Hip Fracture: “A Quintessential Geriatric Illness”
September 7, 2011
Image from the National Library of Medicine nlm.nih.gov I’d like to briefly turn readers attention to two terrific papers published…
A Study of Dignity Therapy on Distress and the End-of-Life Experience
September 5, 2011
Dignity Therapy is a brief form of psychotherapy developed by Harvey Chochinov, MD with a goal of conserving a dying…
Now I Trust My Heart to Lipitor OTC
September 2, 2011
The New York Times just published an excellent piece by Paula Span on a plan by Pfizer to make its…
Hospital Medicine is Part of Primary Care
August 22, 2011
There has been a lot of policy discussions about the emergence of the hospitalist movement. A decade ago, when a…
Should Clinicans Give Recommendations?
August 20, 2011
I was taught to give recommendations to seriously ill patients and family members facing tough choices. This was probably best…
Graceful dying – all is not equal
August 18, 2011
My dog is dying. When he was diagnosed two months ago with brain lesions, we had an open, practical conversation…
Asian Cultural Taboo Impedes End-of-Life Care?
August 16, 2011
Last week, I started interviewing clinicians who care for frail elders at On Lok Lifewaysas part of a study led…
The (Ir)Relevance of Medical Research to Older Patients
August 8, 2011
Research studies often are conducted as if older patient’s don’t exist. Even when the disease being studied predominantly effects older…
Are Antidepressants Ineffective for the Treatment of Depression in Dementia?
August 4, 2011
Depression is the most common mood disorder in elderly individuals with Alzheimer disease, with prevalence rates somewhere between 15% to…
Social Determinants of Accelerated Aging
August 1, 2011
Do you: 1) Make less than £25,000 ($40,926) a year? 2) Rent your home? 3) Fail to eat your vegetables?…