tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33614463204299477982023-11-15T13:11:10.572-05:00Proceedings of the Galen SocietyA Bioethics and Health Policy Discussion Group at the UVA School of MedicineLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-76327150033203772013-09-11T02:32:00.001-04:002013-09-13T19:32:34.687-04:00Bioethics/Health Policy Club: Gender Pay Gap in Medicine, 12-1pm on 9/12 in Learning StudioHello everyone!<br />
<br />
The Bioethics/Health Policy Club, in collaboration with the Women in Medicine Club, invites you to attend our first discussion of the year on the topic of the Gender Pay Gap in Medicine. This event will be held on Thursday, 9/12 from 12-1pm in the Learning Studio. A limited amount of pizza and cookies will be provided to attendees.<br />
<br />
We are honored to have the presence of two faculty experts on the issue at this event: Dr. Susan Pollart, who works on women's issues at the AAMC, and Dr. Sharon Hostler, who serves on UVA's Committee on Women in Medicine.<br />
<br />
Subject areas that we hope to cover include the evidence for a pay gap, the proposed explanations for a pay gap, and solutions to the pay gap. Please join us for a respectful and informative discussion on this important issue!<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
<br />
The Bioethics/Health Policy Club<br />
Austin Sim, Mazvita Simoyi, Danielle Carroll, Long Vinh<br />
<br />
The Women in Medicine Club<br />
Molly Davis, Melissa Ogden, Olivia Moskowitz, Veronica Sudekum<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Hi everyone,<br />
<br />
This is just a friendly reminder that the Bioethics/Health Policy Club and the 1920 Society will be hosting a discussion on the Gender Pay Gap in Medicine from 12-1pm in the Learning Studio tomorrow, 9/12. We will be joined by Drs. Susan Pollart and Sharon Hostler, and limited pizza and cookies will be available for attendees.<br />
<br />
<div>
In preparation for this discussion, we recommend reviewing two articles related to the issue:<br />
1. <a href="http://archinte.jamanetwork.com.proxy.its.virginia.edu/article.aspx?articleid=1733450">JAMA</a>: Trends in the Earnings of Male and Female Health Care Professionals in the United States, 1987 to 2010 (Sep 2013)<br />
2. <a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org.proxy.its.virginia.edu/content/30/2/193.full">Health Affairs</a>: The $16,819 Pay Gap For Newly Trained Physicians: The Unexplained Trend Of Men Earning More Than Women (Feb 2011)</div>
<div>
<br />
(If you don't have time to read anything else, take a quick look at the <a href="http://content.healthaffairs.org.proxy.its.virginia.edu/content/30/2/193.full#sec-10">Discussion</a> section of the Health Affairs article, which may surprise you).</div>
<div>
Lastly, if you're interested in bioethics and/or health policy, want a copy of notes from the meeting, or wish to be notified of future smaller-scale events like Bioethics Bar Nights, let me know and I'll add you to our email list.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-Long</div>
Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-76599618766149274852011-05-31T01:37:00.002-04:002011-05-31T01:38:39.660-04:00Wednesday, 6/1 - The Ethics of Social MediaDear fans of bioethics,<br />
<br />
This Wednesday at noon in the Learning Studio, we'll be gathering to discuss the issue of doctors using social media, and all of its potential benefits and pitfalls. If you own or are thinking about starting a medical blog, you should definitely come. Michelle Knoll found this article to familiarize you with the diverse perspectives on the subject:<br />
<a href="http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/should-your-doctor-be-on-facebook/?ref=health">http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/28/should-your-doctor-be-on-facebook/?ref=health</a><br />
<br />
In addition, please take a look at UVA's current policy on medical blogging:<br />
<a href="http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/community-service/centers/biomedical-ethics-and-humanities/resources/april%2021%202009%20tip%20sheet.pdf">http://www.medicine.virginia.edu/community-service/centers/biomedical-ethics-and-humanities/resources/april%2021%202009%20tip%20sheet.pdf</a><br />
Hint: This is actually a tip sheet for current and prospective bloggers. However, we will have the opportunity to suggest improvements to it and even begin to draft the first official policy.<br />
<br />
Sound exciting? Well, announce it discreetly on your Twitter and Facebook statuses, and I'll..<br />
<br />
<br />
See you there!<br />
-LongLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-91869671008317167742011-04-27T02:17:00.003-04:002011-04-27T02:29:49.684-04:00Thursday, 4/27 - Physician-assisted SuicideHi everyone,<br />
<br />
To tie-in with last week's discussion of suicide, Bioethics Club will be examining Physician-assisted Suicide on Thursday at 12pm in the Learning Studio.<br />
<br />
For a brief overview of the topic, the University of Washington SOM's Ethics page has a very concise summary of the arguments for and against:<br />
<a href="http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/pad.html">http://depts.washington.edu/bioethx/topics/pad.html</a><br />
Did you know that PAS is legal in several states? The aforementioned website quotes two studies showing that one out of five physicians report receiving a request from a patient for aid in dying, so even if you can't make the meeting, it may be worth your time to reflect on the issue.<br />
<br />
Also, I'd like to recommend this chilling, anonymous short essay published in JAMA to great controversy, entitled, "It's Over, Debbie":<br />
<a href="http://web.missouri.edu/~bondesonw/Debbie.HTM">http://web.missouri.edu/~bondesonw/Debbie.HTM</a><br />
<br />
<br />
The following additional articles or websites were found and recommended by Prof. Chen to supplement our investigation into the topic:<br />
<br />
* The following website discusses PAS in conjunction with euthanasia and tries to give equal attention to all sides of the issues. This site also points folks to two other websites that are updated more frequently -- one that supports PAS and another that opposes it. <a href="http://www.religioustolerance.org/euthanas.htm">http://www.religioustolerance.org/euthanas.htm</a><br />
<br />
* Quill T. Death and Dignity -- A case of individualized decision making. NEJM 1991. (sparked enormous controversy)<br />
<a href="http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM199103073241010">http://www.nejm.org/doi/pdf/10.1056/NEJM199103073241010</a><br />
<br />
* Miller FG. A planned death in the family. Hastings Center Report 2009. (written by a philosopher-bioethicist about his sister, really makes one think about the distinctions we make between withdrawing treatment and PAS.)<br />
<a href="http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/hastings_center_report/v039/39.2.miller.html">http://muse.jhu.edu/journals/hastings_center_report/v039/39.2.miller.html</a><br />
<br />
* And finally, a recent newpaper article about Vermont's PAS bill interviewed the brother of the man whose death was responsible for Kevorkian's jail term. <br />
<a href="http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/96cf619fde8b4f5280b043482e88ca66/VT--Final-Decisions/">http://www.greenfieldreporter.com/view/story/96cf619fde8b4f5280b043482e88ca66/VT--Final-Decisions/</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-LongLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-77040796736326672952011-01-12T19:43:00.002-05:002011-01-12T19:46:56.839-05:00Leland Stillman on Agricultural Policy and Antibiotic ResistanceClassmate Leland Stillman has kindly shared with us his undergrad honor's thesis, which is highly relevant to our discussions of agricultural policy and antibiotic resistance. I've included his email below:<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
I have pasted in my abstract, followed by my conclusion, and preceding both, a link to the paper itself. I also must recommend the first page or so of my introduction, which to this day I find screamingly funny, and in particular the first two lines: "In 1522 Ferdinand Magellan completed his first circumnavigation of the world, proving to the Western world that the earth was in fact round. Though perhaps few noted it at the time, this implied a disturbing corollary; the resources of the earth were limited. " <br />
<br />
<a href="http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=selfdesignedhp">http://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1001&context=selfdesignedhp</a><br />
<br />
Abstract <br />
Environmental factors play a major part in human health. Environmental pollutants are often as poisonous to humans as the environment. Presently, much time and energy is dedicated to keeping pollution apart from human society, with varying success. But as global population densities rise, current levels of pollution will become inviable due to public health concerns. An emergent example of this is in the concentration of livestock operations. Recent changes in the structure of U.S. hog farming have resulted in an industry-wide shift from small or medium production farms to high capacity, “concentrated animal feeding operations” (CAFO). These operations have become the subject of intense debate due to air and water pollution, including odor, that can be nuisances or outright public health threats to their communities. In addition, the quantities of animal wastes produced and seasonally sequestered by these operations can be accidentally released via natural processes like floods, often with catastrophic results. Finally, the animals live in conditions of high stress and poor hygiene that are conducive to disease and so most operations therefore feed their animals antibiotics on a regular basis. Recent studies have found increased incidence of antibiotic resistance resulting from this chronic application of antibiotics. Current regulations have failed to resolve these problems, and in 2003 the American Public Health Association issued a call for a moratorium on CAFO construction. The purpose of this paper is to explore economic and legal solutions to this harmful shift in industry structure. <br />
<br />
<br />
IV. Conclusion: Final Recommendations and Summary of Research Findings <br />
CAFOs represent a severe hazard to the public health. Previous attempts at regulation have only curtailed symptoms rather than eliminating core problems. Yet neither scientists nor economists, who often oppose one another in such debates, believe CAFOs are the best method of animal agriculture. Decades of research have shown the CAFOs are not only unsustainable and wasteful in scientific terms, but economically as well. All that is required is a dismantling of current policies that enable the CAFO industry to out compete smaller operations. But as Nigel and Key (2003) note, changes to policy must be gradual or compensated so that farmers and other industry workers, and society at large, do not suffer from bankruptcy, unemployment, and sudden shortages in food products. To that end, it is recommended that government subsidies which would otherwise directly benefit CAFOs should be used to transition these operations to diversified farms. Indirect subsidies should be, if not cut altogether, then assessed to CAFOs at purchase; feed in the form of grain is the principle example of this. 55 <br />
Regarding externalities, the same gradual and compensated approach should be taken. A Coasian approach should be incorporated into the current regulatory frameworks, both to ease the regulatory burden and to allow individuals to reach efficient solutions of their own volition. Property rights should be delimited closely and firmly, with specific regards to farming, and keeping in mind that a certain amount of pollution, from noise to odor to runoff, is inevitable from agricultural processes. These measures would take effect over the course of years. In the meantime, the American Public Health Association's recommendation for a moratorium on CAFO permits should be honored by state and federal government, regardless of industry complaints. Furthermore, attention should be paid to specific populations at risk, populations in CAFO dense areas. If CAFO densities are seen to pose an acute public health risk in these areas, officials should identify key operations to shut down, if necessary. For decades, scientists, citizens, government officials, and industry professionals have recognized the problems posed by CAFO production methods. Free markets and well established property rights provide a solution that allows for efficient markets and protects public health. Hopefully, policy will catch up to the scientific research and recognize the expediency of this solution, and policy makers will put the public first and make the necessary changes. Hopefully, CAFOs will be a thing of the past in a few years, agriculture will have returned to its idyllic roots.Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-51622112987908269672011-01-09T23:09:00.001-05:002011-01-12T13:14:46.210-05:00Thursday, 1/13 - Antibiotic Resistance and Public PolicyHello all,<br />
<br />
This week, to tie in with our study of bacteria and viruses, we're going to talk about antibiotic resistance and the public policies that influence it.<br />
<br />
The main reading is a piece from AP about how Norway has dealt with the problem of MRSA and how other countries could do the same:<br />
<a href="http://www.physorg.com/news181461239.html">http://www.physorg.com/news181461239.html</a><br />
<br />
Next, we have a study relating changes in the strictness of Norway's infection control policy to the incidence of MRSA cases:<br />
<a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18029021">http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18029021</a><br />
<br />
On a different note, here is an article written by some investigative reporters who found ways to get antibiotics over the counter in the US:<br />
<a href="http://www.coreynahman.com/antibiotics.html">http://www.coreynahman.com/antibiotics.html</a><br />
<br />
This article in The Economist takes a more international perspective, exploring the link between trade barriers and demand for antibiotics: <br />
<a href="http://www.economist.com/node/12896714">http://www.economist.com/node/12896714</a><br />
<br />
But wait, we're not done yet! Nicholas Kristof writes in this article about the connection between agricultural policy and antibiotic resistance:<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/opinion/15kristof.html?_r=1">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/opinion/15kristof.html?_r=1</a><br />
<br />
Lastly, a final consideration to make. Here's a report suggesting that antibiotics in livestock can even leak out into crops:<br />
<a href="http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/antibiotics-in-crops">http://www.environmentalhealthnews.org/ehs/news/antibiotics-in-crops</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-Long<br />
<br />
P.S. Justin Barr recommends the following book-length treatment of the issue:<br />
Levy, Stuart B. The Antibiotic Paradox: How Miracle Drugs are Destroying the Miracle. New York: Plenum Press, 1992.Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-24437439101337846742010-11-01T22:33:00.006-04:002010-11-14T23:13:38.586-05:00Tuesday, 11/16 - Bioethics Lunch Talk with Profs. Chen and ShepherdHi everyone,<br />
<br />
For our lunch talk featuring Profs. Chen and Shepherd, we will cover many issues. Our professors have provided a plethora of articles for your reading pleasure, so we'll simply link to the MCM Course Website for those:<br />
<br />
Ethics of Clinical Trials<br />
<a href="http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/CourseSites/display.cfm?keyID=2191">http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/CourseSites/display.cfm?keyID=2191</a><br />
<br />
Ethical Issues of Laboratory Testing<br />
<a href="http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/CourseSites/display.cfm?keyID=2229">http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/CourseSites/display.cfm?keyID=2229</a><br />
<br />
Ethical Issues of Reportable Diseases<br />
<a href="http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/CourseSites/display.cfm?keyID=2241">http://www.med-ed.virginia.edu/CourseSites/display.cfm?keyID=2241</a><br />
<br />
...and more!<br />
<br />
[Article] <br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/health/research/22trial.html?_r=1">TARGET CANCER: A Roller Coaster Chase for a Cure</a> <br />
<br />
[Video links]<br />
<a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/02/21/health/1247467120632/a-patient-a-pioneer.html">Video Part 1</a><br />
<a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/02/22/health/research/1247467133833/last-chances-first-responses.html?scp=17&sq=cancer&st=cse">Video Part 2</a><br />
<a href="http://video.nytimes.com/video/2010/02/23/health/research/1247467149391/uncharted-waters-fragile-hopes.html?scp=1&sq=third%20in%20a%20series&st=cse">Video Part 3</a><br />
<br />
[More Articles]<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/19/health/research/19trial.html?_r=1&sq=roche%20tumors&st=cse&scp=1&pagewanted=all">New Drugs Stir Debate on Rules of Clinical Trials</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/clinical-research/">Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy on Clinical Research</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/health/policy/28fda.html">Report Assails F.D.A. Oversight of Clinical Trials</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://stroke.ahajournals.org/cgi/content/full/29/8/1725">Ethical Challenges in Stroke Research</a>Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-59669585368114831362010-10-27T02:45:00.001-04:002010-10-27T02:46:05.122-04:00Opportunity: AMA Ethics Journal Issue EditorsHi Everyone,<br />
<br />
Prof. Donna Chen pointed out a wonderful opportunity in Bioethics to me today. Check it out here:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/site/issue-edscall.html">http://virtualmentor.ama-assn.org/site/issue-edscall.html</a><br />
<br />
From the site:<br />
<br />
<blockquote>Virtual Mentor [www.virtualmentor.org] is the American Medical Association's online ethics journal. Its mission is to promote the ethical and professional development of tomorrow's physicians, and its primary audiences are medical students, residents, other physicians, and medical educators.<br />
<br />
VM serves as an educational resource for a rapidly growing number of readers. We invite medical students and resident physicians who are AMA members to apply to serve as theme issue editors. If you are not yet an AMA medical student or resident physician member and would like to join, you can do so online at https://membership.ama-assn.org/JoinRenew/.<br />
<br />
Each theme issue editor undertakes, with help from VM staff editors, responsibility for: (1) selecting a theme for one issue and defining the ethical and professionalism concerns inherent in that theme, (2) generating case narratives that provide opportunities for examining those concerns in clinical and educational contexts, (3) identifying, securing, and corresponding with contributors to the issue, (4) editing copy and reviewing page proofs before the issue goes live on the first working day of the month. These tasks will be accomplished at each editor's "home" location.<br />
<br />
Theme issue editors, selected in late November, will be flown to Chicago to meet with Virtual Mentor staff some time in February. Each theme issue editor receives a $1,000-stipend.<br />
<br />
Experience in editing or journalism is desirable. The abilities to critique an argument or article, work well with authors, and meet deadlines are essential. To apply, send a short letter stating your current medical student or resident program status and your reason for wishing to be a theme issue editor for VM. Attach to the letter the following:<br />
<br />
1. A curriculum vitae<br />
2. A writing sample of not more than 1,000 words<br />
3. Your response to the following exercise in 800 words or fewer.<br />
<br />
Virtual Mentor is planning an issue that examines disparities in medical care that are due to non-clinical factors such as ethnicity, uninsured status, living in a particular part of the country. Considering VM's mission and primary audiences, what ethical and professionalism concerns specific to this theme should VM develop? Look at the table of contents in one or more issues of VM. What cases and articles would you develop for each of the sections that appear in a typical issue—the clinical cases and commentaries, journal discussion, policy forum, op-ed piece, medicine and society, or medical humanities. How would you go about identifying prospective contributors to this topic?<br />
<br />
Be as specific as possible in your reply to this part of the application. It serves as our best indicator of how you would approach your editing responsibilities.<br />
<br />
Send your letter of application and attachments by e-mail to: Faith.Lagay@ama-assn.org<br />
<br />
The deadline for applications is midnight CST on Saturday, November 13, 2010.</blockquote>Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-32825988031337809342010-10-03T01:33:00.042-04:002010-10-10T23:32:55.905-04:00Tuesday, 10/19 - The Future of Genome Sequencing with Dr. BekiranovHello Hello,<br />
<br />
Dr. Bekiranov will join us in the Learning Studio on Tuesday the 19th, and we will also be providing lunch, so please bring your questions!<br />
<br />
Here are a few articles to stimulate discussion:<br />
<br />
-Art Caplan and Craig Venter <a href="http://www.economist.com/debate/days/view/284">debate the ethics of large DNA databases</a> in The Economist. <br />
<br />
-An Op-Ed in Reason Magazine argues for <a href="http://reason.com/archives/2009/05/27/you-cant-handle-the-truth">less federal regulation</a> of consumer genome tests. <br />
<br />
-An <a href="http://www.actionbioscience.org/genomic/carroll_ciaffa.html">overview of the ethical implications</a> of the Human Genome Project from ActionBioScience.org<br />
<br />
-Summary of an NIH/National Human Genome Research Institute Roundtable on "<a href="http://www.genome.gov/17516574">Policy Implications for Research and Medicine.</a>"<br />
<br />
-"<a href="http://www.nature.com/nrg/journal/v9/n2/abs/nrg2302.html">Research ethics and the challenge of whole-genome sequencing</a>." Yay for primary literature! <br />
<br />
<br />
See you there!<br />
-LongLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-78889085740397327962010-10-01T09:21:00.000-04:002010-09-30T01:16:52.136-04:00Tuesday, 10/5 - Embryonic Stem Cell ResearchHello friends,<br />
<br />
The topic of the week for Tuesday the 5th will be Embryonic Stem Cell Research, which should tie in well (pretty much directly) with what we've been learning in class.<br />
<br />
For the most recent developments in the current litigation involving the research, see <a href="http://blogs.nature.com/news/thegreatbeyond/2010/09/appeals_court_grants_stay_allo.html">this brief article</a> from the Nature blog. Nature also has a succinct history of the current legal scuffle <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/2010/100923/full/news.2010.485/box/1.html">here</a>, as well as an entire section devoted to coverage of the stem cell injunction <a href="http://www.nature.com/news/specials/stemcellinjunction/index.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I'd like to highlight the Opinion section of the previous link, where the editorial staff makes a plea to save stem cell research <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v467/n7311/full/467007a.html">here</a>, and the lawyer in charge of the plaintiff's case directly responds <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v467/n7311/full/467027a.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
Lastly (for now), <a href="http://www.renewamerica.com/columns/brown/100928">this article</a> captures the sentiment of those opposing embryonic stem cell research fairly well.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-LongLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-91422159690084000052010-09-16T01:15:00.001-04:002010-09-21T22:50:22.962-04:00Tuesday, 9/28 - The Ethics of Rationing***<br />
Update, 9/21:<br />
<br />
Pranay recommends an article by Paul Farmer and Nicole Campos entitled "<a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8ZQWBBhJX6eNmY2NmFiZWUtYmQyNi00ZDQxLTliZjQtMjQ0ZDIzOWU1YWZm&hl=en">Rethinking Medical Ethics: A View from Below</a>." The themes addressed dovetail quite nicely with Singer's "Famine, Affluence, and Morality," linked below.<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Hello you,<br />
<br />
To those of you who came to our first discussion meeting, thanks! You made it great. Next next week we'll be discussing a topic that expands on this week's conversation about the doctor, the patient, and those difficult end-of-life decisions: Rationing of care!<br />
<br />
This topic approaches the issue with more of a policy edge, so we're expecting a bit more controversy this time around. Pranay and I will be facilitating. The main reading is an article by Peter Singer entitled, bluntly enough, "<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/19/magazine/19healthcare-t.html?pagewanted=all">Why We Must Ration Health Care</a>."<br />
<br />
I will also include additional links for your reading pleasure.<br />
<br />
For more work by Peter Singer, you can find more than you'll ever want to read <a href="http://www.utilitarian.net/singer/">here</a>. Two articles of particular note are "<a href="http://www.utilitarian.net/singer/by/1972----.htm">Famine, Affluence, and Morality</a>," the essay which basically put him on the map of philosophical academia, and "<a href="http://www.utilitarian.org/texts/alm.html">The Animal Liberation Movement</a>," which touches on what we talked about towards the end of today's discussion.<br />
<br />
Here is an <a href="http://www.biotechnologyhealthcare.com/journal/fulltext//6/2/BH0602035.pdf"><span id="goog_1962669506"></span>interview<span id="goog_1962669507"></span></a> with Dr. Donald Berwick, the new Administrator of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, focusing on his thoughts regarding comparative effectiveness research and its relation to rationing.<br />
<br />
For responses and rebuttals to Singer's perspective on rationing, see this article, "<a href="http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123060332638041525.html">Barack Obama Will Ration Your Health Care</a>" for a mainstream conservative take. Blogger John Greene directly responds to Singer's article <a href="http://blog.johnmackeygreene.com/?p=433">in this post</a>, again from a conservative standpoint.<br />
<br />
For a decidedly libertarian viewpoint, see "<a href="http://www.capitalismmagazine.com/economics/5646-The-Market-Does-Not-Ration-Health-Care-Voluntary-Exchange-Not-Rationing-Part.html">The Market Does Not Ration Health Care</a>," an article in Capitalism Magazine.<br />
<br />
That should be plenty for now. If you have any suggestions for articles, discussion topics, or anything else, please contact me!<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-LongLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-81020405606339857102010-09-15T16:07:00.001-04:002010-09-17T11:53:55.278-04:00Tuesday, 9/21 - The Future of Primary Care***<br />
UPDATE, 9/17:<br />
<br />
Member Justin Mutter recommends two articles on innovation in the delivery of primary care:<br />
"<a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8ZQWBBhJX6eNTZhZmQ2YWEtYTZkNS00OTEzLWJmMzYtNWZhZTIwOTIxNGEy&hl=en">Community Care of North Carolina: Putting Health Reform Ideas into Practice in Medicaid</a>"<br />
"<a href="https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B8ZQWBBhJX6eYzliNThjMDUtZTIzZC00OGE5LWI5YjUtOTcwMmQ2MDEwYTM3&hl=en">Practice Redesign And The Patient-Centered Medical Home: History, Promises, And Challenges</a>"<br />
<br />
***<br />
<br />
Hello friends,<br />
<br />
Next Tuesday, the 21st, there will be a talk entitled "The Future of Primary Care in Academic Medicine" at noon in the MEB 3rd floor auditorium, and lunch will be served.<br />
<br />
Needless to say, Pranay and I thought this would be a great opportunity for our group to learn about an important issue in health policy (and also be fed). So we are moving our regularly-scheduled discussion on Rationing to Tuesday the 28th.<br />
<br />
But fret not if you really wanted to scratch that itch for health-economical issues, for here are a few articles to go with the lunch-lecture on The Future of Primary Care in Academic Medicine. It looks like a lot, but most of them are quite short and you can glean their point just from the headlines.<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/19/AR2009061903583.html">Primary-Care Doctor Shortage May Undermine Reform Efforts</a>" by Ashley Halsey III<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/health/13chen.html?_r=1">Delivering Better Primary Care</a>" by Pauline Chen<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/increased-primary-care-interest-not-enough-affect-physician-shortage-trend/2010-03-19">Increased primary-care interest not enough to affect physician-shortage trend</a>" by Debra Beaulieu<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-02-23/doctors-hours-fall-for-a-decade-adding-to-a-u-s-shortage.html">Doctors’ Hours Fall for a Decade, Adding to a U.S. Shortage</a>" by Pat Wechsler<br />
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"<a href="http://blogs.wsj.com/health/2010/05/04/study-primary-care-career-wealth-gap-totals-over-25-million/">Study: Primary Care Career Wealth Gap Totals Over $2.5 Million</a>" by Shirley S. Wang<br />
<br />
"<a href="http://www.news-medical.net/news/20100510/General-internists-leaves-practice-sooner-than-internal-medicine-subspecialists-says-ACP-survey.aspx">General internists leaves practice sooner than internal medicine subspecialists, says ACP survey</a>" (News-Medical.net)<br />
<br />
<br />
As always, your comments, articles, topic suggestions, and everything else are very welcome.<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-LongLongevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-64207414786794175212010-09-11T17:53:00.004-04:002010-09-16T19:36:12.345-04:00Tuesday, 9/14 - Hospice and end-of-life careHi everyone,<br />
<br />
I'm starting to see a bit of buzz on Facebook of people who are finishing their exams, so now's a good a time as any to send out this week's article, entitled "Letting Go" by Atul Gawande:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/02/100802fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all">http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2010/08/02/100802fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all</a><br />
<br />
It's a lengthy and comprehensive exploration of the current state of end-of-life medical care. Thanks to <b>Justin Barr</b>, who recommended it and will be facilitating Tuesday's discussion.<br />
<br />
Some questions to guide your reading (your LOs, if you will):<br />
<br />
1) What factors are affecting how patients and caregivers make difficult choices at the end-of-life?<br />
2) What factors are influencing how doctors make treatment decisions in end-of-life circumstances?<br />
3) What factors are contributing to the health care system's current approach to end-of-life care?<br />
4) What are Dr. Gawande's recommendations for improving the state of end-of-life care?<br />
<br />
If you find yourself in a time crunch and unable to do the reading, don't worry; we will do a 5-minute summary at the beginning of discussion so everyone's on the same page about the basic content.<br />
<br />
Lastly, you can add to our group's momentum by doing any of the following:<br />
-Sending topics and articles for discussion,<br />
-Sending ideas for other activities,<br />
-Being a discussion facilitator,<br />
-Helping me manage the blog (<a href="http://galensociety.blogspot.com/">http://galensociety.blogspot.com/</a>), or<br />
-Bringing your friends :)<br />
<br />
So let me know about any of the above! Otherwise, see you Tuesday (or sooner)!<br />
<br />
<br />
Cheers,<br />
-Long<br />
<br />
P.S. Counterpoint: A blogger at Discover Magazine argues that the notion that death gives life meaning ("<a href="http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/sciencenotfiction/2010/09/15/the-most-dangerous-idea-in-the-world/">The Most Dangerous Idea in the World</a>").Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-76525457789310130852010-09-07T16:12:00.001-04:002010-09-07T22:46:55.012-04:00Meeting Minutes - 9.7.20101. The purpose of the group is to become familiar with issues in bioethics and health policy and conversant in arguments from all sides, to gain a socio-political perspective on medicine, and to provide an avenue to explore our interests.<br />
<br />
2. Meetings will be on <b>Tuesdays in the Learning Studio</b> over lunch (moved from the First Floor Lounge for more space).<br />
<br />
3. Passed around the email list.<br />
<br />
4. Gathered topics of interest and discussion facilitators.<br />
<br />
Topics: organ markets, genetic engineering, stem cell research, human research, Unit 731, ethics of rationing, health reform bill, usage of expensive treatments/tests, euthanasia<br />
<br />
Next week..<br />
**<b>September 14, 2010 - Hospice and end-of-life care</b> – Facilitator: <b>Justin Barr</b><br />
<br />
5. Discussed opportunities for political engagement (Mike Hrdy).<br />
<br />
6. Discussed health policy and conservative perspectives (Katarina Nguyen).<br />
<br />
-Ground rules of discussion: respect person who is speaking; listen closely to discern perspectives; facilitator should be ideologically neutral but critically ruthless; goal is to evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of arguments.Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3361446320429947798.post-4234108164966475272010-09-05T23:17:00.002-04:002010-09-05T23:21:58.048-04:00First Interest Meeting on Tuesday, September 7thWe'll be having our first interesting meeting on Tuesday, September 7th at noon in the First Floor Lounge of the new Medical Education Building.<br />
<br />
At the meeting, we'll figure out basics like the topics people would like to discuss, how often we want to meet, and who might want to lead the discussions.<br />
<br />
Shortly after that, we should have a draft schedule posted on this blog.<br />
<br />
<br />
See you there!Longevityhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00718457307884800799noreply@blogger.com0