E pluribus unum has been regarded as our national motto since 1776. This motto has remained the same but I wonder if we have remained true to its meaning. This Latin phrase in English means, out of many, one. This certainly encapsulated the dream of the Thirteen Colonies who aspired to join together to form one nation. Coincidence that the motto has 13 letters? This motto appears on the Great Seal of the United States and on our currency. I just pulled out a $1 bill and verified this. If you wish confirm this yourself, then I suggest having a magnifying glass in hand! For the purists among you, our official national motto, In God We Trust , was established in 1956 by an act of Congress. It seems that the forces of division in our country have gained strength and momentum, particularly over the past decade. Our legislature and the populace are sharply polarized. Politics does not seem to be a forum for a respectful exchange of views...
“I have a food allergy.” “I have a parasite.” “I have ‘leaky gut’.” “I have esophageal spasm.” These are examples of speculative diagnoses offered to me by patients. It is natural in the era of the internet, with artificial intelligence (AI) looming, that patients will search for explanatory diagnoses for their symptoms. Who knows? In time, and sooner than we think, AI’s performance may exceed that of human physicians, as well as other human endeavors. At that time, AI may be preparing my weekly blog posts as it interferes and takes over the rest of my life. I won’t succumb willingly to this omnipresent and overpowering force, but I acknowledge that it will not be a fair fight. Most often, patient offered diagnoses are wrong, even though an internet search seems to have nailed the diagnosis precisely. I have fever, fatigue, muscle aches, headaches and digestive issues. Google let me straight to malaria! How did my doctor miss thi...