Discussions

Was my wife’s hospital care an anomaly or the new normal in Ontario?
Over the past few years, I’ve written several articles praising the Canadian healthcare system based on my own experiences or the experiences of those close to me. But my family’s recent experience has me wondering if the system is collapsing into third-world status or if this incident was simply an outlier.
Medical marriages
Doctors are people and people get tired, crabby, angry, hungry and frustrated just like all animals and humans. When you put that together with kids, a mortgage, in-laws, different sex drives, money quarrels and child rearing approaches, I can’t believe the divorce rate is only 50% for all couples.

Empowering pharmacists is about more than saving emergency departments—it’s about equity in healthcare

New evidence from our team suggests that not only did the reform reduce ED strain while increasing demand for outpatient physician care, but it also has done something neither side imagined: reduce inequities in access to care.
It appears family doctors are giving up

About one-third of the family doctors I spoke at a conference were at some stage of quitting family medicine. Given that Canada has six million people without a family doctor—which is already a disaster—it’s safe to say our healthcare system won’t survive if this happens.
One day of sunshine

With her class reunion coming up, Dr. Perle Feldman reflects on a study session she remembers from her medical school days which as held particular significance ever since.
Do kids really need vitamin supplements?

For parents of fussy eaters in particular, supplements may feel like a quick and reassuring solution. But are they necessary?
What’s the price of advice?

You know the drill. Something like this has happened to you countless times. How did you respond?
POLL: Do ‘zero tolerance policy’ signs work?

See what your colleagues say. Take our weekly doctor poll.
OMA’s fee schedule: A silent humiliation that weakens our profession

Dr. Jabir Jassam finds that defending his dignity cost him more than $250.
Case report: Wait times

A patient had burned her right palm on a curling iron, over a week previously, sought no care, but applied a series of over-the-counter products.