Last year CNN ran an article written by Emily Breidbart, then a second year medical student. It’s an interesting read. At times I do feel that it is a struggle to protect my own idealism. But maybe she is doing a better job than I. Because I’ll admit, at times I find myself downright cynical — even comically cynical. But that’s another story. Anyways, in her article, Emily writes about how her curriculum, at times, seems to revolve around preventing lawsuits than the patient’s health.

Fortunately, this hasn’t been the case for me at my school during my first year. I think there has been the occasional mention of the litigious nature of the profession. And I think we (as students) have all heard plenty of stories about it. So it isn’t like we are ignoring malpractice. I’d say that they, and by they I mean the professors who teach us, choose to focus on the patient.

Who knows? Maybe one day Loma Linda’s curriculum will have to change. Maybe someday they will have to place the fear of litigation into the heart of every incoming first year. I hope not, though. Because a society in which doctors are afraid to treat patients is a society in trouble.

Oh, and check out Emily’s article “Med student struggles to preserve her idealism” over at CNN.com.

Related Posts: Dr. Phil, have you heard of… HIPAA?

Gabriel Bouys / AFP-Getty Images file

I really don’t want to turn this into a gossip column. And I definitely don’t want to turn this into a cebrinews site. But a couple weeks ago I did post about the medical debacle between Britney Spears and Dr. Phil.

I posted because it was, in my opinion, an example of very poor judgment on Dr. Phil’s part. You can read that post if you want. I’ve linked to it above.

Anyways, this post is just a little more medical news. A follow-up, I suppose.

In Dr. Phil’s non-professional (since he claims his visit was just as a friend and not a pscyhologist), Britney Spears needs serious mental help. At least that’s what he said before. Anyways, it appears she just might get the help she needs. Good for Brit.

Britney Spears has been placed under a 72-hour “mental health evaluation hold.” For complete details, click the picture above. It’ll take you to the news story.

Sorry for not summarizing. I’m stressed. Finals next week. And now, its back to the books!

I WANT a bionic eye! Well who wouldn’t? If you’ve seen the television show on NBC, then you know what the bionic eye can do.

I read an article over at MSNBC.com titled “Vision of the future seen in bionic contact lens.” It looks like we, and by we I mean we as a society, may be getting closer to bionic eyes. Or, at least, bionic contact lenses.

As I understand it, a contact lens has been made at the University of Washington that has circuitry embedded in the lens. The researchers hope to one day be able to use the lenses to project an image at the retina.

In effect, the user, and the user only, would be able to see images projected by the lens into their own eyes.

Check out the story for more. (I’d summarize here but I’m trying to avoid the whole copyright infringement thing… for legal reasons).

I recently saw an episode of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. It’s always an interesting way to get my news. But he did one segment which I’ve included below. Check it out.

I was gonna write about how surprised I am to hear that increased gambling was listed as a side-effect. But I figured that any way I found to convey my disbelief in such absurdity would kind of be overshadowed by Jon Stewart.

If anything, just remember to know what the side-effects are of any medication you take.

Related Posts: Britney Spears Now In Doctors’ Hands

Copyright 2008 Brad Barket / Robyn Beck / Getty Images

News on the street, and by street I mean Internet, is that Dr. Phil paid a little visit to a certain celebrity (whom I’ll refer to as Ms. S) on Saturday (January 5) at Cedars-Sinai Hospital. She had been there since Thursday after her standoff with police.

Well after his meeting with Ms. S, Dr. Phil released this statement to Entertainment Tonight:

My meeting with Britney and some of her family members this morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention. She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car. I am very concerned for her.

I am neither a doctor, nor a HIPAA expert, but I did sign the form and take a little class about it. Isn’t this situation a breach of doctor-patient confidentiality? Dr. Phil, shame on you!

I suppose he might claim that he is not her doctor and she isn’t his patient. So in that case, he is not bound by doctor-patient confidentiality.

According to one article by TMZ, Ms. S was totally “blindsided” by the visit:

People on the 7th floor at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center say the doctor arrived about 7:30 AM Saturday. We’re told [she] did not invite him in; she didn’t even know he was coming. Sources say it was [her] parents who told Dr. Phil to go to the hospital. When he walked into her room, we’re told, a blindsided Britney walked out — and eventually came back.

Maybe Dr. Phil’s defense can be that he was an invited family guest? I don’t think so. Further reading of that article reveals that Dr. Phil would like to do a television intervention of the pop-star anonymous celebrity patient.

Hmm.. so Dr. Phil comes in at the request of the patient’s parent. And then he decides to use this opportunity to generate some publicity for his television show?!? Who in the world got him on the air?? Oh, wait.. Oprah! Oprah needs to pull him in for a little sit-down.

I’m glad to see that I’m not the only one thinking that this was inappropriate. Another article at TMZ reports that many psychiatrists have criticized both Dr. Phil and Cedars-Sinai.

the hospital should not allow any doctor who does not have in-patient privileges into a patient’s room, unless that patient has given prior consent. TMZ has learned Britney had no idea Dr. Phil was coming to her room and indeed when he walked in she became agitated and walked out.

The psychiatrists were pretty much unified in their opinions. One claimed to be “outraged and disgusted” about the whole situation. Another called Dr. Phil’s actions “intrusive and inappropriate.” Yet another criticized the Cedars for allowing Dr. Phil, who doesn’t have practicing privileges there, to see one of their patients without her knowledge or consent.

Out of line. The whole situation was absurd from a patient confidentiality standpoint. When dealing with any patient, their privacy is so important. Which is why every single medical blog (at least that I know of) has a very clear privacy statement. No patient identities are to be compromised. Doctors, in order to do their job well, must be able to get the complete story from their patients. And patients, in order to open up, must feel confident that what they share to their doctor will stay between them. Its a simple ethical issue, and a legal one as well.

*****

Update (January 7, 2008): Today (January 7) MSNBC.com is reporting that Dr. Phil has decided to pull his special on Ms. S. He said that the situation is “too intense” for him proceed.

Dr. Phil’s statements and actions have sparked a lot of criticism in the media. He defends his actions by saying he was not acting in a professional capacity when visiting Ms. S. You can check out the article at E! Online - Dr. Phil Defends Britney Visit, Calls Off Special.

Update (January 12, 2008): A complaint against Dr. Phil has been filed with the California Board of Psychology. The complaint, filed by another psychologist, claims that in going to counsel the pop-star, Dr. Phil was practicing psychology without a license. This is a serious charge, and one the board might hand over to the District Attorney for review because practicing psychology without a licenses in California is a felony.

Dr. Phil has never been licensed to practice psychology in California and retired his Texas license in 2006.

The complaint also says that a petition to remove Dr. Phil from the air is going around.

More can be found at TMZ.com: Psychology Board Investigates Dr. Phil.

Update (January 18, 2008): USA Today is reporting that Dr Phil still believes his meeting with Ms. Spears was appropriate. However, Dr. Phil says, that he regrets making a statement about it afterwords. Quoting from the article:

“Was it helpful to the situation? Regrettably, no. It was not, and I have to acknowledge that and I do,” the talk show host told his audience Thursday during taping of a Dr. Phil episode that will run Monday.

“I definitely think if I had it to do over again, I probably wouldn’t make any statement at all. Period.”

More can be found at USA Today - Dr. Phil says he regrets statement on Britney.

Sources: TMZ.com: Brit Blindsided by Phil — Hospital Acts Curiously, TMZ.com: Psychiatrists Slam Phil, Cedars, Entertainment Tonight, E! Online - Dr. Phil Defends Britney Visit, Calls Off Special, TMZ.com: Psychology Board Investigates Dr. Phil, USA Today - Dr. Phil says he regrets statement on Britney.

The holiday season is here. Are you trying to think of what to get that special someone? Well in the spirit of giving, I shall give a suggestion. For that special scientist in your life, or maybe just science nerd, you can give the gift of knowledge. Knowledge of his or her personal genome, that is.

A company now offers to sequence DNA commercially. Just collect some saliva and mail ship it to them. Oh, and don’t forget your $999 check.

Yup, for less than a grand, a DNA sequence can be bought!

Brave new world.

Oh, I almost forgot. You’ll want the link to the company’s website, right?

It’s 23andMe.com

Sources: New York Times