Column Archives

Sunday, December 19th, 2021 @ 4:49PM

The Case for Term Limits

“We need term limits!” It’s a common mantra expressed by many voters, particularly around election time, and it’s a mantra with which I wholeheartedly agree. We do, in fact, desperately need term limits, and the reasons are obvious. Of course, the knee-jerk response by most politicians is that term limits…

Monday, April 17th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

What You Don’t Know About America’s Health Care System Can Hurt You

As a physician practicing full-time emergency medicine, I’ve spent thousands of hours treating patients in an acute care setting. During that time, I’ve seen America’s health care system at its best – lives saved, diseases cured, health restored. The daily contribution by our health care system towards the reduction of…

Monday, April 10th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

The Producer Reproducer Ratio

Math – for many, mere mention of the subject sends chills down the spine. However, in the case of the Producer Reproducer Ratio, it isn’t the math that’s scary – it’s the implications. The Producer Reproducer Ratio or, PRR, is a concept I came up with a few years ago…

Monday, April 3rd, 2017 @ 12:00PM

The Illusion of Justice

“Justice was served today,” or “It was a victory for justice,” or “Justice has been done,” are common statements offered by prosecuting attorneys upon the return of a guilty verdict in criminal cases. And, in certain situations, a guilty verdict and its resulting punishment might, in fact, be “just.” Nevertheless,…

Monday, March 27th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

Stop Blaming The Teachers

Since America’s earliest days, education has consistently ranked at or near the top of the list of priorities most important to its citizens. Americans, in general, regard education as the single most valuable contribution we can make to the betterment of our children’s lives and to the overall long term…

Monday, March 20th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

The $10 Aspirin

Why do hospitals charge 10 bucks for an aspirin? If you’ve ever been a patient in a hospital, you’ve probably asked yourself that very question after reviewing your bill. And it’s a valid question. After all, if you can buy a bottle of aspirin at the drug store for pennies…

Monday, March 13th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

Nation Of Americans, Not Immigrants

It’s one of the liberal national media’s most beloved and oft repeated phrases – “We are a nation of immigrants.” Well, sorry to let the cat out of the bag but, actually, no we’re not. We are a nation of Americans. Of course, it’s true there are a lot of…

Monday, March 6th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

Tales From The ER

They’re called the Darwin Awards – annual recognition bestowed upon those among us who perform acts of supreme stupidity and who, in so doing, often pay the ultimate price. An example of a classic Darwin Award winner is the crook who, during a robbery, aimed a gun at an innocent…

Monday, February 20th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

Government For Or Against The People

In the purest sense, governments deal with the governed in one of two ways: by either promoting or limiting individual freedoms. It’s that simple. Regrettably, most governments around the world deal with the governed in the latter fashion. In fact, governments that truly promote individual freedoms are the exception rather…

Monday, February 13th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

Entitlements Versus Freebies

Ask yourself this question: Since when did people who could work but don’t become “entitled” to financial support (read: welfare) paid for by people who do work? Now ask yourself this question: Since when did people who could work in order to buy their own food but don’t become “entitled”…

Monday, February 6th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

A Litany Of ER Abuses

In a recent column, I discussed the forthcoming closure of the Cook Medical Center ER and why it shouldn’t be happening. Unexpectedly, at least to me, that column appears to have gone “viral.” Of the tens of thousands of people reached, surprisingly, I received only three negative responses – all…

Monday, January 30th, 2017 @ 12:00PM

Rescuing Georgia’s Rural Emergency Rooms

For Georgia and America to rescue their failing rural emergency rooms, state and federal legislators, hospital administrators, emergency medicine physicians, nurses, ancillary medical staff, patients, and the public at large must first come to terms with several simple and unavoidable truths: 1) Rural ERs are being abused by non-payers, drug-seekers,…