Doctors are judged by decision-making. If poor, you are sued or lose your license. If good, you receive a genuine “thank you.” A patient visits his physician: “I have a stomachache after eating clams last night.” He is quickly sent home after a cursory exam with a diagnosis of “gastroenteritis,”...

Much of my success as a doctor came from the nurses around me. Skills such as inserting foley catheters, IV lines, and changing post-surgical dressings came from the patience of dedicated nurses who took the time to teach a fledgling young doctor. I never had a Nurse Ratched, although some were definitely...

It is apparent the coronavirus mortality rate for seniors is higher than the general population. As the public comes out of isolation, older adults will probably remain in place for fear of becoming seriously ill. Therefore, all seniors should be adequately prepared for the pandemic long-run with this...

Growing up, our mother cut our hair. It was cheaper. The money we saved allowed her to go to the beauty salon … which she deserved. Initially, she used handheld army clippers, then an electric one from Blue Chip Stamps. (Look it up youngsters!) In my family, several relatives have essential tremors...

As an end-of-life physician, I know being with a loved one during their final moments is a deeply personal and emotional memory. This has been changed by COVID-19. Since the onset throughout the country, patients have passed away without family members. It is inhumane, and a horror story. Knowing of...

Some states have decided upon “reopening,” allowing the return of citizens to past freedoms. Politicians have accepted the cries of constituents despite increasing statistics of coronavirus cases and deaths. As a physician, statistics allow me to decide whether a patient is a candidate for surgery....

If you live in California and serve on a city council, county board, commission or nonprofit organization especially where taxpayer money is doled out, transparency is mandatory. Generally, there are two laws these bodies adhere to: the Brown Act and the Bagley-Keene Act. They guarantee the public a...

The statistics are coming in, and the trend is, people of color in our country are affected disproportionally by the coronavirus. Is this viral prejudice? Of course not. It does say economic background and lack of healthcare opportunity might be playing a role. “Might?” Of course they are. This pandemic...

My recently discharged patient was on a ventilator in the hospital yet thankfully was found to be coronavirus-negative. Typically, at home she is bedridden but not on many medications. Her drugs are expensive, so the family receives them from a mail-order pharmacy at a reasonable monthly fee. That pharmacy...

The Greatest Generation brought prosperity to our doorstep. Unfortunately, these same older adults statistically have a higher coronavirus mortality rate than the general population. Therefore, as social isolation and separation ebbs, the last group to be freed will be seniors. Some in this population...