Linkfest Today

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My latest column was published this morning in the USA Today.  Entitled, "Not all screening tests lead to early, better treatment," I talk about how early cancer screening may not be what's best for every patient. Here's my bottom line: "As much as we'd like to believe that early detection automatically leads to better care, that is not always the case. There cannot be a one-size-fits-all approach. Persuasive arguments can be made for and against screening, and the decision is a highly personal one. But patients must be better informed of the potential consequences either choice can bring."

When talking in medical circles, the term "pimping" may not be what you think.  It refers to how attendings ask nervous medical students and interns questions during rounds.  Done properly, it's a valuable learning tool.  However, too often, some physicians focus on facts that are mundane and trivial, and only serve to reinforce the hierarchy that exists in the hospital.  Here's a good post on the issue, discussing the various styles of pimping, and how students can defend against them.