CMA Backs Stem-Cell Research The California Medical Association has endorsed the California Stem Cell Research and Cures Initiative that will earmark $3 billion for embryonic stem cell research to develop cures for Alzheimer’s and other debilitating diseases. That one sentence in Southern California Physician continues the confusion of equating embryonic stems cells that have never cured any diseases with […]

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? […]

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 […]