Brian Day is hardly alone: Amen

This editorial correctly summarizes some of the implicit disadvantages of our current health care system. Yes, Jack Layton you love our current health care system, as long as you don't need it. And, NO, our current system is not fair, it's just not money that dictates the inequalities.

I can speak from personal experience. I had a referral to a specialist - despite repeated voice mails and faxes from me and my GP's office, the specialist's office DIDN'T even call
me back. Finally I was given an appointment by fax to my GP's office 2 days before the opening, and then it took over a day for my GP's office to let me know. By this time I was completely booked and could not attend. I finally just went to the clinic. The fellow glanced at my medical school bag and saw me right there.

I'm not saying privatization is the answer, but we need to somehow make our health care system service oriented. Imagine if a telephone company didn't call you back for a month? And this is your health care.

Getting googly and yes HIV is bad...but Hep C may be worse

Sad case...people infected with HIV (and hep C) from organ transplants.

Though c'mon media. Yes, it is definitely too bad that 4 people contracted HIV, but why did the author just mention the hepatitis C as an aside? If I had to choose one of these chronic diseases, I know which one I would choose...many co-infected patients are now dying from the Hep C complications (liver) not the HIV (antiretroviral treatments are getting better). HIV is bad, but let's not let it overshadow other contractable diseases. How many people know that there is only a 0.3% chance of contracting HIV from a infected needlestick injury versus a 3% and 30% chance from Hep C and B respectively?

And after my tough week last week, I saw this article:

I graduated university in 2005 - some of my friends went to work for Google. I think they made about 80K base (similar to investment banking base pay) and may have received a modest bonus. What's crazy is the value of their options now:


I won't lie...I'm jealous. Perhaps there is a certain amount of money for which I would forego becoming a doctor (hopefully not out of sheer greed, but rather to do cool charitable things with it).

Clutch move...I felt like this is what happened to me this week

It is not suprising to me that doctors have so many mental health issues.

Our future health...

Toddler struck by drug-resistant bug improving

These events are so much more real now when I spend time in the hospitals in which they are occuring. Parents make sure your children finish their antibiotic regimens!

Study Finds Carcinogens in Water Near Alberta Oil Sands Projects

Does anyone in Alberta (other than the residents directly affected) care? Perhaps someday the honeymoon in Alberta will be over.