Category Archives: Uncategorized

Remember: Suicidal Killers Are Suicidal

Posted on Wednesday, January 16, 2013

In the book review section of the New York Times, Andrew Solomon poses a reflection on Adam Lanza, the deranged elementary school shooter in Connecticut: “If we want to stem violence, we need to begin by stemming despair.” How we … Continue reading →

Posted in Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

What Homer Simpson Can Teach Oncologists About Math

Posted on Friday, January 11, 2013

Let’s warm up with a quick arithmetic problem, which I want you to do in your head. What is one thousand plus forty? Now add another thousand And thirty more Plus twenty Plus another thousand And finally, add an additional … Continue reading →

Posted in Medical Decision Making, Uncategorized | Tagged ,

My Take on Shared Decision Making

Posted on Wednesday, September 12, 2012

Put simply, shared decision making is the gold standard — the sine qua non* — for how medical decisions ought to be made. The pipe medical choice is rarely a function of medical facts alone. Tough decisions require value judgments, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Autographed Copies of Critical Decisions Available

Posted on Friday, September 7, 2012

I’m happy to say that my favorite independent bookstore, Flyleaf Books, is working with me to make autographed copies of Critical Decisions available to anyone who orders through them. You can order on their website: www.flyleafbooks.com If you do, add … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Decisions, Uncategorized

Physicians, Psychopaths, and Reality T.V. Stars

Posted on Thursday, September 6, 2012

Charlotte Scott had an eye for madness—for just the right amount of madness.  As a booker for The Springer Show, her job was to find—and forgive me if I’m getting too technical here—minor nut jobs, the kind of people who were … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Video Introduction to Critical Decisions

Posted on Wednesday, September 5, 2012
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7vWFY1ZzKNs&feature=youtu.be

Want a sneak peak into why I wrote Critical Decisions? Take a look at this 5 minute video. Feel free to send links to all your friends, so they won’t fall behind the times! Bookmark on Delicious Digg this post … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Decisions, Medical Decision Making, Uncategorized

Critical Decisions is Finally Available for Public Consumption!

Posted on Tuesday, September 4, 2012

At long last, my new book Critical Decisions is out there, ready to reach (fingers crossed!) a wide and appreciative audience. I’m really excited about this book. It pulls together ideas that have been smoldering in my brain for two … Continue reading →

Posted in Critical Decisions, Medical Decision Making, Uncategorized

Should Chemotherapy Cost More on Hot Days?

Posted on Wednesday, August 29, 2012

It was 93 degrees and humid.  Jimmy Lawrence put his first five quarters into the vending machine and selected a Coke.  The machine refused to give him his beverage.  Because the temperature was more than 90 degrees, the computer program … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized

Does Your Oncologist Care About Your Quality of Life?

Posted on Thursday, July 19, 2012

Facing advanced cancer, who among us wouldn’t look to our oncologist for expert advice on whether another round of chemotherapy makes sense?  But do you know what your oncologist cares about, and can you be sure her recommendations map onto … Continue reading →

Posted in Behavioral Economics and Public Policy, Medical Decision Making, Uncategorized

The Early Hours After the SCOTUS Decision

Posted on Friday, June 29, 2012

See my local TV interview in the early hours after the SCOTUS decision on the individual mandate

And see some of my quotes from local and national reporters at the links below:

The Herald Sun

Triangle Business Journal

Washington Post Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized