AB 890, the California bill granting nurse practitioners(NPs) the ability to practice without physician oversight, passed on August 31, 2020. With that passage, legislators have now legalized the illegal practice of medicine by nurse practitioners. The only opposition? Dr. Richard Pan, a pediatrician and my senator. His colleagues in the Senate ignored him…completely. I spoke…
Hey All, Good News! I have really enjoyed the cruise to Alaska this week now that Ralph is gone and my legs have returned home to mama. Bonine and “The Patch” are nowhere to be found but Zofran is hanging around in case I need him. Glacier Bay was absolutely the most incredible sight. Snow-capped…
When I was a child in the ‘70’s, there was a very popular series on the air called, “Emergency!”. It revolved around Gage and DeSoto, two paramedics associated with the fictional Fire Station 51 and Rampart General Hospital ER. In the ER was Dr. Brackett the ER physician, Dixie McCall, the head nurse, and Dr.…
Recently a colleague, knowing my strong stance against Full Practice Authority (FPA) for nurse practitioners, asked me a question. In light of FPA being recently granted in Florida, he believes that FPA in all 50 states is inevitable. He asked me if that were to happen, would I then be willing to compromise. I kindly…
What is happening to academic medicine? Why are physicians relinquishing our discipline into nothingness? Nearly a year ago, I wrote a blog about the value of medical education and its progress from the pre-Flexner period. (https://authenticmedicine.com/2019/11/an-education-about-medical-education/). Because of education matters. When exactly did it become the norm for medical students/residents to present cases to non-physician…
It is no secret that I do not support Full Practice Authority(FPA) for nurse practitioners(NP). In my opinion, it is the practice of medicine without a medical license. Period. The fact that certain state and/or national nursing organizations have managed to finagle politicians into passing this egregious law is more indicative of exceptional lobbying than…
Hey All, We are currently in port in Seattle. The last port we were in was Ketchikan, Alaskaa very quaint little port town nestled at the base of glorious, green mountains. I felt so good that I disembarked from the ship. I took some nice pictures, bought some souvenirs and ate a Halibut burger at…
Most health care professionals have that one case in their practice that stays with them forever. That one patient who affected them so profoundly that he/she will never be forgotten. I’m no different. I actually have more than one over my nearly 25 years of emergency medicine practice. But there is a patient I never…
Hello All, We are currently in Sitka, Alaska where I will soon be debarking to pick up some souvenirs. Yesterday, I took pictures in Glacier Bay where there are several glaciers and all are beautiful. Unfortunately, because of climate warming, ice is not forming in great patches over most of them anymore. The ocean, however,…
I have written a lot of blogs for Authentic Medicine that are intense and at times, controversial. I’ve decided to add a bit of levity. Several years ago, I was a ship physician for a major cruise line. I’m a nomadic doc and can become very unhappy when I begin to feel stagnant. I decided…