The PMD Critical List: Doctors Dropping the Ball on Alcohol Dangers

A new National Institutes of Health study finds physicians aren’t doing much to warn college students of the dangers of alcohol. That story tops this week’s PMD critical list. Also on the list: A look at football-related fatalities, and a closer look at anti-vaccine sentiment.

• Doctors Not Advising Students on Alcohol (Fayobserver.com)

A new National Institutes of Health study finds "deplorably few college students are warned by doctors about the danger from alcohol and drugs or encouraged to reduce drinking.” Too many physicians “assume college students already know about the risks and consequences.”

• How Many Kids Have Died Playing Football? (HLN)

With the football season in full swing, this report finds that “five major incidents have ended with a high school football player losing his life.” And yet “the bare likelihood of a fatal event is still extremely low.”

• The Four Main Reasons People Don't Vaccinate (Forbes)

Despite growing anti-vaccine rhetoric, vaccination rates among children have not fallen off. More than 90% of children receive all the recommended childhood vaccines, the CDC finds. FABBS researchers did identify four types of non-vaccinators.

• 75 Incorrectly Used Words That Can Make You Look Dumb (Inc.)

Doctors, more than most, know that “using the right word can matter. Using the wrong word can matter even more.” Malpractice vs. good practice.

• Many Doctors Would Work While Sick (Live Science)

A recent survey shows the nearly all doctors would work while sick with a cold, and more than a third would work with the flu.” This devotion to healing might be hurting though (ie, patient infection). More specific guidelines about when doctors should stay home could help.

• No Social Security Increase in 2016 (AP)

“For just the third time in 40 years, millions of Social Security recipients, disabled veterans and federal retirees can expect no COLA increase in benefits next year.” Blame it all on low gas prices.

• Women Physicians — Juggling Work and Family Life (CBS)

Interesting insights—47% of today’s medical school grads are female. One lady physician says “there’s a lot of pressure to quote, ‘have it all, do it all, be all’ to everyone, and no one is really capable of that.” Finding balance is key.

• Doctors Accused of Taking Kickbacks (WKRG)

A troubling report about two Alabama pain specialists who schemed to profit over an illegal prescription drug distribution program. Federal agents allege one doctor was to receive $52,000 a month in bribes.

• More Doctors Rejecting Original Medicare (OregonLive.com)

A report about the worsening problem for millions of patients nationwide who rely on original Medicare rather than buying a Medicare Advantage plan. "The Medicare booklet says most doctors accept Medicare. Boy, is that a myth.”

• Nobel Prize Does Not Validate Chinese Medicine (Science 2.0)

While scientist Dr. Tu Youyou shared the 2015 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, “it wasn't Chinese medicine. It was one well-known and long-used branch of drug discovery called natural products chemistry. The only thing Chinese about the discovery was the scientist.”