Why It's Smart to Opt for a Female Surgeon
New research finds medical personnel work better together when the operating room has more women.
Surgery
These 14 Figures Show the Sources of Soaring Health-Care Costs in America
A new report shows rising costs for prescription drugs and emergency room visits.
When Virtual Reality Becomes a Life Saver
The cheapest VR out there has already saved a life.
Time to Cut Down on Pre-Surgery Testing
Researchers find that doctors haven't heeded professional societies' advice to do less pre-operative testing.
How Often Do Catastrophic Surgery Mistakes Really Happen?
A new meta-analysis of 138 previous studies finds different rates for different mistakes.
Why Surgeons Make Catastrophic Mistakes
A new analysis codes the reasons behind mistakes like operating on the wrong leg, or leaving a tool behind in a person's body.
The Psychological Repercussions of Removing Your Ovaries
The side effects are significant, but mostly people feel fine afterwards.
Was Jahi McMath’s Case Preventable?
While coverage of Jahi McMath’s case usually focuses on what happened after her catastrophic brain injury, the events leading up to her procedure warrant just as much attention.
Is the Medical Device Used in Your Last Surgery FDA Approved?
A firm sold 18,000 knee-replacement tools before the government called a halt. The OtisKnee case shows just how easily trust can be violated in the rapidly evolving world of medical devices, a thriving $110 billion-a-year industry.
Is the Quest to Build a Kinder, Gentler Surgeon Misguided?
Surgery is a fundamentally messy and stressful activity. When being a few millimeters off target can be life-changing, a surgeon needs to possess fierce concentration, unrelenting perfectionism, and, above all, staunch self-assurance.
When a University Hospital Backs a Surgical Robot, Controversy Ensues
The former head of a prestigious Boston hospital found it unsettling that the surgical staff of an Illinois university medical center endorsed the medical device in an ad in the New York Times magazine. After he started asking questions, the hospital asked that the ad be suspended.
Do You Have to Pee Standing Up to Be a Real Man?
This simple idea, encouraged by medical texts of the past that taught deviation from the norm would lead to confused sexuality and gender identity issues, has put a surprising number of babies under the knife.
The Silly Science of Near-Death Experiences
There's no way to prove whether or not someone's had an out of body experience, but that hasn't stopped scientists from trying to study the phenomenon.
When Hospital Regulations Go Too Far
A survey of surgical residents found that limiting work hours not only compromises education but leads to worse care for patients.
Focus Is a Trait That Improves With Age
Surgeons in training need both to hone their chops--and improve their concentration.
Banded, Stapled, Saved
New research shows that weight-loss surgery can reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes by close to 80 percent. With more than two-thirds of Americans overweight or obese, that’s no small matter.
Ritalin Can Wake the Brain From Anesthesia
Researchers propose pulling patients out of anesthesia with "a shot of adrenaline to the brain."
How Should We Evaluate Lap-Band Candidates?
Allergan lowers BMI requirement and raises questions about its effectiveness and appropriateness.
A Patient's Mindset Can Speed Recovery
A patient's attitudes and beliefs don't appear on any medical chart, but new research finds they influence the course of recovery.