Total Failure

A quotation commonly attributed to Albert Einstein defines insanity as repeating the same thing multiple times while expecting a different outcome. Milton Friedman observed that, every so often, we should examine the results of policies, regardless of the good...

Outcome vs Intention

There is a great quote by the late economist Milton Freriedman. In fact, quite a lot of good quotes from him. I think the man was a um, a genius. But that's beside the point. One of the great mistakes is to judge policies and programs by their intentions rather than...

Money Talks

A wise senior colleague told me in the 1990s, when I was involved in some medical committees, “Never stand between your colleagues and a barrel of money.” Maybe that’s a little harsh. I think Paul Keating, when he was Prime Minister, made similar observations about...

The World Does Not Owe Us

The pace of change in the world this year is unprecedented. Virtually nothing can be taken for granted anymore. Yet the world does not owe us good health or a living.

Five Tips For Helping Your Kids To be Healthy

Five Tips For Helping Your Kids To be Healthy

One of the laments of parents is getting children to eat lunch. The number of lunches that are either swapped or not eaten is huge. It does not even seem to matter that much, what is put in the lunchbox. Even when children select and make their own lunch the same...

The Subtle Ways Of Marketing Drugs

It is way too easy to dress up marketing as being about your health. Patients, doctors and chemists need to get a bit savvier about the marketing of drugs.

Six Non Drug Tips For Managing And Avoiding Depression

Six Non Drug Tips For Managing And Avoiding Depression

Once again a large question mark has been thrown over antidepressants. A major analysis of previous studies shows that the effect of Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI’s) is no more than placebo (a non active sugar tablet) in mild and moderate depression....

Three Tips For A Glowing Summer Skin

Christmas decorations are already out in full force. This is always a good indicator that we are moving into a new season.A change in seasons also means that many people will switch to a different skin care regime.

With Prostate Cancer There Is No Simple Blood Test

The US Preventative Task Force has publicly said that prostate screening (with PSA blood testing) has no benefit. Whilst there is considerable appeal in the notion of getting a simple blood test to know if you have cancer, this is not the reality.

Food Influences Our Mood

Food Influences Our Mood

We all know that putting the wrong sort of fuel into the car will mean that it does not run well and may not even run at all. Whilst the body is in some respects “more forgiving” the fuels we feed ourselves will affect how well we function The connection between what...

Patient Support Groups, Pills, And Ethics

We all like to see worthwhile charities get funding so they can do their work and assist those who need help. However there is an old adage that he who pays the piper calls the tune. These are, in my opinion, serious ethical dilemmas.