Even with malpractice insurance, doctors opt for expensive, defensive medicine Some months ago, the receptionist in my clinic handed me a...
When a patient says she wants to sue me … – Washington Post
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Articles in Newspapers
Vacation helps us recharge and refresh – Commercial Appeal
Published: August 23, 2010 “A vacation is not a luxury but a necessity; it keeps us healthy and living longer.” Try that line...
Writers, like physicians, hope to stir improvement – Commercial Appeal
Published: August 16, 2010 A few weeks ago a young woman was admitted to the hospital with a raging fever, excessive urination and back...
New Medicare appointee is no stranger to Memphis – Commerical Appeal
Published: July 19, 2010 The new director of one of the largest health insurance systems in the world has been hired. He will manage...
Take steps to prevent severe harm from heat – Commercial Appeal
Published: June 28, 2010 I have fond childhood memories of my summer vacations in India playing soccer (we called it football), cricket...
How one handles life situations is telling – Commercial Appeal
Published: June 07, 2010 Last week, my oldest daughter graduated from high school and began her journey as a young adult. As a proud...
Big steps help end infant mortality – Commercial Appeal
Published: May 10, 2010 For every 1,000 babies born in Memphis, 12 die. This is double the national rate and similar to that of some...
Examining Physicians Part 3: High or low, room to improve – Commercial Appeal
Published: April 27, 2010 I rehearsed my lines as I drove up to an office in Midtown. I was meeting with a doctor who had been rated...
Examining Physicians Part 2: The good doctor: High-scoring Memphis physician practices patient-centered care – Commercial Appeal
Published: April 26, 2010 Dr. John Buttross reached over his office desk to shake my hand. He has a warm smile and a salt-and-pepper...
Examining physicians: How do you feel? Better choices, care are goals – Commercial Appeal
Published: April 25, 2010 Doctors play a unique role in our lives. They ask us to undress, and then they lay their hands on our bodies....
Close friend’s passing raises questions beyond the scientific – Commercial Appeal
Published: April 12, 2010 A close friend of mine, Tapan Thakur, died last week. As I tried to go about my routine of seeing patients or...
Health care reform from one doctor’s perspective – Commercial Appeal
Published: March 19, 2010 I don’t want to discuss the polarizing politics of the health care reform bill, which is now a law....
Bundled payments might cut hospital costs without reducing quality of care – Washington Post
A decade and a half ago, when I started my solo practice, I would say to my routine HIV patients, “Let’s see you back in three...
Pleasant thoughts can help you sleep – Commercial Appeal
Published: March 08, 2010 At 9 p.m. most nights, I put my reluctant 10-year-old son to bed. He frets and frowns, saying “I...
With Swine Flu Returning, Families Can Reduce Risk of Transmission – Washington Post
Last winter, a few months before the first outbreak of H1N1 flu, my 13-year-old became ill, first with a cough and runny nose, and then...
For Doctors, Rationing Care Is Standard Practice – Washington Post
Published: August 04, 2009 A seasoned pulmonologist shakes his head. “Let’s face it, we already ration care.” And,...
LETTERS : An Insidious Infection in Indiana – The New York Times
To the Editor : “Our Pigs, Our Food, Our Health,” by Nicholas D. Kristof (column, March 12), addresses a topic of paramount importance,...
Even ‘Snake Oil’ Can Help Patients Heal – Washington Post
Published: March 17, 2009 “Our conference was being held over lunch, but Pat, a middle-aged health-care consultant, did not touch a...
Want to Live a Bit Longer? Speak Up. – Washington Post
Published: February 17, 2009 “Did you know that women live longer than men?” I asked my wife. Of course she did — and...
A Skeptic Becomes A True Believer – Washington Post
Published: February 10, 2009 I was skeptical when my hospital embarked several years ago on an initiative to reduce the number of...
Once Detected, HIV Can Be Manageable – Washington Post
Published: December 09, 2008 Ten years ago, an intelligent, reserved software engineer — a woman with the complexion of Halle Berry...
Patients Can Join the Fight Against Flu Without Firing a Shot – Washington Post
Published: November 25, 2008 Last month at a luncheon marking International Infection Prevention Week at the National Press Club, some...
Elective Surgery Is One Thing, Elective Politics Another – Washington Post
Why the Presidential Race Should Skirt The Doctor’s OfficePublished: October 28, 2008 A few weeks ago, as I was making rounds on the...
Equal Treatment for the Uninsured? Don’t Count on It. – Washington Post
Lack of Compensation Can Tempt Doctors to Tailor Their Care to a Patient’s CoveragePublished: October 14, 2008 When I walked into...
Hospital Clash Puts Patients in the Middle
Published: September 16, 2008 From the patient’s point of view, doctors and hospital officials can seem to be a monolithic medical...
Some numbers to count on – Times of India
Published: September 14, 2008 Often at a family gathering or a social event the conversation moves to the issue of “how to live longer?”...
Hand Washing: Time Well Spent – Washington Post
We Need Carrots and Sticks to Reduce Infection RatesPublished: August 05, 2008 One morning on hospital rounds, I saw a physician colleague...
The Germs Are Potent. But So Is a Kiss. New York Times
Published: August 05, 2008 “I have been waiting to see you, and I want answers now,” my patient said angrily as I entered her hospital...
Family Adjusts to Rules of the Road – Washington Post
Published: July 15, 2008 Last summer, my oldest daughter, Sapna, passed a multiple-choice driver’s exam, secured a learner’s...
Praying with the patients – Times of India
Published: June 22, 2008 Iam a doctor of Indian origin working in Memphis Tennessee, which is often referred to as the buckle of the Bible...
Doctors Can Be Doubters – Washington Post
My patient is an elderly man with end-stage congestive heart failure, kidney failure and now an infected dialysis line, and he is unlikely...
Heavy drinkers, smokers face Alzheimer’s risk – Times of India
Published: May 11, 2008 Occasionally forgetting where you left your car or scooter keys or being unable to recall the name of a distant...
Musical way to recover from illness – Times of India
Published: April 30, 2008 Does music affect living beings? And more relevant to doctors and patients, does music help recover from an...
A Doctor’s Viewpoint Changes When the Patient Is His Father – Washington Post
Published: April 15, 2008 Each morning as I head for my morning rounds, I routinely hurry through the hallway alongside the cardiac...
Food colour making children hyper – Times of India
Published: April 06, 2008 Nearly every kid’s food is “decorated” or “tainted” with artificial food color and additives. While they...
Five easy steps to living long and well – Times of India
Published: March 16, 2008 Reaching the age of 90 and being in good health may be easier than we think, according to a new study in the...
Honestly, I Could Not Help Him – Washington Post
Patient’s Routine Visit Becomes An Ethical Challenge for a DoctorPublished: March 04, 2008 My patient had come for a routine doctor...
The biochemistry of Sudarshan Kriya – Times of India
Published: February 24, 2008 “If we reduce the number of oxygen radicals, we improve the antioxidant status in our body and live...
An aspirin a week… – Times of India
Published: January 27, 2008 Imagine a drug which can reduce pain and fever, spare the muscles of the oxygen-starved heart, prevent...
Essay : Putting Pay on the Line to Improve Health Care – The New York Times
Published: September 04, 2007 Every quarter I get together with my partners to review the performance of our medical practice. Like a...
How I Learned to Treat My Bias – Washington Post
Published: April 15, 2007 At our hospital in Tennessee not long ago, I saw my picture on the hallway message board alongside those of...
Recognizing a Sacred Bond Sometimes Obscured – New York Times
Published: January 23, 2007 I carry the card in the glove compartment of my car. It is not a Valentine’s card from my wife, or a...
Summer diseases – Shelby Sun
Summer is fun, but it isn’t without hazards. In fact, a surprising number of people become ill or are injured during the summer months....
American Cancer Society Reaffirms the Benefits Of Mammography – Shelby Sun
October is national breast cancer awareness month and October 17 is mammography day. If you are confused about the screening...
www.mypyramid.gov – an awesome resource – Shelby Sun
It’s very likely that you have visited the new food pyramid website, www.mypyramid.gov. How do I know? Because, the site was clogged for...
Mark your calendar – Flu shot – Shelby Sun
On Monday you have a hair salon appointment, on Wednesday it’s dinner at Martha’s place and Friday morning is your flu shot appointment at...
The world is flatter and fatter – Shelby Sun
The obesity pandemic – slowly and silently – is killing more people in the world than the bird flu may ever kill. In United...
Medicare drug bill – a step towards privatization of Medicare – Shelby Sun
The Medicare legislation being voted on by Congress this week hopes to bring the greatest change to Medicare in its 40 year history. The...
Meditation – not just for the mind! – Shelby Sun
Last week I attended a talk by Dr. Herb Smith a former Rhodes College psychology professor. He was teaching meditation. I am often asked ,...
Diabetes increases the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease – Shelby Sun
Last week, at a breakfast meeting Governor Mike Huckabee spoke about his personal battle and victory over diabetes. As the talk was...