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Opinion: August 2009

Fat chance of solving obesity problem

Terence Cosgrave | 28 August 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave writes that Ireland faces an obesity crisis in the coming years and that we are unlikely to see any initiatives to deal with the problem at official level until it's too late... Read more

GPs oppose drug legalisation

Niamh Mullen | 28 August 2009 | Guests

Niamh Mullen examines the results of the latest IMT survey of GPs on issues such as the legalisation of cannabis... Read more

Defence options against vCJD

Dara Gantly | 28 August 2009 | Guests

In the second part of a major investigation, Dara Gantly examines the options available to detect and filter out variant Creutzfeldt Jakob disease from blood donations. Read part 1 of this article, which was published last week... Read more

Prematurity now the main cause of infant deaths

Gary Culliton | 28 August 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton reports on a study that examines trends in Irish neonatal mortality data and compares the rates to those of other countries... Read more

Jumping on the Paddy wagon

Garett Fitzgerald | 27 August 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGerald writes that we are willing to embrace everyone as one of our own, as long as they are famous and can bring a few more punters into our pubs... Read more

Medical school controversy

Mick Molloy | 27 August 2009 | Mick Molloy

Dr Mick Molloy ponders the new HPAT test for school leavers wishing to study medicine and wonders if it is possible to devise an entry system to medical school that would be completely fair... Read more

Motorcycle diaries and thoughts on Lockerbie bomber

G.B. | 27 August 2009 | The Inside Back

Just got my bike back from the shop. It’s been there since April, after an American in a rental car hit me and basically killed me. I have it back now, but I’m having trouble adapting to being on two... Read more

Medical students give a lot back to the State

27 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, I refer to the 21/8/’09 editorial, ‘Who gets to go to medical school?’ (www.imt.ie/opinion/2009/08/who_gets_to_go_to_medical_scho.html). You write that ‘society pays an enormous cost to educate medical students’ but ‘the State gets very little back’. Our system is one where... Read more

HSE forces graduates to move abroad

27 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, With regard to your editorial last week (‘Who gets to go to medical school?’, www.imt.ie/opinion/2009/08/who_gets_to_go_to_medical_scho.html), the vast majority of Irish medical graduates do stay in Ireland and enter the hospital system as NCHDs, working long hours and contributing... Read more

Delay in bringing judicial review proceedings may be detrimental

Ed Madden, BL | 26 August 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL on a case in which a prison officer sought to set aside a decision that he was not entitled to paid sick-leave in respect of an incident at work in which he was assaulted by a prisoner... Read more

US health plans face obstacles

26 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Seán Callan looks at the healthcare reform options that US President Barack Obama may seek to enact and examines the barriers that he faces in the process... Read more

Europe to lay out a ‘robo road map’

26 August 2009 | Guests

Recommendations have been made to the European Commission for developing the use of robots in healthcare over the next 15 years... Read more

Who gets to go to medical school?

Terence Cosgrave | 21 August 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave writes that the new system for assessing candidates for medical school is probably a little fairer than that which existed heretofore, but does the system miss out on the most fundamental point of all?... Read more

DoH goes for 'do nothing' option on tests for vCJD

Dara Gantly | 21 August 2009 | Guests

The IBTS has called on the Department of Health to re-establish an expert advisory group on vCJD to safeguard the blood supply, reports Dara Gantly... Read more

Hereditary theory now orthodoxy

Greg Baxter | 21 August 2009 | Guests

Greg Baxter talks to Prof Henry Lynch about the Syndrome that carries his name and how to treat patients and families with hereditary cancers... Read more

Are there any real originals out there wonders the silicone doc?

Dr Garrett FitzGerald | 20 August 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGerald takes a look around the internet for some choice bargains in the field of cosmetic surgery... Read more

No fees is not the only factor

Dr Mick Molloy | 20 August 2009 | Mick Molloy

Dr Mick Molloy considers the issues of free fees and access to third-level education and wonders whether the introduction of HPAT is of any benefit to students... Read more

Taking my first ever corporate ethics course

G.B. | 20 August 2009 | The Inside Back

I was required recently, as an employee of a large multi-national company (IMT is owned by a large multi-national), to take a one-hour course on the company’s corporate ethics policy. I had delayed it for some time, presuming I would... Read more

The old blood and guts of surgery

Dr Paul Stewart | 20 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Paul Stewart spends a bit of this rainy summer watching television, and medical-themed programmes in particular. But are they a bit too much like real life?... Read more

Protection needed from pensionable politicians

20 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, As a taxpayer, I need a protective voice to defend me from expense-ridden, pension-conscious, vested-interest-negotiating politicians, a greedy legal class fat on needless commissions — tribunals — and prostituted by politically appointed bias, inept banks we don’t need... Read more

Saturated fats — can someone clear up the confusion?

20 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, July’s Cardiology Supplement (July 31 issue) was informative and had a practical approach to cardiovascular health. Interesting articles from CROI Ireland and Dr Neville Wilson of the Leinster Clinic, Maynooth were noted. The aims ‘Croi MyAction’ outlines and... Read more

You've got to be bold and valiant

Dr John Ryan | 19 August 2009 | Letter from America

Dr John Ryan writes that stress tests can be stressful for the doctor who has to supervise the assessments — as well as the patient who has to undergo them... Read more

Lords decide policy must exist for future suicide prosecutions

Ed Madden, BL | 19 August 2009 | Guests

What are the circumstances taken into account in deciding whether or not to take to a prosecution in the case of assisted suicide? Ed Madden, BL, examines a recent UK case where this complex issue was decided... Read more

What are the national standards for residential services for disabled people?

Aisling Gannon | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Aisling Gannon of Beauchamps Solicitors explains what the new National Quality Standards for Residential Services for people with disablities are and how they will be enforced... Read more

Replicating the ‘Newry effect’ in healthcare

Dara Gantly | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Dara Gantly reports on a cross-border initiative that is hoping to improve patient care in the north west — a region isolated geographically and politically. So will we soon see patients travelling across borders for care?... Read more

The courteous radiologist

19 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Noel Blake was an eminent radiologist and a respected figure in the field of paediatric radiology across the Continent... Read more

US healthcare: the good and the bad

Dr Sean Callan | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Sean Callan explains the strengths and weaknesses of the American healthcare system — of which he has had recent personal experience... Read more

Translating science into medicine

Marie-Catherine Mousseau | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Marie-Catherine Mousseau looks at how interaction between bench and bedside can fine-tune our therapeutic approaches... Read more

Primary Care Strategy — a new approach?

Dr Garrett Igoe | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Garrett Igoe writes that there is a major logjam in the Primary Care Strategy as it is currently envisaged, but it could easily be made to flow again... Read more

Too fat to be the US Surgeon General?

Dr Joyce Galbraith | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Joyce Galbraith reports on the controversy over the appointment of an obese woman as Surgeon General by US President Barack Obama... Read more

Don't listen to biking 'friends'

Prof Paul Finnucane | 19 August 2009 | Guests

Prof Paul Finnucane recommends travelling by bicycle — but all the way from Paris to Geneva is a bit of a stretch!... Read more

Irish doctor says 'fat genes' are responsible for obesity

Niamh Mullen | 14 August 2009 | Guests

Throughout his career Irish Professor Stephen O’Rahilly has been involved in cutting edge research dedicated to working out the genetic reasons for obesity. Niamh Mullen reports... Read more

EU attempts to tackle workforce issues in health

Dara Gantly | 14 August 2009 | Guests

Dara Gantly examines the Irish submissions made to the EU Green paper on the European Workforce for Health... Read more

Patients cannot be made pay price

Terence Cosgrave | 14 August 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave writes that no dispute can use patients as a weapon — no matter what the justification is for the dispute itself — and that the public will punish severely any group that uses patients as pawns... Read more

Raining cats and kittens

Dr Garrett FitzGerald | 13 August 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGerald recalls the early stirrings of his most scientific mind and his first experiments in bringing the the mountain to Muhammed — or was that Mitchelstown?... Read more

Why healthcare staff need to get swine flu vaccine now

Mick Molloy | 13 August 2009 | Mick Molloy

Dr Mick Molloy writes that the coming H1N1 flu pandemic will have severe implications and tough challenges for doctors, not least trying to diagnose illnesses over the phone... Read more

Rage against the machine of injustice

G.B. | 13 August 2009 | The Inside Back

The arrest by early morning raid of about 20 Thomas Cook staff, including a pregnant woman, has sort of enraged me. I don’t normally get enraged by scenes of social injustice. If there is one rule I try to live... Read more

Memories of John Feely

Colin Kerr | 13 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, I read with sadness your recent obituary of Prof John Feely (IMT 24/7/’09, see www.imt.ie/opinion/2009/07/a_great_loss_to_science_and_me.html). John was, as the writer of the obituary states, an outstanding doctor and scientist but he was also much more than that. As... Read more

A pioneer in medical education

Dr Robert O'Sullivan | 12 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Robert O'Sullivan describes the circumstances of how Abraham Flexner became one of the most influential people in the development of medical education across the world. But despite all his work in developing medical training — did he do as... Read more

Medical student sought copies of examination

Ed Madden, BL | 12 August 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL, looks at a recent High Court case in which an adjudication on whether the release of copies of a multiple choice paper to a UCD medical student was required... Read more

Doctoring the lethal injection

Dr Thecla Scully | 12 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Thecla Scully writes that doctors' involvement in the process of execution — most notably in the US — is a cause of concern to many. Should doctors ever participate in the execution of a person condemned to death? Or... Read more

Glucose testing device connects with kids

12 August 2009 | Guests

A new glucose test — developed by the parent of a child with diabetes — connects with children using computer games and rewards for usage... Read more

Whistleblowers protected

Dara Gantly | 07 August 2009 | Guests

Dara Gantly speaks to Larry Walsh, who was recently appointed to facilitate employees who wish to make a protected disclosure. Under new legislation, staff who want to express concerns about the health service now have legal protection... Read more

Caring for seniors

Terence Cosgrave | 07 August 2009 | Editorial

Terence Cosgrave writes that proper care for seniors should be addressed as an urgent issue by the HSE... Read more

Report finds flaws in Rotunda's procedures

Gary Culliton | 07 August 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton examines the findings of the Carter report on the Rotunda Hospital's practices with regard to organ retention... Read more

Report finds flaws in Rotunda's procedures

gary.culliton@imt.ie | 07 August 2009 | Guests

Gary Culliton examines the findings of the Carter report on the Rotunda Hospital's practices with regard to organ retention... Read more

Banana republic goes bust for Boston

Dr Garret Fitzgerald | 06 August 2009 | Garrett FitzGerald

Dr Garrett FitzGerald writes that we are leaving Berlin far behind us in our rush to acquire a US-style healthcare system, which will cherry-pick from the 'well-heeled well'... Read more

Vitamin D — the wonder drug?

Dr Paul Stewart | 06 August 2009 | Guests

Dr Paul Stewart writes that vitamin D is hugely under-rated when it comes to disease prevention, as reduced levels have been linked to everything from diabetes to depression... Read more

A history of the vermiform appendix

Dr Robert O'Sullivan | 06 August 2009 |

Dr Robert O'Sullivan takes a look back at the history of the appendix and the development of appendectomy surgery and lists some famous patients... Read more

Fix our ailing economy

06 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, Our administration is currently hoping to ride out a storm without keeping an eye on the long-term plan. Our public finances are a complex web of financially interdependent systems and the downfall triggered a catastrophic chain of events... Read more

Treatment of anal fissure

06 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, I wish to congratulate Mr J. Butt for his excellent review on anal fissures (IMT 24/07/09, see www.imt.ie/clinical/diagnosis-and-treatment-of-ana.html) and I would like to make some comments: 1. Mr Butt rightly mentions with some criticism Lord’s procedure, which probably,... Read more

Sligo cancer referrals

06 August 2009 | Letters

Dear Editor, The National Cancer Control Programme (NCCP) has issued a directive stating that, as of August 6, Sligo General Hospital will no longer accept new symptomatic breast referrals. GPs are being directed to send all new referrals after this... Read more

The next evolutionary phase of man: stupidity

G.B. | 06 August 2009 | The Inside Back

The drop in support for Barack Obama following his comment that police had acted ‘stupidly’ in relation to the arrest of documentary filmmaker Henry Louis Gates, and the outpouring of support for Michael Jackson after his death, and the creation... Read more

Doctor was entitled to legal representation

06 August 2009 | Guests

Ed Madden, BL, looks at a recent Court of Appeal case in England in which the Court was called upon to construe disciplinary clauses in a doctor’s contract of employment... Read more

Project aims to reduce re-hospitalisation rates

06 August 2009 | Guests

A project has just been launched in three American states with the aim of reducing the number of people who have to be readmitted to hospital within 30 days of first being discharged... Read more

Licensing of healthcare providers

Aisling Gannon | 06 August 2009 | Guests

Aisling Gannon of Beauchamps Solicitors reports on Minister Harney's announcement of key steps to implement the Madden Report on Patient Safety and Quality Assurance... Read more