• 45% of doctors who responded to a survey said they’ve given placebos to patients . That number certainly seems high, but sometimes patients don’t want to hear what you’re saying–namely, that no drug will help them. Giving antibiotics for a viral illness would almost count as a placebo, if they didn’t have the associated side effects and risks. I’ve certainly wanted to write for “Obecalp 1 tab PO BID” (‘placebo’ backwards) but I find it totally unethical and undermining of the doctor-patient trusting relationship. (Then again, patients don’t always seem so keen on the whole trusting relationship either, but that’s why we’re professionals.)
• Linkage shout-out to Maggie Mahar’s Health Beat Blog , which has been around for awhile but I never gave proper… props to. Maggie wrote the outstanding Money-Driven Medicine ( Amazon ) and has her background in business writing. (The aforementioned book provides a lot of evidence for the problems of our health care system and perverse incentives within it.) Lately she’s been investigating the ICU Checklist for Central Line Place program that was stupidly halted and providing frequent updates about what she’s learning . One of my new favorite blogs in the last six months.
• Illinois’ state-wide smoking ban seems to be going over fairly well . Being at home lately, I’m proud my own hometown finally decided to adopt a smoking ban (better late than never, OP!) and our bustling urban metropolis of Kansas City is being forced to put it on the ballot . I for one am much less likely to go out where bars allow smoking.

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