Category: Uncategorized
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Ritual
Whatever one may think about the purpose and utility of royalty in the 21st century, the coronation of Charles III was a magnificent but eye-wateringly expensive spectacle. It may be the last of its kind in the UK, and I do feel that Australia will become a republic before too long. This was a costume drama out-of-step…
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The Patriarchs by Angela Saini
When I was applying to become a GP partner in the late 1980s, general practice was a popular career choice for doctors in the UK. Competition was fierce. Each week I typed five or more letters to practices advertising in the British Medical Journal for new partners. After a few months and some interviews, it became apparent that, while…
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Shared decision making: it takes two
Of the many articles I read each year, only a few have an immediate and lasting impact on the way I practise. Two papers had a great effect on me as a GP and educator in 1999. The topic of both was shared decision making. I am from a generation of medical students who did not…
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Bad news and emotions: caring for others and self
Sometimes it seems that there is only bad news and on days like those it is harder to remember the heart-warming events of my health professional life. Distressing episodes are more likely to pop into my mind and are more poignant. My earliest memory of having to break bad news as a doctor was during my…
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Babel – big themes wrapped in an gripping story
This is a work of speculative fiction set mainly amongst the ivory towers of Oxford in 1830s England. Babel is one such tower, officially known as the Royal Institute of Translation, which is rich with silver rather than ivory. Herein is the industrial revolution, the opium wars in China and the lack of opportunity for…
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Learning from stories: ghosts and devils
Humans love stories. We love both telling and listening to stories. People particularly seem to like stories about health and illness, and about real and fictional health professionals doing their jobs. Television, film and literature are awash with medical dramas and autobiographical narratives that influence the way health care is perceived. Health professionals like to swap stories of…
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A little more uncertainty
Uncertainty and not being able to handle uncertainty appropriately have costs for patients and health professionals. Practising in isolation is now uncommon though there are still clinics with a solo health practitioner. Practising within a trusted team may help with uncertainty as discussing patients with colleagues and seeking different points of view draws on a…
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Opioids, pain and the power of marketing
Fascinating book about the Sackler family, Big Pharma and the opioid crisis
Health professional education and practice 