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Are medical errors the third leading cause of death or disability and what can we do to protect ourselves?
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - March 4, 2018
The TEDx Stanley Park event at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Vancouver on Saturday March 3, 2018 was incredible with 13 (a bakers dozen) memorable and inspiring speakers and 4 brief, fun energerizer programs to keep the audience engaged. Two of the presentations addressed medical errors.
With cancer as the leading cause of death and heart disease as the second leading cause, medical errors are referred to by some as the third leading cause of death and disability.
Whether errors are third or not, it makes sense that anything that helps to reduce or prevent medical errors is worth pursuing. Every error that can be prevented has direct benefit to individuals and their families.
Celebrating and helping caregivers
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - February 16, 2018
According to Statistics Canada there are eight million caregivers in Canada. Most are unpaid, regular people who are taking care of aging and ailing parents, children with disabilities, and friends who need them. Caregivers get little or no attention, despite their massive numbers.
Some caregivers find inspiration and friendship from those they care for and some find themselves with personal challenges through caring for others. Healthcare providers may experience the same themselves and see this in those they serve.
Sharing caregivers' stories may help others find inspiration or recognize the impact on themselves and what they might be able to do.
Dr. McDonnell on the History of Medicine in BC
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This was included as part of another post on Doclounge.net but may be more useful as a separate post, especially for history buffs.
In particular the article attached, [6] McDonnell - Early medical legislation
The full series of 12 articles by Dr. McDonnell on the History of Medicine in BC may be of interest to readers and can be obtained from public library resources and other libraries:
Will BC doctors do something before it's too late?
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - September 9, 2017.
There are a lot of calamities in the world today grabbing our attention so why is this important now?
This directly affects our BC health care system, which has slipped from being one of the best in the world to below the top ten. You don't have to tell patients and families who need care, they already see the cracks and hurdles everyday as they wait and hope to get the care they need.
What is happening this week at the BC Medical Association, the Doctors of BC, is critical. They are a well-funded, important organization that negotiates on behalf of all doctors with the BC Government and co-managing public health care. This affects not only doctors but patients and everyone in BC. It cannot be ignored.
Doctors may have become apathetic and cynical with low professional satisfaction as they feel overworked and struggle trying to get people the care they need. However, now is a critical time for them to consider these important facts. If they don't act now things may get a lot worse.
Dr Eric Cadesky becomes new President-Elect Doctors Of BC
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver BC - July 26, 2017.
Congratulations to Dr Eric Cadesky on winning the election for President-Elect of the Doctors Of BC, the BC Medical Association.
It has been an interesting campaign with opportunities to get to know both candidates, Dr Eric Cadesky and Dr Jean-Noel Mahy, through not only their websites but also meeting them in person at the debate and for everyone to see them on the YouTube live stream and recorded video of the debate.
Seeing both candidates making such efforts to promote thought and discussion about health care in BC it is disappointing that only 16 percent of doctor members even voted.
Dr. James Busser
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I enjoyed the privilege of attending the celebration of the life of the late Jim Busser on this Friday past. I was already aware that he had been an exceptional human being, yet it was a remarkable revelation to listen to the recollections of those who rose to speak of their connections with him.
VMA and WMA hosting debate July 12 with President Elect candidates
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The VMA website, http://vancouvermedicalassociation.ca/ has a notice of a Special Event on July 12, 2017 featuring the candidates for DoctorsOfBC President Elect, Dr Cadesky and Dr Mahy, with Dr Arun Garg as moderator.
The event will be held at the Seasons in the Park at Queen Elizabeth Park in Vancouver with pre-dinner cocktails at 17:30, dinner at 18:30 and the debate from 19:30 to 21:00.
The deadline to register for this event is Wednesday July 5th. I think this will be a very interesting event to attend.
With limited seats available I am happy to have mine confirmed and would encourage others interested in attending in person to get their reservations in as soon as possible to avoid disappointment or the risk of forgetting to register in time with the long weekend almost upon us followed by a short week that is bound to be busy as the deadline to register approaches.
Will the new BC Societies Act transition be a train wreck?
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Dr Z. Essak, MD - Vancouver, BC - February 13, 2017.
No one can deny the importance of BC societies to communities large and small throughout the province, assisting all kinds of people as charitable and not for profit societies, including associations that represent occupations and professions.
What can we learn from the early example of transition by the Doctors of BC, the BC Medical Association, formerly a Reporting Society, declaring themselves to be a member-funded society and escaping public disclosure. Do they even meet the required criteria?
When we ask, it may come as a shock to learn the BC Registry is not confirming compliance requirements are met. Is the BC Government failing to provide proper leadership and oversight to the tasks of government?
Is the public trust being neglected? Will there be havoc on public interest and individual rights? Are we going to see a train wreck?
Viscose rayon and health effects on workers during manufacturing
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Paul Blanc, University of California professor of medicine, chair of occupational and environmental medicine and author of the book "Fake Silk - The Lethal History of Viscose Rayon" has written about the dangers and health effects to workers in the manufacturing of these materials.
In a recent radio interview on CBC The Current he talks of the dangers and medical effects of exposure to carbon disulfide used in the manufacturing process and the diversity of products. He speaks of places where there are better working conditions and worker safeguards while there are other places where this is not so.
The toxic effects of carbon disulfide are dramatic and onset early. It easily travels into brain tissue and causes insanity along with other medical problems.
Opinion: B.C. doctors have been kept in the dark about Doctors of BC bylaw amendments
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Dr Caroline Wang, Vancouver BC. January 18, 2017.
Doctors of BC members are being encouraged by the association’s leadership to vote in favour of proposed bylaw amendments to relinquish their democratic right to elect the board of directors. If passed, the new policies and governance structure would, in effect, disenfranchise the approximately 12,000 physician members as the owners of the sole representative association for the medical profession in B.C.
Most worrisome, the majority of doctors appear to be unaware of the profound implications and risks of the proposed changes that would impact physicians, patients and the health-care system. It’s little wonder that the vast majority of doctors, who are interested in practising medicine and not trained in matters of policy governance, would choose to ignore the governance referendum as irrelevant to their practice. They don’t know what they don’t know.
