Choosing Between Life and Death During COVID-19: The A.I. Trolley Problem
Suppose you’re the sole witness of a trolley that has gone out of control, hurtling towards 5 people tied to its track, with no way to stop it in time. Good news: there’s a lever you can pull to alter its direction. Bad news: the other track isn’t safe either as it has one person tied to it. What will you do in this situation? Let the trolley continue on its initial course and kill those 5 people on the way or pull the lever to save them at the expense of that other person’s life?
Source: https://www.lionsroar.com/
This ethical thought experiment, known as the Trolley Problem, was put forth by Philippa Foot b...
Source: The Medical Futurist - May 14, 2020 Category: Information Technology Authors: Prans Tags: Artificial Intelligence Bioethics Future of Medicine Healthcare Policy covid19 Source Type: blogs
COVID-19 and Autistic Children
In conclusion, none of us planned for this terrible virus to circle the globe. And none of us could anticipate how dangerous maintaining close social contact could become. We, like most, are simply making the best of a horrific situation.
COVID-19 is bad, but it’s much worse if you’re autistic. You are simply one step more removed from people, and this, although significantly detrimental, can be compensated for with a little love and creativity. (Source: World of Psychology)
Source: World of Psychology - May 7, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Laura Yeager Tags: Aspergers Autism Children and Teens Parenting Personal Autism Spectrum Autistic Children coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic Source Type: blogs
Who Has A Right to Know A Person is COVID Positive: Lessons from HIV
by Craig Klugman, Ph.D.
In a lawsuit this week, a judge in Cook County (IL) ruled against a suburban that wanted to force the county “to share the addresses of coronavirus patients”. The judge justified the ruling by explaining concerns about keeping privacy and preventing discrimination. The EMS system feels this information is necessary so that “first responders can take adequate precautions”. Hearing about this debate stirred memories of similar debates 35 years ago over whether the names and addresses of HIV positive patients should be publicized.… (Source: blog.bioethics.net)
Source: blog.bioethics.net - May 6, 2020 Category: Medical Ethics Authors: Craig Klugman Tags: Cultural Decision making Featured Posts Health Regulation & Law HIV/AIDS Privacy Public Health #covid19 #diaryofaplagueyear COVID-19 Source Type: blogs
The patient who gave me back my humanity
His breathing was rapid and shallow; O2 in place, his eyes stared at the ceiling of the hospital room. He was a soldier in his late 20s, his once strong body now emaciated, a shell of its former self. His arms rested on top of the bedsheet, bluish nodular lesions of Kaposi ’s sarcoma landscaping them […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 4, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/andy-lamb" rel="tag" > Andy Lamb, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Physician COVID-19 coronavirus HIV/AIDS Hospital-Based Medicine Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
Physician risk during COVID-19: reflections from the AIDS epidemic
A guest column by the American College of Physicians, exclusive to KevinMD. If nothing else, the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has brought crystal clarity to something that all physicians are aware of but don ’t often think about – that because we deal closely with communicable diseases, physicians (along with other health care workers) are clearly at […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - May 4, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/philip-a-masters" rel="tag" > Philip A. Masters, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Physician COVID-19 coronavirus Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
Part Two: Mastering Wrist Arthrocentesis
We discussed the initial approach to the red, hot swollen wrist joint last month, and this month we focus on arthrocentesis of the joint with a full video of the procedure, including ultrasound and joint aspiration.A swollen, painful wrist that is hot to the touch with scant erythema is concerning for septic arthritis. The patient had multiple Band-Aids on his fingertips from blood glucose testing for diabetes, which increased his chances of having a septic joint with the punctures serving as an entry site for infection. Photo by Martha Roberts.The ProcedureIdentify the swollen joint, review the differential diagnosis, ...
Source: The Procedural Pause - May 1, 2020 Category: Emergency Medicine Tags: Blog Posts Source Type: blogs
Strategies to support teens and young adults with autism spectrum disorder during COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has been described as “the war of our generation.” Millions of families are bravely waging war on COVID-19 by rising to the many challenges of social distancing, including upended school and work routines, financial insecurity, and inability to see loved ones, all compounded by the uncertainty of how long this will last. These challenges are likely magnified for those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Features of ASD, including impaired social and communication skills, repetitive behaviors, and insistence on sameness, can make it very difficult to understand social distancing, express distress,...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 24, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Robyn Thom, MD Tags: Adolescent health Mental Health Neurological conditions Parenting Source Type: blogs
What ’ s The Difference Between a Face Mask and a Condom?
Cloth surgical masks were first used in the late 19th century and were replaced by modern masks during the 1960s. Surgeons do not wear masks to protect themselves from the patient, but to protect the patient from their own oral and nasal bacteria.
In any case, masks do protect the users themselves. A variety of masks are currently marketed in a wide range of design, material, filtering specifications, and prices. Both cloth and paper masks will offer protection against COVID-19…. but not one-hundred-percent protection. For this reason, we must observe additional precautions such as social distancing, hand washing, etc...
Source: GIDEON blog - April 22, 2020 Category: Databases & Libraries Authors: Kristina Symes Tags: Epidemiology Outbreaks Tips Source Type: blogs
Is Your Parent's Muddled Thinking Due to Too Many Medications?
By the time Janet Johnson’s father reached his mid-80s, he was on so many medications their names are now impossible to recall. There were pills for managing his cholesterol, blood pressure, and asthma, says Johnson, an administrative assistant who lives near Minneapolis. Other drugs helped with his sleep problems and treated his type 2 diabetes. There were more, too, but who can remember? One thing was certain though: As the number of prescriptions increased, his health seemed to get worse. “As he aged, he fell often and was confused. It was awful,” Johnson remembers.
Continue reading on HealthCentral for more infor...
Source: Minding Our Elders - April 15, 2020 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Mental and Emotional Benefits to Having a Pet
Many find fulfillment in taking on the responsibility of having a pet and for good reason. Animals have a unique ability to bring us a quiet sense of joy and peace, without using any words at all. Dogs, especially, seem to develop an unconditional loyalty to their caregivers, but all pets have the potential to offer mental and emotional benefits.
Caring for something besides ourselves gives us a sense of purpose and fulfillment. It is also a responsibility that can supersede feelings of depression or anxiety. Oftentimes someone who is depressed or chronically anxious may struggle with caring for him or herself, but caring ...
Source: World of Psychology - April 15, 2020 Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Bonnie McClure Tags: Mental Health and Wellness anxiety coronavirus pet adoption Pets Source Type: blogs
New to Caregiving? Where to Begin
Dear Candid Caregiver: My parents are both in their late 70s and doing quite well but I see that the need for making decisions about their futures, or at least gathering information, is closing in. We live in the same community, so my husband and I have been helping with some minor things around their home, but they are very independent and hire out the most difficult jobs. However, with time, I know that more help from us will be necessary. When do I consider myself their caregiver? How do I begin? What do I need to know? – Potential Newbie
Continue reading on HealthCentral to learn more about how you, as a new ca...
Source: Minding Our Elders - April 14, 2020 Category: Geriatrics Authors: Carol Bradley Bursack Source Type: blogs
Do viruses infect bones?
Viruses typically invade our bodies through an opening. Think gastrointestinal flu, COVID-19, AIDS. Our bones, however, are normally protected from any outside exposure, so they should be safe, right? The short answer is yes and no. Of course, knowledge is power, and we need both right now, so here is a nuanced answer. Patients with smallpox frequently […]Find jobs at Careers by KevinMD.com. Search thousands of physician, PA, NP, and CRNA jobs now. Learn more. (Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog)
Source: Kevin, M.D. - Medical Weblog - April 14, 2020 Category: General Medicine Authors: < span itemprop="author" > < a href="https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/post-author/roy-a-meals" rel="tag" > Roy A. Meals, MD < /a > < /span > Tags: Conditions COVID-19 coronavirus Infectious Disease Source Type: blogs
Leadership During a Healthcare Crisis: Kaiser Permanente ’s Response to COVID-19
A Conversation with Dr. Richard Isaacs, CEO of The Permanente Medical Group and the Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical Group
By AJAY KOHLI, MD
Organizations aren’t built in crises. Their mettle, their history and their leadership define how organizations adapt and succeed, particularly in difficult times. Of the three, the most important quality is leadership. In this regard, Kaiser Permanente is leading the way in healthcare delivery.
I
had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Richard Isaacs, CEO of The Permanente Medical Group and The MidAtlantic Permanente
Medical Group, to discuss the strategic vision and gr...
Source: The Health Care Blog - April 14, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Christina Liu Tags: COVID-19 Hospitals Medical Practice Ajay Kohli Kaiser Permanente Mid Atlantic Permanente Medical Group Pandemic Richard Isaacs Source Type: blogs
Social distancing
I don ' t think I had come across the phrase before, and certainly I have been very bad at socially distancing. I have been finding it very hard keeping 2 metres away from other people at the supermarket shelves, or from other people walking in the park. So I have found it very helpful that supermarkets have been putting markers on their floors and at the tills!But is social distancing a new idea?A search in Web of Science Core Collection for the phrase " social* distan* " finds a lot dating back to the 1970s, but most of it at least is from the psychology literature, seeming to describe a psychological id...
Source: Browsing - April 13, 2020 Category: Databases & Libraries Tags: infection Source Type: blogs
Chemotherapy and hearing loss: Monitoring is essential
Treatment for cancer is a difficult time for patients and their families. While there are significant benefits of chemotherapy in treating and managing many types of cancers, some of the negative side effects may not always be so obvious. One of the potential negative effects of chemotherapy that you may not be aware of is hearing loss. Hearing loss caused by chemotherapy is generally considered a type of sudden hearing loss, so monitoring hearing before and after treatment with hearing tests is important.
How are chemotherapy and hearing loss connected?
Hearing loss as a potential side effect of chemotherapy is more likel...
Source: Harvard Health Blog - April 13, 2020 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: James Naples, MD Tags: Cancer Ear, nose, and throat Hearing Loss Source Type: blogs
