This is a continuation of my rant against the FDA recommendation that OTC cough/cold medications.  If you are sick of that, at least do the survey on the sidebar.
So here is the rationale of the decision of the FDA and cough and cold medication manufacturers:

Cough and cold medications have not been proven to be of [...]

Posted in American Medicine, Rants 11 Comments »

This is a picture of a teenage boy with Gynecomastia. Obviously, gynecomastia is an abnormal enlargement of the male breasts. It happens in some teenagers - and is worse in those with obesity. Just how cruel do you think these kids are treated in high school and middle school?
I have a young boy who is [...]

Posted in American Medicine, Being a Doctor, Pediatrics, Rants 13 Comments »

I think I am starting to jump on the bandwagon driven by Sandy at Junkfood Science. It seems there are more and more articles coming out publicly that decry the problem of obesity in a way that goes beyond the science of the issue. It seems that there is a cultural war against obesity [...]

Posted in American Medicine, Rants 1 Comment »

The party-line statement for the pharmaceutical industry regarding the high cost of prescription drugs is that a large amount of money is needed for research and development. From their own website:

Significant time and money is needed to research and develop new, safe and effective medicines. [...]

Posted in American Medicine, Rants No Comments »

I am really frustrated.
I have a patient with significant chronic pain for whom I am trying to prescribe long-acting narcotic pain medications.  The reason you prescribe longer acting pain medications (like Fentanyl patches, MS Contin, or OxyContin) is to decrease addiction.  These medicines are to be used on a scheduled basis to help prevent [...]

Posted in American Medicine, Rants 1 Comment »