When Shared Decision Making Gives Way to Medical Paternalism
The article highlights how the ideal of shared decision making is increasingly supplanted by medical paternalism, illustrated by a family's struggle to secure a feeding tube for a father with advanced dementia. Physicians sometimes refuse procedures they deem clinically futile, even when families hold power of attorney, leading to conflicts and loss of trust. Hospital advocacy offices may intervene, but the damage to the therapeutic relationship can be lasting. The piece calls for transparent communication that honors patients’ cultural, moral, and religious values.
NIPT in 2026: How AI and Next-Gen Sequencing Are Changing Prenatal Screening
Non‑invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) in the UK is being reshaped by next‑generation sequencing and artificial‑intelligence algorithms. AI‑driven analysis lifts the positive predictive value for trisomies to roughly 88%, while proprietary enrichment steps like Focus Plus increase fetal DNA fractions 3.6‑fold, slashing...
The AI Drug Discovery Capital Stack in 2026: Who Has Raised the Most, Why Their Technical Approaches Actually Differ, and...
The essay maps AI‑driven drug‑discovery firms’ capital stacks as of April 2026, highlighting that Eikon, Xaira, Isomorphic Labs and Recursion sit at the top of disclosed funding. It separates the sector into four technical lanes—structure foundation models, generative chemistry, phenomics/perturbational biology,...
Quadricuspid Aortic Valve: The Diagnosis Hiding in Your Short-Axis View
The article highlights the quadricuspid aortic valve, a rare congenital anomaly often mistaken for a bicuspid valve. Because sonographers rarely look for four cusps, the condition is mislabelled, allowing aortic regurgitation to progress unchecked. By focusing on the short‑axis echocardiographic...
They Called Me a “Maverick”
Dr. Gator, author of "Between a Shot and Hard Place," was profiled in The MAHA Report, where his stance on vaccine informed consent was examined. The article explores the widening gap between parents and the medical community, emphasizing the need...
Please Don’t Trust Your Chatbot for Medical Advice
Recent peer‑reviewed studies across BMJ, JAMA Network Open, and Nature Medicine reveal that popular AI chatbots—including ChatGPT, Gemini, and Meta AI—frequently generate inaccurate, hallucinated, or overconfident medical advice. The BMJ audit found nearly half of responses were highly problematic, while...
MyChart Unpacked
The author performed a static inspection of Epic’s MyChart Android application package, uncovering roughly 250 custom deep‑link URLs that route users directly to specific screens. By decompiling the APK, the analysis reveals a richer feature set than the typical web‑based...
The Reality of PrEP Access and HIV Prevention in Georgia
Georgia holds the nation’s second‑highest rate of new HIV diagnoses, prompting lawmakers to pass a bill that authorizes pharmacists to prescribe PrEP without a physician visit. While the measure could streamline access, the article highlights that half a million Georgians...
Patients Stay Cancer-Free Three Years After Clinical Trial
A phase II trial at UCL tested pembrolizumab as neoadjuvant therapy for 32 patients with stage II‑III MMR‑deficient/MSI‑high bowel cancer. After up to nine weeks of immunotherapy before surgery, 59% showed no detectable tumor and none experienced recurrence over a median...
“Cancer Isn’t Political, It’s Personal”: A Funding Update From the 2026 AACR Annual Meeting
At the 2026 American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting in San Diego, scientists displayed “Thank you, Congress” signs after lawmakers blocked a proposed 40% cut to NIH funding. A policy town‑hall highlighted how the 2025 funding uncertainty delayed trials,...
A Pivotal Year for Regulatory Reform and Innovation
Britain’s Medicines & Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is advancing its MedTech regulatory reform, introducing a pre‑market statutory instrument that adds an international reliance scheme, updated classification, mandatory UDIs and stricter claim rules. The agency also plans an Early Access...
Making MedTech Events Deliver Real Impact – How Medilink UK Supports High-Value Engagement Across the Sector
Medilink UK offers a coordinated national event‑management service that blends regional expertise with a UK‑wide life‑science network. The model helps medtech, biotech and digital‑health organisations design and execute conferences, exhibitions and workshops that prioritize high‑quality stakeholder engagement over mere attendance....
Staff Had Concerns: What a Surgeon’s Manslaughter Charge Tells Us About Speaking Up
Florida surgeon Thomas Shaknovsky was indicted on a second‑degree manslaughter charge after a 2024 laparoscopic splenectomy went tragically wrong—he removed the patient’s liver instead of the spleen, causing fatal hemorrhage. The indictment follows a 2023 error that led to a...
AI Restores Voice by Reading Neck Muscle Movements
Researchers at Pohang University of Science and Technology have created an AI‑driven neck sensor that reads microscopic muscle and skin movements to convert silent speech into audible voice. The device combines a miniature camera with silicone markers in a multiaxial...
SCOTUS Conversion Therapy Decision “Opens a Dangerous Can of Worms”
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that Colorado's ban on conversion therapy for minors infringes on counselors' First Amendment speech rights, sending the case back to lower courts to determine if the law can meet strict scrutiny. The majority treats spoken...
Philippe Pouletty, Carvolix
Physician‑entrepreneur Philippe Pouletty, founder of Carvolix, is launching AI‑driven tools for cardiology, including a decision‑support system and a robot that places transcatheter heart valves. The company also plans a robotic device to remove brain clots. Pouletty previously founded Abivax, a...
Prostate Cancer - I’m Asking for some Specific Advice/Thoughts to Determine My Physical (Cell-Level Age) versus Chronological Age
The large TRAVERSE trial of about 5,200 hypogonadal men found no increase in prostate‑cancer incidence with testosterone replacement therapy—12 cases on treatment versus 11 on placebo—though the study’s 33‑month follow‑up and 60% dropout limit statistical power. Mechanistically, androgen‑receptor saturation occurs...
Fish Oil Supplements for Brain Injuries Probably Don’t Work
A pioneering study from the Medical University of South Carolina, published in Cell Reports, suggests that fish oil supplements—specifically the omega‑3 fatty acid EPA—may hinder recovery after repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries. Using a novel animal model that replicates concussion‑like...
Congressional Republicans Pushing False Claims that Over-the-Counter Birth Control Pills Are Unsafe
Congressional Republicans are circulating misleading claims that over‑the‑counter birth‑control pills are unsafe, despite no such products existing. A new JAMA Internal Medicine study highlighted the gap between policy rhetoric and reality, noting that medication‑abortion kits are not currently available OTC....
#602: Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID) – Megan Hellner, DrPH, RD & Katherine Hill, MD
In a recent Sigma Nutrition podcast, Megan Hellner, PhD, RD, and Dr. Katherine Hill dissected Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID), emphasizing its distinction from typical picky eating and its occurrence across all body sizes. They highlighted how ARFID often goes...
Peptides / Bioregulators
The invite‑only California Peptide Club convened over 100 tech‑savvy attendees in San Francisco to discuss self‑optimization peptides, a trend now outpacing even pickleball in Google searches. Participants, ranging from clinicians to DIY biohackers, shared personal stacks and demonstrated injection techniques...
When a Text Message Tries to Short-Circuit the FDA
A text exchange between Joe Rogan and Donald Trump suggesting a quick FDA green‑light for ibogaine sparked concern about bypassing the rigorous drug‑approval process. The post explains that FDA approval is deliberately methodical, requiring phased clinical trials and safety data,...
AACR26 Innovative Early Stage Developments to Watch Out For
At the AACR annual meeting in San Diego, four cutting‑edge oncology programs were showcased in a single session. Each candidate is at or just beyond the threshold for first‑in‑human trials, spanning bispecific antibodies, RNA‑based therapeutics, CRISPR‑edited cell therapies, and novel...
![I Have Cerebral Palsy and I’m a Doctor. Here’s What Policy Cuts Mean for Patients Like Me. [PODCAST]](/cdn-cgi/image/width=1200,quality=75,format=auto,fit=cover/https://kevinmd.com/wp-content/uploads/Gemini_Generated_Image_u26efdu26efdu26e-1024x572.png)
I Have Cerebral Palsy and I’m a Doctor. Here’s What Policy Cuts Mean for Patients Like Me. [PODCAST]
Pediatrics resident Ashna Shome, who lives with cerebral palsy, discusses how recent federal cuts to Medicaid and Medicare—dubbed the “Big Beautiful Bill”—exacerbate ableism in health care. She highlights how reduced SNAP and WIC eligibility and proposals to drop accessibility requirements...
My Question Made It to the CA Governor’s Debate
At the California governor’s debate, pediatrician Dr. Joel Warsh’s full question on rising childhood chronic disease and autism rates was read aloud, not paraphrased. He highlighted that nearly half of California’s children live with a chronic condition and that autism...
Major Antineoplastic Mechanisms of Combination Ivermectin-Mebendazole
Recent preclinical analyses highlight the anticancer potential of combining ivermectin and mebendazole, two antiparasitic drugs repurposed for oncology. Ivermectin suppresses proliferative signaling pathways such as Wnt/β‑catenin, Akt/mTOR, and STAT3, while mebendazole disrupts microtubule polymerization, inducing G2/M arrest. Together they inhibit...
Is C2 Tilt Causing Pelvic Fixation Failure?
A Washington University study of 517 adult spinal deformity patients found that 31 (6%) experienced pelvic fixation failure, prompting reoperation. Multivariable analysis identified a postoperative C2 Tilt greater than 6.9° as a strong predictor, with an odds ratio of 1.15...
AACR San Diego 2026: New Drugs on the Horizon
The AACR 2026 Annual Meeting in San Diego unveiled 11 first‑time disclosed oncology candidates spanning small‑molecule degraders, bispecific antibodies, T‑cell engagers and ADCs. Highlights include NEO‑811, a CRBN‑mediated molecular glue targeting HIF‑1β for VHL‑deficient renal cancer, and AZD8359, a STEAP2‑directed T‑cell...
Medical Expert Testimony Vs. Advocacy in the Courtroom
The AMA’s Code of Medical Ethics mandates that physician expert witnesses remain objective, avoiding advocacy that sways juries with legal jargon. Courtroom phrases such as “reasonable degree of medical certainty” lack scientific grounding, yet are routinely used to bolster expert...
Top 10 Fastest-Growing Healthcare Companies in 2026, From Financial Times’ List
The Financial Times’ 2026 Americas Fastest‑Growing Companies list spotlights ten U.S. healthcare firms that are scaling rapidly amid a broader surge in health‑service deals and AI‑driven consumer behavior. PwC expects deal volume to climb as buyers chase technology‑enabled businesses, while...
Court Rejects Anthem’s Attempt to Relitigate Arbitration Losses Under No Surprises Act
A California federal judge dismissed Anthem's federal claims against billing firm HaloMD, ruling that the No Surprises Act permits only extremely limited judicial review of Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) arbitration outcomes. The court held that the statute already provides mechanisms...
OUTRAGE: Canadian Government Shielded From Liability After 17-Year-Old Dies Following COVID Vaccine
A Canadian court ruled that the federal government cannot be held liable for the death of 17‑year‑old Sean Hartman, who died 33 days after receiving a Pfizer‑BioNTech COVID‑19 vaccine. The Ontario Court of Appeal upheld the lower court’s dismissal of...
25 of 32 Years of Life Expectancy Came From This
U.S. life expectancy rose from 47 years in 1900 to roughly 79 years by 2025, with clean water and sanitation responsible for 25 of the 32‑year gain. Vaccinations added another 25‑plus years, while modern medical treatments contributed only five years....
Inside 3/11 Viral Takeover: My In-Depth Interview with Dr John Campbell
In an extensive interview with Dr. John Campbell, author Sonia Elijah delves into the core arguments of her book *3/11 Viral Takeover*, which examines the COVID‑19 pandemic’s origins and aftermath. The conversation spotlights flawed PCR testing, the sidelining of Great...
Pharmaceutical Executive Daily: Eli Lilly Acquires Kelonia Therapeutics
Eli Lilly announced a $7 billion deal to acquire Kelonia Therapeutics, adding genetic‑medicine and novel delivery technologies to its pipeline. In parallel, President Trump issued an executive order to speed FDA reviews of psychedelic therapies, signaling a policy shift toward emerging mental‑health...
AI Medical Misinformation Fooled Every Major Chatbot
Researchers at the University of Gothenburg fabricated a fake skin disease called bixonimania and posted two bogus preprints in early 2024. Major AI chatbots—including Microsoft Copilot, Google Gemini, Perplexity AI and OpenAI’s ChatGPT—mistook the fictitious condition for a real medical disorder and...
What Do Spine Surgery Patients Want, Above All Else?
A new Level I systematic review and meta‑analysis of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 5,657 patients and more than 9,200 return‑to‑work (RTW) data points shows cervical disc replacement (CDR) enables faster work resumption than anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)....
DOJ’s UnitedHealth-Amedisys Deal Remedy Keeps Healthcare Antitrust in Focus
The U.S. Department of Justice reached a settlement with UnitedHealth Group over its proposed acquisition of Amedisys, requiring the sale of substantial assets to address antitrust concerns in home health and hospice markets. The agreement, backed by a coalition of...
What Patients Value in Data Reuse for Oncology Research: A Multi-Stakeholder Qualitative Study to Inform the European Health Data Space...
A new multi‑stakeholder qualitative study examined what oncology patients value when their health data are reused for research. Conducted in Belgium, the research highlights patients’ demand for transparent consent, robust data security, and clear societal benefits. Findings are intended to...
Leaving Clinical Practice for Medical Advocacy and Purpose
Developmental‑behavioral pediatrician Ronald L. Lindsay announced his departure from clinical practice to focus on medical advocacy, launching the Coalition for Dignity in Neurodevelopmental Care. He describes the shift as an unexpected, purpose‑driven acceleration rather than a planned career pivot. The...
Psychedelics Go Mainstream
President Donald Trump issued an executive order to speed up research and access to psychedelic therapies, allocating $50 million in federal funding and instructing regulators to dismantle long‑standing barriers. The move validates a growing investment thesis that the psychedelic sector will...
Anti-Mask Sentiment Is Making It Hard to Protect People From Wildfire Smoke
Wildfire smoke is now a leading public‑health threat, with recent studies estimating roughly 25,000 U.S. deaths each year and links to developmental disorders such as autism. Record‑warm winters and severe drought across the West have driven fire activity, burning over...
NHS Patients Denied Robot-Assisted Surgery Based on Postcode, Study Reveals
A new study using Freedom of Information requests shows NHS patients in England face a postcode lottery for robot‑assisted surgery. London’s NHS trusts operate 28 surgical robots while the South West has only six, reflecting wildly different local funding approaches....
How Late 2025 and Early 2026 Earnings Calls Expose the Medicare Advantage Pullback, the Migration of Margin From Insurance to...
Late‑2025 and early‑2026 earnings calls reveal that senior health‑care utilization has reset at a higher level, forcing insurers to reprice rather than recover margins. Medicare Advantage growth has stalled, with carriers cutting supplemental benefits and focusing on per‑member profitability, hurting...
🌊 Is Marijuana Dangerous?
The blog notes that marijuana legalization has exploded—38 states now permit medical use and 24 plus Washington, D.C. allow recreation—while THC potency has surged from 1‑4% in the 1970s to the mid‑20s today, with some extracts topping 90%. A recent...
Brainjo Secures €2m in Seed Funding for VR Mental Health Tech
German startup brainjo announced a €2 million (≈$2.2 million) seed round to develop its first virtual‑reality Digital Health Application (DiGA). The VR‑based tool is designed as a prescribable adjunct for children with ADHD, allowing at‑home use alongside traditional psychotherapy. Funding was led...
United Therapeutics Supports 120+ Experts at Quantum Biology Forum
United Therapeutics CEO Martine Rothblatt funded the inaugural Quantum Biology Forum, drawing over 120 scientists, industry leaders, and innovators to explore quantum mechanics as a therapeutic target. The two‑day event, hosted by Northwell Health, examined quantum effects such as electron...
As UK Regulators Tighten the Rules on Mental Health Apps, the Next Test Is Post-Treatment Monitoring
The UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has introduced robust guidance that forces mental‑health apps to meet minimum safety standards, display a CE or UKCA mark and be listed on an official register. The new rules also give...
GLP-1 May Only Be the Beginning, Not the End of the Story
Researchers led by Richard DiMarchi and Matthias Tschöp published a paper in Molecular Metabolism showing that triple agonist retatrutide can drive weight loss even when GLP‑1 signaling is blocked. Their preclinical work demonstrates that co‑activating GIP and glucagon receptors produces...
Beyond the "Safe" Narrative
A retrospective study by Jacobs et al. examined directed blood donations at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from 2024 to 2025, focusing on patients who rejected standard inventory over COVID‑19 vaccine concerns. The analysis found a modest rise in such donations...