Paul Nestadt, MD, of the Johns Hopkins Anxiety Disorders Clinic in Baltimore believes that clinicians should inquire about gun access in the home since it is medically relevant to saving the life of a patient. Bringing up the topic of gun access with patients can be a difficult conversation, but it is necessary to ensure the safety of the patient. Nestadt believes that clinicians should be well-equipped to handle such conversations with sensitivity and empathy.
Access to Routine Healthcare and HPV Vaccines
Capt. Christina Bell, MD, of the Womack Army Medical Center in North Carolina expressed concerns about access to routine healthcare and human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccines for patients who do not have insurance. Bell believes that access to healthcare should be a basic human right and that it is essential to ensure that patients can receive the necessary medical care they need to stay healthy.
Gender-Affirming Youth Care
Shelly Skeen, senior attorney for Lambda Legal, spoke out on the state attorney general’s investigation of Texas Children’s Hospital for gender-affirming youth care. Skeen expressed concern about legislators and governors making decisions for people in areas they do not have firsthand experience with. She believes that healthcare decisions should be made by medical professionals who are equipped to make informed decisions based on their expertise.
Abortion Information on Social Media Platforms
Ciara Dobrowolski, a medical student at Albany Medical College in New York, discussed the lack of medical information content on abortion found on YouTube and TikTok. Dobrowolski believes that these social media platforms should have more information on abortion to help educate people on the topic. She believes that access to accurate medical information is essential for people to make informed decisions about their health.
Lymphoma Treatment
Justin Darrah, MD, of Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles, discussed lymphoma treatment after YouTube star and novelist Hank Green recently shared his diagnosis. Darrah believes that lymphoma treatment is possible, no matter the stage of the patient. He believes that medical professionals should work closely with patients to develop personalized treatment plans that are tailored to their individual needs.
Scientific Ethics
Reubs Walsh, a PhD candidate and junior fellow/press officer at the Center for Applied Transgender Studies, expressed concern about a published paper on “rapid onset gender dysphoria.” Walsh believes that the journal that published the paper has failed to uphold basic ethical expectations of the scientific community. Walsh believes that scientific research should be conducted ethically and should not harm marginalized communities.
AI Chatbot’s Understanding of Medical Topics
Arvind Trindade, MD, of Northwell Health’s Feinstein Institutes for Medical Research in New York, commented on the failure of OpenAI’s ChatGPT to pass a practice test from the American College of Gastroenterology. Trindade believes that the AI chatbot does not have an intrinsic understanding of medical topics and issues as many people believe it does. He believes that AI chatbots should be used as a tool to assist medical professionals, rather than a replacement for them.
Non-Invasive Device for POTS
Stavros Stavrakis, MD, PhD, of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center in Oklahoma City, discussed a vagus nerve stimulation device attached to the ear for women with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS). Stavrakis believes that the device is a completely non-invasive solution to managing POTS symptoms and could help improve the quality of life for patients with the condition.
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