a Chatbot to Improve Their Bedside Manner," should raise questions... more
The narrative that getting patients with chronic pain off opioids makes them safer was reinforced by a recent paper... more
We might assume that a patient who is chained to their hospital bed must be restrained for good reason, but... more
In this second of a two-episode series on medical student mistreatment, we discuss its impact on burnout with a colleague... more
How is it that a healing profession -- medicine -- has such a deeply ingrained culture of harming its own? ... more
How is it that a healing profession -- medicine -- has such a deeply ingrained culture of harming its own? And what... more