• Seatbelts are rarely worn properly

    One area of a family doctor’s job is to prevent disease and injury. A good starting point is during the annual exam. A comprehensive exam asks the patient about their diet, family history of disease, smoking, alcohol intake, drug use and work environment. One question causes many of my patients to respond with querying confused…

  • There's no good reason to avoid taking a flu shot

    At the end of October, the Flu vaccine will be available in our region. Many will opt to forego an inexpensive and safe approach to preventing a disease that causes significant misery and death. Some fear the vaccine causes the flu; others take the chance that it will pass them by and many others will…

  • Childhood rashes hard to diagnose at first

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen October 15, 2002 Original Title: Daycare Part III: A little red in the face Part I – Why children fight one cold after another Part II – Children’s eye diseases spread quickly What are the common childhood rashes seen in the school and daycare setting? Initially, many rashes can…

  • Children's eye diseases spread quickly

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen October 8, 2002 Original Title: Daycare Part II: Run, Run, Run, as Fast as You Can Part I – Why children fight one cold after another Part III – Childhood rashes hard to diagnose at first Last week, the effects of the common cold and ear infections topped the…

  • Why children fight one cold after another

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen October 1, 2002 Original Title: Daycare Part I: The Valley of the Nose Pickers Part II – Children’s eye diseases spread quickly Part III – Childhood rashes hard to diagnose at first The beginning of school or daycare normally exposes children to a collection of infectious diseases. With colder…

  • Patient chart transfers warrant a reasonable fee

    A recent Dave Brown column touched upon the thorny issue of patient chart transfer requests. He cited the case of one individual who expressed his irritation with transfer fees that he felt should be free of charge. Copyright law analogy provides the basis for his assertion. His claim is that patient chart notes are paid…

  • Doctors should go into the schools

    Despite numerous health advisory and information campaigns, inroads into curbing or modifying deleterious adolescent behaviours remain wanting. The reasons are multifactorial. There is competition from television and movies, advertising, peer-pressure, academic responsibilities, developing independent attitudes, rebelliousness and their own social calendar.

  • Health and happiness still key as we live longer

    Recent and projected health technology and treatment advances pose interesting dilemmas regarding the human lifespan. Nanotechnology, stem cell research, gene therapy, new drug therapies, cancer vaccines and electromechanical life support devices are just a few of the lines of research and development in our quest to cure disease and maintain our health. These are indeed…

  • Consuming the nutrients you need

    Originally published in The Ottawa Citizen September 3, 2002 Original Title: The Fat of the Land Everyday the news bombards us about the latest nutrient or food that will add years to your life, save your skin, hair, heart and promote longevity. This information overload with its weekly contradictions is confusing to the average consumer.