“AI god Tells Medical-Industrial Complex: ‘Your Health Care System Is Perfect!’”

Mike Magee One of the top ten headlines of all time created by the satirical geniuses at The Onion was published 25 years ago this December. It read, “God Answers Prayers Of Paralyzed Little Boy. ‘No,’ Says God.” The first paragraph of that column introduced us to Timmy Yu, an optimistic 7-year old, who despite […]

Why We Need A Basic Medical Science Curriculum Online For Consumers.

Mike Magee Central to the ongoing debate over the “fiscal cliff” in the United States has been a discussion of the nation’s expanding debt crisis tied mainly to long term commitments to Medicare and Social Security. Of the two, all agree that Medicare commitments, compounded by an aging population, pose the most immediate threat. However, […]

Why Paper Towels Are Better Than Air Drying In Public Restrooms.

Mike Magee While you wouldn’t know it from the weather on the Eastern seaboard, it’s flu season. The CDC sounded the alert this week that the season has started early.(1) The main three strands are pretty severe, they say, and the flu vaccine is effective against the main culprits. Beyond getting a vaccine, most Americans […]

Minimally Disruptive Medicine: The Burden of Treatment vs. The Burden of Disease

Mike Magee At the core, the Affordable Care Act is equal parts rights and responsibilities. For the historic expansion of health services as a human right, we Americans will demand in return that citizens act responsibly. Defining individual, family, community and societal responsibility is complex. Doing so while continuing to honor the delicate patient-health professional […]

Will Doctors and Hospitals Accept Help From Watson? For Many The Answer Is No.

Mike Magee I’ve said many times that the American Health Care System is “intentionally dis-integrated”. By this I mean that the powers that be – doctors and their organizations, hospitals and hospital systems, pharmaceutical and medical device companies, insurers and others – will do almost anything to avoid national rationalization of health care and the […]