Croup or Psych or Both

I can’t stand when kids act out while they are having a medical problem. I am not talking about babies or really little kids but 10-12 year olds. It makes everybody cra-yee and the parents freak out. And you never know because it MIGHT be real – and it is a [...]

Yes, you have to Consult.

Well, we had another dump at my hospital. Once again, an arrogant, pain in the ass, sub-specialist turfs an inappropriate patient to medicine. Why? Medicaid for insurance. Oh, and I am sure it is because he just could not be bothered.

ENT on call (the aforementioned ass), comes in begrudgingly to incise [...]

The Worst Idea I can Think of

This article is so upsetting I cannot believe it. At a gun show in Massachusetts (one of the most restrictive states in the nation by the way) this past weekend, an 8 year old boy accidentally killed himself when he was “test” firing a full-auto Uzi submachine gun. Apparently he was being supervised by [...]

Talk About a Windbag.

So, the other day this 17 year old kid comes in for “abdominal pain and bloating for three months”. Mild intermittent pain. Great. Should have gone to his PMD but that is another discussion. Labs normal, exam normal except for mildly distended abdomen but no real tenderness. Was discharged. Came back later the same [...]

Define “Doctor”

OK, if there is one thing that annoys the crap out of me is when I go to see a patient and either they or a present family member corrects me when I say “Hello Mr Smith” with “That’s DOCTOR Smith”. It’s bad enough when they turn out to be an “all knowing” and [...]

Sh**, Sh**,. and more Sh**!

I generally find dealing with human waste unpleasant – despite that, it is part of our job here. I am usually pretty good at breathing through my nose and ignoring it but sometimes it is just too much. Imagine, a 60ish year old man – ex biker complete with all the tattoos, morbidly obese, [...]

How Many Stones?

How many kidney stones can one see in a 10 hour shift? 6 Apparently. The other day that is how patients I saw with renal colic – and three of them came in within one hour. Weird. It’s like they grow on trees. This is one of those things I never realised before I [...]

Alcohol or Drug Addiction?

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