Tag: Ethics

As a hospice physician – in addition to my role as a doctor who treats cancer – much of my focus is on comfort care. Part of my motivation to ... continue

Last month, I wrote about the bloated, incredibly inefficient federal bureaucracy that eats up hundreds of billions of dollars annually in administrative costs. I mentioned that Obamacare was not ... continue

I recently came into possession of Angelina County Medical Society meeting minutes dating back 80 years, from 1936 to 1954. These archives were kept by Dr. W. D. Thames ... continue

Last month, I wrote about the role of the hospital Ethics Committee and commented that open and honest communication between healthcare professionals, patients and family solves most ethical dilemmas ... continue

For most of my 25 years in medical practice, I have been involved in hospital ethics committees. You may not know that ethics committees exist, or that there are ... continue

I am ashamed. I wrote that phrase recently on a Facebook post of two Finnish friends who are looking across the ocean with a combination of disgust and disbelief ... continue

This article was originally published at Houston Chronicle http://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/Doctors-must-reinstill-sense-of-duty-6733668.php?t=d4a64f80cb&cmpid=email-premium and is reprinted here with permission from the author (me). I am a physician. Being a doctor defines me. Whether I ... continue

Jupiter and Venus aligned recently in what was called a Bethlehem Star event. The next time the two planets appear this close together will be in 2023. The rarity ... continue

As I write this column, it is Saturday morning of Memorial Day weekend. I have been at my office several hours working on patient charts and mapping out cancer treatment ... continue

My father recently passed away from pancreatic cancer at age 81. What a devastating disease! He lasted a mere two months. Thanks to attentive physicians and great hospice care ... continue

My wife, Catherine, starting working for St. Cyprian's Episcopal Church as Parish Administrator about four and a half years ago. We were close to empty nesting at the time, and ... continue

Two articles appeared recently in major newspapers discussing how we can be more helpful to those who are suffering. The New York Times article by David Brooks (The Art of ... continue

In my January column, I wrote that we have an ongoing obligation to provide non-profit care locally so that Memorial’s mission of compassion, established in 1949 by our community forefathers ... continue

Physicians today rarely encourage students to consider becoming a doctor. There are quicker ways to start earning a good living. (Petroleum Engineering and Investment Banking come to mind.) But ... continue