MedicalMoots

MedicalMoots : deconstructing current medical news
YourAllergyBits : allergy, asthma and immunology topics
EvenFourLines : stuff

Tales Of A Medicine-Watcher: 3. Though He Divide The Realm And Give Thee Half

Tales of a Medicine-Watcher are true stories from 50 years in medicine. Names and dates changed, staff names real (unless otherwise noted). The term Medicine-Watcher is used in The Youngest Science, the autobiography of Lewis Thomas, which I use with respect.    “I’ve brought you a present, John”. I hadn’t seen Pete (not his real […]

Tales Of A Medicine-Watcher: 2. Proud ‘Neath Heated Brow

Tales of a Medicine-Watcher are true stories from 50 years in medicine. Names and dates changed, staff names real (unless otherwise noted). The term Medicine-Watcher is used in The Youngest Science, the autobiography of Lewis Thomas, which I use with respect.    “Mr Harris!” The old Alfred Hospital outpatients was hot and crowded that summer […]

Tales Of A Medicine-Watcher: 1. A Horse Is A Horse, Of Course, Of Course

Tales of a Medicine-Watcher are true stories from 50 years in medicine. Names and dates changed, staff names real (unless otherwise noted). The term Medicine-Watcher is used in The Youngest Science, the autobiography of Lewis Thomas, which I use with respect.    It didn’t make sense. “Tell me again what happens, Sam”. Sam had come […]

The Non-Digital Health Record

(2 minute read plus tips – another 2 minute read) Most people don’t know all their prescribed medication. Most people don’t know all their supplements. Most people believe that past medical problems are irrelevant. Most people can’t remember all their allergies. The digital health record as proposed in Australia is a serious mistake on security […]

Communion Hosts, Canon Law and Coeliac Disease: A Solution

I’m Catholic, I’m an immunologist, and I have coeliac disease. So I’m giving this a crack. This post has some religion [here defined as a concept or belief that cannot be disproved] and some science. For a rational debate to occur, we must accept the co-existence of those two concepts. Is coeliac disease an allergy? […]

Can We Predict Thunderstorm Asthma In Melbourne?

  4 minute read What is thunderstorm asthma? Thunderstorm asthma is a rare dramatic onset of severe asthma in pollen allergic people during the pollen season. How long have we known about it? This syndrome is well-documented in the allergy literature, with original observations done 25 years ago. Thunderstorm asthma has occurred four times in […]

G’Day, I’m John

I’ve noticed subtle, and not-so-subtle, changes in 50 years of meeting patients. There are changes in culture, in social interactions, and in me. 1966. I’m 18 “G’Day. I’m John. I’m a medical student and I would like to examine your (here insert any body part)… “No problems, Doc” says Bill, “Go for it”. His son, […]