In my continuing effort to turn you on to KCRW’s wonderful programming, may I suggest you take a listen to A Second Opinion.
So why this particular episode? Allow me an indulgence. Growing up, I had a best friend that was a genius. I don’t use that as hyperbole; he was studying to become a doctor (both PhD and MD) at the same time. Therefore he studied, researched, trained and worked like a mad man (did I ever mention the sumer he and I drove strippers around town at night? No? Well, that’s for another post).
My buddy couldn’t afford to sleep more than 3-4 hours a night but after a while the body starts to buckle. This was when a medical school friend of his turned him on to Ritalin. “Once in a while” turned into “once a week” which turned into a crystal meth addiction that led to his heart exploding one night.
And I can say with certainty that he isn’t the only MD I knew that (ab)used Ritalin (also knew a few more MDs that partook in the crystal meth).
So to answer Dr. Michael Wilkes, I don’t think we need jacked up doctors that can see more patients. I think we need well rested doctors that don’t need the crutch.
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