MD Whistleblower

Should the Serbian government send in elite commandos for a stealth rescue? If you are a political leader or a celebrity, and you’re looking for some media attention, here’s a method that works every time.  Simply flaunt the pesky  rules that the rest of us obey. And then get caught. Remember when Governor Gavin Newsom was photographed dining out at a posh restaurant in violation of the COVID-19 safety protocol that he imposed on Californians?  Such behaviors only reinforce the recognition that many entitled folks believe that rules apply to the hoi polloi, but not to them. Presently, tennis superstar Novak Djokovic is being detained in Melbourne, Australia after his visa was cancelled upon his arrival.   There will be a court hearing tomorrow that will rule if the government can proceed with deportation. Djokovic, whose ranking is number one on the planet, arrived to compete in the Australian Open, one of tennis’s four major tournaments.   Djokovic is keen to compete since a win the

2022 is here!   2021 has been an annus horribilis for America and the world.   We have simply not been able to vaccinate and boost ourselves free of the suffocating tentacles of an evolving coronavirus. Here in Ohio and elsewhere COVID-19 tests are endangered species.  Folks spend hours trolling around town hoping that a local pharmacy or a public library will receive a supply at the very moment he or she walks in.  My own inquiries have all yielded the same result – no tests available and no idea if and when they may arrive. Did you watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve? The pandemic, which in any earlier time in our history would likely have drawn us together, is cleaving the nation.   The day before writing this, I saw 2 patients who had elected to shun the vaccine.   I’ll spare readers their explanations which originated in the huge ‘science-free zone’ that tens of millions of Americans inhabit.   And earlier in the week, a medical professional who had been vaccinated express

For millions of Americans, the pandemic has been disastrous.  We have lost an uncountable number of Americans. We cannot even grasp the magnitude of the loss.  Have you ever stood at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on the mall in Washington, DC and scanned through the uncountable number of names etched into the Wall?   We have lost well over ten times this number of Americans in the pandemic.  And it’s not over yet.  Beyond those who have died, we have to contemplate family members and friends who have been left behind.  And those who have become seriously ill or even hospitalized or even spent time in an ICU have been changed forever.   And many who escaped the virus were scared that they might become the next victim, particularly before the release of the vaccines.  And now Omicron has swept onto our shores reminding us that the pandemic still lives.  Will we go through the entire Greek alphabet? Similarly, we cannot even calculate the economic devastation and disruption that the pan

       ‘ Twas the night before Christmas And all through the House, Progressives were screaming, ‘Are you a man or a mouse?’   They wanted it all. No matter the cost. They wanted it now. So much would be lost.   The voted for Biden, Who now is their tool, And dream of ‘reforming’ The filibuster rule.   Pelosi’s been smacked, And Schumer’s been bruised. Does Biden realize That he’s being used?   And while Biden is napping In the White House mansion, The man of the moment, Is Senator Joe Manchin.   And while mainstream Dems Fight with the ‘Squad’, The real threat they face? A circular firing squad! GOP are no better. They have no spines. Trump is their leader. He is divine!   Liz Cheney is out For telling the truth. While others are praised For being uncouth.   How do Republicans The few decent legislators, Run in a primary When they’ll be called ‘Traitors!’?   Kevin McCarthy Unhinged and unraveled,

Medical students, please read no further. I am going to challenge one of the bedrock beliefs in medical training – the value of the physical examination.   Indeed, I was taught of the primacy of the physical exam as a young pup during my 4 years of medical education in New York City.   I believed it and did my best to acquire these skills from master diagnosticians.   Indeed, this was one of the thrills of being a medical student – learning what those clicks and clacks meant when we listened to hearts with our stethoscopes, seeing changes of diabetes and other diseases when we peered into your eyes with an ophthalmoscope or palpating a pulsating aneurysm that was lurking in your abdomen. An Ophthalmoscope and Otoscope The Eyes and Ears of Medicine I was in awe of these seasoned physicians who could make a diagnosis just by watching a patient walk across the room. While I still think the physical examination is useful, I have found over the years that it is less valuab

It is easy to opine on issues that don’t personally affect us.  We’ve all seen folks on television or in our own lives who righteously stake out positions when they are far beyond the reach of their effects.  Conversely, we’ve seen the irony and the hypocrisy of individuals who ‘evolve’ almost instantly when a controversial issue becomes relevant to their personal circumstances.  Senator Rob Portman of my state of Ohio, for example, was against same sex marriage until he wasn’t.  Readers are encouraged to look up what led to a reversal in Senator Portman’s view. Charles Darwin didn't realize that politicians can evolve. The pandemic has also exposed much public (and private) pontification from individuals, businesses, organizations, government agencies – all of whom may have agendas that extend beyond any actual public health concerns.   One issue that has created raw fissures among us is the concept of mandating vaccines.   There are spirited arguments on various sides of this i