When I see patients who I think are at risk of dying, I say to the family and patient, “You could die during this hospital admission. Is that something you’ve been thinking about?” Then you can go forward and ask, “What have you been thinking, and what are your expectations?” When you plant the seed that death may be the outcome, people have more acceptance.

Dr. Stephen Workman is calling for his brethren to man up and use more honest language with patients who are dying. Phrases like "critically ill" or "failing to respond to treatment" are on his chopping block along with other mushy non-diagnoses. Seconded? In [...]

The Med Student Dude is special for his intense prowess and belief that, since he got into med school, he should have no problem getting into anything else he wants. Within the setting of a bar between the hours of 12-3 a.m., the place of his desired entrance is, unsurprisingly, girls' panties! But because of culturally legitimated education, he's been conditioned to behave along appropriate social norms, masterfully avoiding "creepiness." He's also distinguished from other types of students or science dudes 1) by his pursuit of an esteemed professional degree, 2) his slightly advanced age, and 3) his graduation from the use of pick-up lines involving references to his [...]

Did you read this article in yesterday's paper about nurses making doctors mad because they have doctorates and want to be called doctors? Obviously, the solution is to call everyone doctor, Doctor.

A few months before your 31st birthday you’ll be lying in bed holding Animal Farm with one hand and idly examining your boobs with the other. With a start, you’ll notice something that resembles a robin’s egg rolling around under the skin of your left nipple. You’ll play with it for the rest of the day, and when your boyfriend comes over you’ll ask him to touch it. He’ll say, “Yeah, hm.” He’ll dump you the day after you find out you need surgery to remove it.

You’ll make an appointment with your gynecologist, and she’ll have the same “Yeah, hm” reaction your dude did, only she’ll also hand [...]