There was much buzz in the media last week about a recent Wall Street Journal article suggesting that more physicians are “firing” families who refuse to vaccinate their children. The article cites two recent studies that found that a range of 21-30% of physicians admit to this practice, versus 6% in a 2001 study. While this is still a minority of physicians, it seems to be a growing minority. Continue reading
As directed by new guidelines from the Expert Panel on Integrated Guidelines for Cardiovascular Health and Risk Reduction in Children and Adolescents, my clinic recently started checking a non-fasting lipid panel for all ten year olds. The other day a father asked me a question I had sort of been asking myself for a few months now. Is it really necessary?
It is still a difficult question for me to answer, and it appears I am not alone. Since the release of the guidelines, the reaction has been mixed. Here’s a quick review of the arguments for and against checking cholesterol for all kids. Continue reading
Kindness begets kindness evermore -Sophocles
One need only catch a glimpse of a political ad for the current presidential campaign to get a taste of vitriol. Change the channel and you might hear a reality TV show contestant viciously gossiping about a cast mate. Have we always been this snarky and cruel to each other? Have we always been taken in by this type of entertainment? Watching, rubberneckers at the scene. Or, rather, has there been an insidious decline in our treatment of each other? Surrounded by meanness, we take it all in. We become part of it. Suddenly, a snide comment at work sounds normal. Aggressive driving is commonplace. An adult bullies a child at the playground and those overhearing barely flinch.
All the while, the kids are watching. And, I can’t help thinking, what are we teaching them? How will they treat each other? Continue reading
My Two Hats 