Thursday, January 26, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
A vigorous argument against sexual "performance enhancing" drug use in youth
Here's an interesting quotation from a 2004 NEJM piece by Morgentaler on the treatment of erectile dysfunction.
"...the effects of the recreational use of PDE 5 inhibitors have not been well studied. My major concern is the psychological impact of taking these medications for younger men who are not yet in a stable relationship. I have seen cases where men who lack for nothing except confidence secretly take sildenafil every time they go on a date, in the hope that it will help them please their partner. However, this can create obstacles for a solid intimate relationship. Apart from issues of authenticity, trust, and honesty, it seems to me that the key psychological cost of using sildenafil recreationally is that, by relying on a pharmacologic enhancement to his sexuality, a man loses an opportunity to achieve what we all look for in relationships—namely, to be loved and accepted for whom we really are."
That's some sincerity right there...now, whether you agree with the degree of passion in that statement.
(h/t UCLA IM Residency program IMS morning conference, 1/19/2012).
"...the effects of the recreational use of PDE 5 inhibitors have not been well studied. My major concern is the psychological impact of taking these medications for younger men who are not yet in a stable relationship. I have seen cases where men who lack for nothing except confidence secretly take sildenafil every time they go on a date, in the hope that it will help them please their partner. However, this can create obstacles for a solid intimate relationship. Apart from issues of authenticity, trust, and honesty, it seems to me that the key psychological cost of using sildenafil recreationally is that, by relying on a pharmacologic enhancement to his sexuality, a man loses an opportunity to achieve what we all look for in relationships—namely, to be loved and accepted for whom we really are."
That's some sincerity right there...now, whether you agree with the degree of passion in that statement.
(h/t UCLA IM Residency program IMS morning conference, 1/19/2012).
Sunday, January 08, 2012
Saturday, January 07, 2012
Charges filed
The unspeakable, tragic death of Sheri Sangji, hit especially close to home to the bloggers on this site: the accident (which left Sangji burned over half of her body) occurred in an Organic Chemistry laboratory at UCLA. And Sheri was an alumna of the Pomona College Chemistry Department, of which Anthony and I were also graduates.
At this time, I do not wish to re-hash the details of her accident, aftermath, death; nor the policies and procedures enacted at UCLA as a result. But in the last two days, some newsworthy developments have taken place. Criminal charges have been filed against both UCLA and the principal investigator of the laboratory in which Sangji worked. This is unprecedented indeed; and Sheri's death was unimaginably tragic for those closest to her. I don't know what else to say.
At this time, I do not wish to re-hash the details of her accident, aftermath, death; nor the policies and procedures enacted at UCLA as a result. But in the last two days, some newsworthy developments have taken place. Criminal charges have been filed against both UCLA and the principal investigator of the laboratory in which Sangji worked. This is unprecedented indeed; and Sheri's death was unimaginably tragic for those closest to her. I don't know what else to say.
Friday, January 06, 2012
Economics
I just finished reading Economics in One Lesson, a veritable manifesto of libertarian economics by "Austrian" Henry Hazlitt.
I strongly recommend everyone gain some basic understanding of economics, and although this book was pretty slanted toward "free market," "no government," and all the other tenants of libertarianism, it was thought-provoking. And It forced me to wrestle with assumptions I've had about various government programs over the years.
The point is not to read (and understand) basic economic texts with the hope of becoming indoctrinated. That's easy. The point is to just learn and understand some basic stuff that a large chunk of the population have never considered, save for taking basic econ in high school. And I'm not claiming this based on elitism, just based on how many conversations I've had with people where economics are fundamentally misunderstood.
I strongly recommend everyone gain some basic understanding of economics, and although this book was pretty slanted toward "free market," "no government," and all the other tenants of libertarianism, it was thought-provoking. And It forced me to wrestle with assumptions I've had about various government programs over the years.
The point is not to read (and understand) basic economic texts with the hope of becoming indoctrinated. That's easy. The point is to just learn and understand some basic stuff that a large chunk of the population have never considered, save for taking basic econ in high school. And I'm not claiming this based on elitism, just based on how many conversations I've had with people where economics are fundamentally misunderstood.
Tuesday, January 03, 2012
New Year Readings
Oh hey, Happy New Year! Here are some excellent pieces on the current state of health care. First something optimistic:
Atul Gawande exposes a program in New Jersey which aggressively targets the sickest of the sickest patients, with early promising results for bending the health care cost curve. Obviously, it paints a rosy picture (usually the case w/ AG's work) but still it provides some good stuff to consider.
In another recent piece by the NYT, the disturbingly prevalent problem of patients staying in hospitals due to placement issues (lack of insurance, housing, or transitional care). I saw this all the time during the first six months of third year.
Lots to do. Lots to do.
Atul Gawande exposes a program in New Jersey which aggressively targets the sickest of the sickest patients, with early promising results for bending the health care cost curve. Obviously, it paints a rosy picture (usually the case w/ AG's work) but still it provides some good stuff to consider.
In another recent piece by the NYT, the disturbingly prevalent problem of patients staying in hospitals due to placement issues (lack of insurance, housing, or transitional care). I saw this all the time during the first six months of third year.
Lots to do. Lots to do.
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