Discussions

Breaking up with medicine
Dr. Matt Poyner, who took a year off to travel with his wife and kids before the pandemic, is back in Canada and has some thoughts about returning to medicine or starting a new chapter in his life.
BOOK EXCERPT: Damaged: Childhood Trauma, Adult Illness, and the Need for a Health Care Revolution
“I was having a shower and felt this lump” is the beginning of a conversation most doctors recognize. It comes with urgency, fear, and uncertainty. The silent communication: “I don’t know if this is really a thing or not. I need you to tell me to take this seriously or to relax.” It leads quickly to a physical exam—nothing else matters as much as the lump.

My experiences of dying

The death of one of our patients is often considered a failure to maintain longevity. It’s not a topic for discussion at the dinner table, or in the office. But, sometimes we need to go to difficult places.
I am a coupon

More and more of my time is spent signing forms, ticking boxes, re-writing histories, generating ridiculous prescriptions so people can get stuff for free.
Podcast: Four benefits of social media for physicians

Dr. Jennifer Kwan, a family physician based out of Ontario, tells us about four reasons for physicians to utilize social media.
Around 11,000 cases among B.C. healthcare workers since COVID-19 began

There are about 126,400 healthcare workers in B.C. so 11,000 cases in the sector would imply that nearly 9% of all healthcare workers in the province have contracted COVID.
POLL: Are you thinking about retiring soon?

Take our weekly poll and see what your colleagues are saying about this question.
Do I really need to be making the case for a third dose?

We're sitting on a stockpile and wasting doses at the same time. This wastage and surplus is occurring while much-coveted third doses of the vaccine are being restricted in most jurisdictions.
One day in family medicine

Dr. Jabir Jassam examines two parts of his day as a family physician: the joy of the direct patient care and the soul-destroying paperwork.
Unpacking the CPA's MAiD update before Thursday's AGM

Two weeks before its annual general meeting, the Canadian Psychiatric Association released an update to its position statement on medical assistance in dying. But former president of the CPA, Dr. Karandeep Sonu Gaind isn't impressed.