Ira Breite's Sirius Doctor Radio Show: Monday March 31st Show

My show on Monday featured a variety of interesting topics and some fascinating guests. A brief rundown:

We opened the show with the sad story of 11-year-old Madeline Neumann, who died of diabetic ketoacidosis (diabetic coma), possibly because her parents believed that prayer would save her and delayed getting the girl medical attention. I discussed the case with Dr. Arthur Caplan, the Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania. Although the exact details of this case are not completely known yet, we discussed how, in general, that while adults have a right to make their own medical decisions, and to make many medical decisions for their children, they do not have the right to refuse life saving procedures or treatments to their children.

After this, we talked with Ms. Sari Greaves RD, CDN, from the New York State Dietetic Association, about a study that appeared in the Journal Neurology looking at how increased belly fat in your forties might lead to dementia in older age. I discussed the academic findings in the paper and Sari helped me translate the "doctor" stuff into practical ways to lose that fat and cut the risk!

Because we talked a lot about fish as a good food to eat, and because of a recent new article describing how sushi is becoming more popular throughout the United States, I talked about the risks of sushi. You'll have to keep listening to find out everything that you need to know, but suffice it to say there are things about salmon you need to know.

Then we went to break.

When I returned, the conversation again turned to an unfortunate young woman who died of a disease called malignant hyperthermia as a result of anesthesia she received because of surgery. I was pleased to have Dr. Thomas Blanck, NYU's Chairman of anesthesia in studio. We went over this inherited disease, how anesthesiologists look for it, and the treatments used. After the break, Tom and I discussed things that you should look for when deciding about elective surgery, and the importance of talking to you surgeon and internist prior to proceeding!

Finally, it was time for some light medical news. The American Journal of Psychiatry published an editorial stating that internet addiction should be included in the upcoming edition of Psychiatry Diagnostic guide DSM-V. An editorial in a prominent journal is more than a bit of whimsy; it implies that many leading thinkers in psychiatry are thinking that "internet addiction" is real. I reviewed their reasons and added a few comments of my own. They were pretty funny, but then again, I am biased.