This time of the year, I am guilty of many reflections on the vicissitudes of my life. The sudden death of my young son is still painful. The circumstances of his death were not managed well by my colleagues who did what they could to save his life. I do not...
During the Christmas season, overindulgence of alcoholic beverages is possible. These drinks can wreak havoc on your health and can cause a trip to the ER, result in being admitted to the hospital, and possibly death. The intake of excessive alcohol can cause...
It is no longer appropriate for patients to call the answering service to request the physician to call in a prescription without the physician having seen the patient. Patients will often do this and get upset if the physician does not comply with his or her...
A reality not discussed by physicians and pastors is how to help people facing and dealing with end of life issues. You may not be aware, but physicians and pastors are not trained to talk with patients as they face death. I gained some insight into this issue...
Several days ago, I discovered one of my patients has continued to smoke in spite of information from me regarding the pitfalls. He came to the office after smoking several cigarettes which caused an elevated blood pressure and required a return visit the next...
African Americans, historically, have not been very transparent about a family medical history regarding mental issues. Some think that death from suicide does not occur in the black community. This certainly is not the case. Death from suicide has increased over...
One of the benefits of practicing medicine, in the African American community, is hearing many funny stories that affect patients who provide entertainment about their health concerns. One of my patients wanted to be checked for heart disease and related to me that...
I have observed, over the past several months, African American men die violently on our streets and in our neighborhoods. The subsequent focus is on the imminent grieving of the loved one, particularly, mothers, wives, sisters, or female significant others. These...