CBS – Anderson Cooper interviews Emeritus Professor of Medicine Ira Byock on “60 Minutes” about his views on physician-assisted suicide in light of a recent case in which a woman was arrested and charged with aiding her ill father’s death.
In the News
People with Severe Mental Illness Are Turning to YouTube for Peer Support
The Examiner – A recent study at Geisel, published in the journal PLOS One, found that people with severe mental illnesses such as bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, and schizophrenia, create a sense of community by openly sharing their experiences on YouTube.
At Dartmouth, Sidelines Robot Could Be Key to Quickly Diagnosing Football Concussions
NHPR – Dartmouth researchers have created a new approach to aid in the diagnosing of concussions during football games by visually tuning neurosurgeons into the games via a robot called VGo. This technology gives coaches far from a medical center instant access to a visual consult if a student gets injured.
Bill for Ebola Adds Up as Care Costs $1,000 an Hour
Bloomberg – An article on the recent Ebola diagnoses in the U.S. and the hospital costs associated with treating the disease. Cites the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care, which reports that health care is generally more costly in Dallas, Texas—where the first U.S. Ebola patient is being treated—than in the rest of the country.
Ebola Risk In Area Low, Experts Say
Valley News – An article on the recent cases of Ebola and efforts to control the outbreak. Area health experts agree that Ebola does not pose a major threat to New England residents. Associate Professor of Medicine Elizabeth Talbot comments on the chance of a sustained transmission of Ebola in the Upper Valley.
Ebola is bad. But the Flu is Worse.
Politico Magazine – In this contribution to Politico Magazine’s “The Arena,” Assistant Professor of Medicine Kendall Hoyt compares the ravaging effects of Ebola and influenza, and discusses the importance of preparing for a pandemic.
Medicare Penalizes Nine N.H. Hospitals For Too Many Readmissions
New Hampshire Public Radio – One in five Medicare patients treated for a list of common conditions – like pneumonia and heart failure – are readmitted to the hospitals that treated them within a month. Jeremiah Brown, an assistant professor at the Dartmouth Institute, says since the feds rolled out these penalties two years ago, readmissions have dropped. Quotes Jeremiah Brown, an assistant professor at the Dartmouth Institute.
For Women, Help but Also Risk
New York Times – Prozac’s introduction by Eli Lilly and Company in 1988 transformed not only the treatment of depression but also our views and expectations of pharmaceuticals. But was it a true step forward in medicine, or did it just open the flood gates to aggressive marketing and commercial branding of drugs? Lisa Schwartz and Steve Woloshin, professors of medicine and codirectors of the Center for Medicine in the Media at the Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy and Clinical Practice, participate in a debate.
Doctor-Assisted Suicide Is Unethical and Dangerous
The New York Times – In this opinion piece, Emeritus Professor of Medicine Ira Byock examines various scenarios of doctor-induced deaths, and warns about the dangers of this practice in light of growing support. Byock points out that “prohibitions on medical practice protect vulnerable patients and the public from the power that doctors wield due to their specialized knowledge and skills.”
It’s a Huge, Dangerous Mistake That Africans Are Underrepresented in Genetics Research
Fast Company – The article addresses the medical field’s lack of genetic data from African populations. Geoffrey Siwo, a TED Fellow and research associate at Geisel, is quoted saying that the lack of data significantly limits the understanding of diseases around the world. The article also mentions that Siwo, Third Century Professor of Genetics Jason Moore, and Professor of Genetics Scott Williams, have launched a project that aims to correct this imbalance.