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Archive for the ‘bio ethics’ Category

Knowledge minus “ego” equals wisdom !

Posted in bio ethics, cardiology innovation, Cardiology quotes, cardiology-ethics, Venkat quotes, Wintage cardiology, tagged , , , , , , , , on July 28, 2014| Leave a Comment »

As we practice this Noble  (&  Delicate )  profession ,we often tend to Ignore the  warnings  even from our learnt colleagues , Why ?

Wisdom ego quotes brainy best dr s venkatesan top inspirational

 

 

 

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Why some “Medical Truths” need to be so brutal ?

Posted in bio ethics, medical quotes, Two line sermons in cardiology, Venkat quotes, tagged , , , on July 10, 2014| 3 Comments »

I frequently  refer to one of the most famous  medical quotes made in last century by a Harvard professor Dr Herbert Lay  in 1969.

 

medical quote herbert lay fda modern medicine Five  decades have gone since this observation was made by Dr Ley .Mind you ,Dr Ley is not a lay person , he was heading the same FDA  which  he targeted ! I guess when Dr Ley made this  statement  there was  little commercialization in  pharma Industry . Now along with it  an entirely  new field of medical device industry has grown to gargantuan proportions !

I  wonder what Dr Herbert Ley would have to say as on 2014 !

Many modern  medical  professionals would   shrug these views  as controversial , pessimistic and negative forces of science !

Here I borrow my own quote from venkat@thoughts

medical quotes venkatesan ethics

 

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Over-Indulgence in private health care is a backward thinking !

Posted in bio ethics, cardiology -Therapeutics, Cardiology classics, Cardiology quotes, medical quotes, Morality in medicine, Two line sermons in cardiology, tagged , , , on June 15, 2014|

Shall I begin with a provocative quote (My own !)

Inability to think beyond  self , family, private life  reflects a backward and immature  state of human mind

How to eradicate this backwardness  we all suffer from !

I stumbled upon a book which made me wonder , whether  eradication of  backwardness is little to  do with education ! It lies much, much deeper in our cortical thinking influenced by  inheritance , evolution , culture and economy .

The stunning truth was exemplified  by  American political  scientist  Edward C. Banfield  .A must read for every one who have mind for society , community and the humanity !

In this book he introduced a new term to describe this self centered thinking as “Amoral familism”

“Banfield concluded that  human  plight was rooted in the distrust, envy and suspicion displayed by  them in  relations with each other. Fellow citizens would refuse to help one another, except where one’s own personal material gain was at stake. Many attempted to hinder their neighbors from attaining success, believing that others’ good fortune would inevitably harm their own interests”

Banfield theroy  and  “Moral Bankruptcy in Modern medical care”

I am afraid  there is a  compelling link between Banfield’s observation in a remote Italian village  to the current  medical  community   mind set who care only for their patients who pay them and keep them happy !

If you  think  education will eradicate social backwardness ,Why ?  one of the most highly educated community that form the noble profession remain backward in their thinking !

How do you explain  innumerable instances of hospitals ,  doctors shutting doors for  lesser humans  even in dire emergencies ! ?

Why do many of them  join hands with powers that can be detrimental to the overall health of the society ?

The stunning irony is , they do it  unashamed (with pleasure  at times!)  in  violation of the oath they take when they join the Noble profession. Shall we call it  as ” Moral Bankruptcy in medical care ?

Read further

Moral Basis of a Backward Society 
 
Moral basis of a backward society banfield

Highlights of this book  (Text from Wikipedia)

The Moral Basis of a Backward Society is a book by Edward C. Banfield, a political scientist who visited Montegrano, Italy . He observed a self-interested, family centric society which sacrificed the public good for the sake of nepotism and the immediate family. Banfield as an American was witnessing what was to become infamous as the “mafia” or families that cared only for its own “members” at the expense of their fellow citizens. Banfield postulated that the backwardness of such a society could be explained ‘largely but not entirely’ by ‘the inability of the villagers to act together for their common good or, indeed, for any end transcending the immediate, material interest of the nuclear family’.

 

Link to this book in PDF

 

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Best solution to all your complex medical problems !

Posted in bio ethics, Cardiology -Mechnisms of disease, Cardiology -Therapeutic dilemma, cardiology -Therapeutics, Cardiology -unresolved questions, medical quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on June 8, 2014| Leave a Comment »

critical decision making cardiology cath lab tricks coronary angiogram primary angioplasty ptca vs cabg acc aha guidelines esc guidelines

Answer

While our brain perceives  whatever option  we  choose is the best for the patient  , in reality it is rarely true !

The only comment I wish to make,  there is nothing called standard guidelines for complex and unusual problems .We need not be obsessed with protocols  !

Please remember , If you apply standard guidelines  in  non-standard situations  9/10 times we  are going to err !

So my  choice  would be, to  go with your gut feeling , of course  your gut should  be alive ,  up to date and periodically maintained !

If you don’t have the guts  . . . don’t worry  you have plenty of other options !

 

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Why Nobel prize in medicine is not given for clinical science ?

Posted in bio ethics, Cardiology - Clinical, Clinical cardiology, medical quotes, Two line sermons in cardiology, tagged , , , , , on May 23, 2014| Leave a Comment »

nobel prize in medicine 2

Why not Nobel prize for clinical  science ?

 

nobel prize for medicine

Nobel prize was constituted  to reward people or organisation  who make a  huge impact on the welfare of man kind. It is given in various categories  for  outstanding contributions in Physics, Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Physiology or Medicine, and Economic Sciences

Unfortunately,  there is a strong bias towards  raw basic science when it is given in the filed of medicine.Do you know  ,there is no Nobel prize exclusive  for medical science ? It shares with human physiology the only field included for Nobel prize in medicine.

Evolution of human  history reveals it is not the stunning  scientific discoveries that impact the mankind . It is  largely dependent  on how we  use them . It is true and natural ,invention of  sub atomic particles , decoding  quantum mechanics  and  trans-cellular  signals always generate great interest  than others.

In medical science, time and again we have seen problems arise in  applying fruits of scientific  research into  practical  usage in the patient domain  in the bedside.

What is use of rewarding inventor of  nitric oxide with a  Nobel prize , when billion-dollar nitrate  industry is thriving on a non existing  life long indication of  stable angina .

It is  surprising  to note ,  Nobel  committee does  give credit to wisdom &  intellect  while awarding  prize in  peace,  literary  or  economic sciences. For some reason it lacks  such a vision when it comes to medical sciences !

We have seen Nobel prize being  awarded to organization that strive for peace and welfare of society and community like UN ,EU  etc.The world health organization is the premier power supposed to provide and  regulate the health in this planet.I do not recall any time WHO  was close to  considered for the  Noble prize in medicine  !

Nobel Ironies

Nobel committee rewards  economists who point out lacunae in vital world macro and micro economics  theories.

Dubious men(Heads of state )  are decorated with Noble peace prizes  for preventing a war in  one geographical area while doing exactly the  opposite elsewhere !

In this modern  millennium  where scientific pursuits are contaminated and  many of the  research questions are misdirected or irrelevant , Nobel committee needs a through rejig in the manner in which  medical  Nobel prize is  being awarded. We know ,Noble’s death wish was to award the brightest mind with highest scientific  breakthroughs in those world . . . but

I guess Alfred Nobel if alive would have changed his rules .He wouldn’t  have imagined modern science would systematically devalue common sense and reinventing it would also deserve an award equivalent to Nobel !

Some of the medical  discoveries that deserve noble medical prize

  • States which excel in   school health nutrition and  other basic health programs  for the downtrodden
  • Doctors who promote bed side clinical skills
  • Tobacco eradication networks
  • Organisations like medicine san-frontiers which strives for basic life saving medication for all
  • Journal houses that specialise  on Medical ethics and clinical sciences
  • Medical professionals and institutions provide value education
  • Medical economists who expose the wasted financial resources that  widen the gap between sick and rich

How about    Nobel prize in cardiology  for preventive cardiologist  who successfully terminates a million statin prescription and restoring natural exercise directed lipid regulation in them  ?

How about  Noble prize for a noble  physician sitting in corporate hospital infested with all commercial ingredients who could resist and argue successfully  against   inappropriate tonsillectomies  and appendectomies ?

I am sure , such a man will be a  laughing stock  for most of us !

An appeal to Nobel committee

It is a wish , Noble prize  in medicine is to be included for people who do yeomen services in preventive and  clinical care and professional who carry forward the legacy of  caring for the sick with  clinical application of available scientific wisdom !

In this scientifically obsessed world , It will be a new beginning in the  way future medical research will be directed and nurtured ! Only then the true power of Noble prize in medicine will be  realised !

Reference

Link to Wikipedia Nobel prize in Medicine

 

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When medical morality . . . becomes a casuality !

Posted in bio ethics, cardiology -Preventive, medical quotes, Two line sermons in cardiology, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on April 14, 2014| Leave a Comment »

medical morality

Tree of life : When professional morality suffers a mortality . . . human health becomes a causality !

Greatest threat to the future of  human health is  . . .

  • Not from  exotic  infectious agents , bird flu  or  mosquito  fevers
  • Not from  epidemic of cardio vascular disease
  • Not from  thousands of  published  diseases in ICD code
  • Not from  aging population and failing  vital  organs
  • Not from  lack of availability of life saving  drugs and devices
  • Not from  lack of  hospital beds.
  • Not from  good sanitation
  • Not from  hunger and poverty
  • Not from  lack of para medical workers
  • Not from  lack of health awareness and education

But from  . . .

  • The way  health care is administered in this planet .
  • The way  noble professionals are created .
  • The way  trivial health  issues prevail over  major  health crises  that  wallop the health budgets.
  • The way by which  medical morality is systematically destroyed
  • The way   “concept of  health” is  sold  as a  buyable  commodity by insurance companies.
  • The way  medical journals churns out  junk articles in the name of research.
  • The way corporates indulge in  delirious pursuit  to  increase  bed occupancy rate of their  patient  ware houses (Also called Hospitals)
  • The  way greedy drug companies aim to increase the per capita drug consumption of  ill informed  homo-sapiens  by discovering  pseudo  drugs for pseudo  illness
  • The way   health insurance policies are misused
  • The way  rich spend billions for reconstructive  cosmetic  surgery while the poor die for want of basic medicines !

 

Link to a wonderful  article  on moral education for our kids in medical school !

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Who is an “extraordinary” Interventional cardiologist

Posted in bio ethics, cardiology-ethics, cath lab tips and tricks, medical quotes, Two line sermons in cardiology, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 4, 2014| Leave a Comment »

Interventional cardiologist extraordinary cath lab tips invasive great

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Happy new year to all . . .

Posted in bio ethics, Cardiology classics, Cardiology quotes, My favorite quote, tagged , , , , on January 1, 2014| 3 Comments »

Dear friends,

It all started in 2008. This is  6th year of my attempt to share knowledge in cardiology.The followers of my blog is the only  strength that sustain my writing .

Wishing you all a Happy , wonderful  and  a prosperous , New year 2014

But . . . please be reminded we don’t require a New year to bring a bout of happiness , it is sitting right in our minds every day  !

On this day let me quote my most revered quote of Hemmingway.

Ernest hemmingway quotes

Ernest Hemmingway the Nobel laureate  who was born in USA, Lived in Paris , fought in world war 2 , lived in the deep forests of Africa with wild animals during the fag end of his life .He had a Intimate relationship with Cuba,  made a passionate appeal to end the man made disaster called wars in this planet , before his life ended in 1961.

To connect with  this noble (Nobel ) soul  reach through Wikipedia Link

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When facts masquerade as myths . . . true scientists get confused !

Posted in bio ethics, Cardiology - Clinical, Cardiology -Pacemakers and ICD, cardiology -Therapeutics, Cardiology -unresolved questions, medical quotes, tagged , , on December 29, 2013| Leave a Comment »

Following are revered  facts  . . .  among the  “Guardians of   Cardiology” !

myths-truths-300x300

When false truths are synthesized to conceal a true myth . . . where will the poor myth complain ?Following are revered  facts  . . .  among the  “Guardians of   Cardiology” !

  • Primary PCI  is a greatest innovation  in modern day cardiology .Without this modality  most  STEMI patients will buy Instant  tickets to grave yard !
  • A cardiologist who intends to  thrombolyse  a STEMI is considered as a low quality cardiologist .
  • Streptokinase should have  no place in the crash carts of modern coronary care units.
  • There is nothing called “Time window” for rescue angioplasty.
  • VVI pacemaker  will convert an electrical problem of heart block into a mechanical one by depressing LV function .
  • Digoxin is an obsolete  drug even in well established cardiac failure with dilated heart.
  • Beta blockers not only fail to control  blood pressure smoothly , it often converts  a hypertensive individual into a unhealthy one  by it’s prohibitive side effects !

 

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Preventive cardiology : Cost of happiness is one Dollor !

Posted in bio ethics, cardiology -Preventive, Cardiology quotes, Cardiology Risk assesment, cardiology-ethics, Medical education, Preventive cardiology, Public Health, Quotes, Social medicine, Venkat quotes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on December 25, 2013| Leave a Comment »

CokeMini_Happiness_03

  It costs just one Dollor !

Harvard school of Public health has  recently  published some  hard data about  the adverse effects of bad diet habits especially the impact of  soft drinks on long term cardio vascular health.

soft drinks and impact on healthAnother prestigious journal confirms it . . .

risk of soft drinks and coronary artery diseaseThe ultimate journal for the cardiologists Circulation reaffirms it .

soft drinks carbonated and coronary artery diseaseWe  have overwhelming evidence , prolonged use of soft drinks
increase CAD (Like tobacco ). Still , we haven’t added the customary caution on the bottles of these soft drinks ?

Why  ?

My guess would be, there are powerful forces in  modern society that would love to keep  the  threat of diseases high in the  human domain  so that all  stake holders  make a profit .

The poor , World health instigation(WHO)  and various public health forums  simply watch it .If they protest , they are at risk of sucked into the loop of deceit !

Failure to reverse public health hazards  may be a  lesser crime  in modern days  . . . But , here comes  a series of  advertisements in Indian media , that is a strong indicator that human  intellect and the sixth sense  is going nuts !

It suggests , Do you want  ever lasting happiness . . . Drink  it  . . . earnestly believe  in it  . . . and drink again  !

Coca-Cola-12

I was also told  a shocking fact that , The beverage war in India has  started and the soft drink giants have heavily Invested to take it into the rural markets .Their aim is to  provide  “health  for all Indians”  by 2020 !

Concluding question

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