Talking with the Dying San Francisco Medicine has two articles on talking to terminal patients. Fran Moreland Johns, author of the forthcoming book, But I Don’t Know What to Say, explains “Conversations 101: How to Talk with Patients Who are Facing Death.” She outlines the questions and fears surrounding terminal disease in three areas. Assessment: “What do […]

Are Youthful Medical Idealism and Adult Realities at Odds? Philip R. Alper, MD, clinical professor of medicine at UCSF, writing in the San Mateo Country Medical Association Bulletin, draws an important parallel between the idealism of young physicians and the realities they experience during their training and early careers. Weren’t we all idealistic at one time? […]

by Ada Kahn, PhD The topic of stress seems to be discussed more frequently in homes, workplaces and schools. As today’s world becomes more complex in terms of changing economies, organizational structure, competition and safety, stress seems to be escalating. Issues of personal, family and national safety face us on a daily basis. Airline travelers […]

by Ada Kahn, PhD Injuries are a ubiquitous phenomenon in almost every work environment. When the field of industrial medicine began, the primary concern was to provide first aid after an accident, such as physical trauma or chemical body injury, and to diagnose occupational diseases, such as skin allergies, contact dermatitis, occupational asthma or pneumoconiosis. […]

Bay Area Preferred Physicians Starts Up! The Alameda-Contra Costa Medical Association is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a Super Messenger Model Organization, the Bay Area Preferred Physicians Medical Group (BAPP). BAPP was created by seven Bay Area Medical Associations (ACCMA, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, Napa, Solano and Sonoma) to assist physicians, as […]

Although our society is a century and 35 years old, we do not have good records prior to our journal predecessor, The Bulletin, which started in September 1950. During 1997, we wrote a column titled, “Yesteryear,” in which we included vignettes from The Bulletin. Since in 1997 we were unable to reach even 50 years into our […]

Mert’s Musing: Outlaw Eating? Merwyn G Scholten, Executive Director of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society, and author of the monthly column Mert’s Musing, is amused and amazed at the ridiculous way people use the court system trying to make society “better,” or healthier, or safer or whatever. Recently he discussed the lawsuit outlawing the sale of […]

Lawyers Win, Patients Lose Sherman Joyce, President, American Tort Reform Association, reminds the readership of Southern California Physician that the current de facto regulators of the American health care system are a small army of fabulously wealthy personal-injury lawyers. Doctors in Nevada, Texas, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Mississippi and New York are leaving their state because of increases in malpractice […]

What Do Women Want? Liz Szabo asks, “What do women want?” in Southern California Physician. When it comes to menopause, mammograms and premenstrual syndrome, many female patients prefer a female physician. In fact, many gynecological practices now market themselves as all-female. Shawne Bryant, MD, a solo practitioner in Virginia Beach who markets her practice as “healthcare […]

Mandated Interpreters Close a Physician’s Practice It is now considered the law of the land for physicians to provide free certified medical interpreters for any non-English speaking patient. Brian A. Shaw, MD, President of the Fresno-Madera Medical Society, reports that Dr. Kwock, the son of an American-born Chinese immigrant, and his sister have served for […]