25 Jun 2007
Personal comments by physicians distract from patient needs

For a quick lesson in "modern" healthcare, repeat after me - the physician is irrelevant, only the treatment matters. Doctors could be replaced by machines or trained monkeys, as long as they make the correct diagnoses. Health is purely a matter of objective physical causes, and has nothing whatsoever to do with state of mind, beliefs or relationships.

Now get in line, and get your health, which is, of course, sold by volume, not by weight. Just don't try to think of doctors, nurses or other workers in the system as human beings - you'll just distract them from "serving" more patients.

In well-intentioned efforts to establish relationships, some physicians tell patients about their own family members, health problems, travel experiences and political beliefs. While such disclosures seem an important way to build a personal connection, a University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry investigation of secretly-recorded first-time patient visits to experienced primary care physicians has found these personal disclosures have no demonstrable benefits and may even disrupt the flow of important patient information.

(link) [EurekAlert!]

17:01 /Politics | 1 comment | permanent link

Skinhead inmate kills corrections officer

Was this an escape attempt? Check out the dude's picture, and then tell me where and how he was planning on hiding after his "escape". Because I can't see escape as an option in this case. Unless he could somehow escape from himself.

An inmate stole the gun from a corrections officer and shot him to death Monday when the prisoner was unshackled for a doctor's appointment, authorities said.

(link) [CNN.com]

16:56 /Home | 1 comment | permanent link

Virtual Bubblewrap

I don't know if it's the "worst" gadget ever made, but it certainly has to be among the most annoying. I wonder if it comes packed in real bubblewrap?

Bandai Asovision has taken possibly the most enjoyable side benefit of having a gadget obsessed life and made it 100% legitimate with the PuchiPuchi, a gadget that emulates the joy of popping bubble wrap.

(link) [Engadget]

16:48 /Humor | 0 comments | permanent link