2009-02-23
news blips
• Comet Lulin Approaching Earth. Space scientists from the University of Leicester are keeping a close eye on a ‘green comet’ fast approaching the Earth - reaching its nearest point to us on February 24, that's tomorrow!
Comet Lulin will streak by the earth within 38 million miles – 160 times farther than the moon -and is expected to be visible to the naked eye. Discovered only a year ago, the comet gains its green colour from poisonous cyanogen and diatomic carbon gases in its atmosphere.
This will be the comet’s first visit to the Earth’s inner solar system- and will enable the team from the University of Leicester to gain valuable insights into the comet.
They are using NASA's Swift satellite to monitor Comet Lulin as it closes on Earth. The spacecraft has recorded simultaneous ultraviolet and X-ray images of a comet.
Read the entire article at Science Daily.
• The Lancet, a widely-respected international medical journal, published an essay sharply critical of the psychiatric industry that reviews two books: "The Myth of the Chemical Cure: A Critique of Psychiatric Drug Treatment" by Joanna Moncrieff and "Side Effects: a Prosecutor, a Whistleblower, and a Bestselling Antidepressant on Trial" by Alison Bass.
The essayist/reviewer is Athar Yawer, who has written other items for Lancet including essays on the social impact of torture [Nov 29, 2008], whether or not doctors are capable of thinking [Oct 11, 2008], and an evaluation of how much time psychiatrists actually spend with their patients [Jan 26, 2008]. The opening of the last article speaks thus:
How to combat this? The Mayo Clinic conducted a survey in 2006 asking people how should an ideal doctor act?
The difference, unfortunately, is that in psychiatry, forced treatment is considered so acceptable, hardly anyone questions it.
The Lancet and The New York Times make articles available by paid subscription.
• Comet Lulin Approaching Earth. Space scientists from the University of Leicester are keeping a close eye on a ‘green comet’ fast approaching the Earth - reaching its nearest point to us on February 24, that's tomorrow! Comet Lulin will streak by the earth within 38 million miles – 160 times farther than the moon -and is expected to be visible to the naked eye. Discovered only a year ago, the comet gains its green colour from poisonous cyanogen and diatomic carbon gases in its atmosphere.
This will be the comet’s first visit to the Earth’s inner solar system- and will enable the team from the University of Leicester to gain valuable insights into the comet.
They are using NASA's Swift satellite to monitor Comet Lulin as it closes on Earth. The spacecraft has recorded simultaneous ultraviolet and X-ray images of a comet.
Read the entire article at Science Daily.
• The Lancet, a widely-respected international medical journal, published an essay sharply critical of the psychiatric industry that reviews two books: "The Myth of the Chemical Cure: A Critique of Psychiatric Drug Treatment" by Joanna Moncrieff and "Side Effects: a Prosecutor, a Whistleblower, and a Bestselling Antidepressant on Trial" by Alison Bass. The essayist/reviewer is Athar Yawer, who has written other items for Lancet including essays on the social impact of torture [Nov 29, 2008], whether or not doctors are capable of thinking [Oct 11, 2008], and an evaluation of how much time psychiatrists actually spend with their patients [Jan 26, 2008]. The opening of the last article speaks thus:
Jonathan Radcliffe and Roger Smith reported an observational study of how patients spent their time on psychiatric wards in the UK, during working hours (0900–1700 h, weekdays).1 6% of the patients' time was spent in what might loosely be termed therapeutic interaction. Despite the intense enclosed nature of the ward, 84% of their time was spent interacting with no one at all.An article in the New York Times noted that, perhaps, this is no different from doctors in other disciplines, citing docs as "...arrogant, abusive and disruptive..."
How to combat this? The Mayo Clinic conducted a survey in 2006 asking people how should an ideal doctor act?
The difference, unfortunately, is that in psychiatry, forced treatment is considered so acceptable, hardly anyone questions it.
The Lancet and The New York Times make articles available by paid subscription.
PICTURE CREDITS: Comet from Science Daily; Doctor picture from About.com. As an aside, I found it oddly amusing that the file name for the stock photo of the physician is "evil doc".
Labels: bedside manner, comets, news, physicians, psychiatry
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