Adolescents doping up

Some of you out there may remember the commercial above by basketball player Charles Barkley where he said, "I am not a role model." This stirred up a lot of press at the time and a debate on whether professional athletes have a responsibility and accountability for their actions - especially with children as fans.

Now, what people don't remember is that Barkley later in the commercial says that parents should be the role models and not athletes. He makes a good point here, but as the press does, they take things out of context can causes an uproar.

A study from United Press International Wednesday reported something really disturbing. It stated that 3 percent of 15-year-old kids admitted using performance enhancing drugs. This study involved a secondary school in eastern France.

Health problems, including becoming violent, change of voice and loss of consciousness, were experienced by 4 percent of the users, according to the researchers.

What really bothers me is that this is probably an underestimation of the real number. Self-reporting studies usually gives an inaccurately low result. Much has been written about athletes taking (or allegedly taking) performance enhancing drugs from Barry Bonds to Floyd Landis to Ben Johnson to others.

I don't care what anyone says. Kids do see this stuff. In my opinion, kids are exposed even more now to the "win at all costs" attitude of sport. Being designated a winner means fame and fortune - just ask those kids going from high school straight to the NBA or kids like Michelle Wie who are balancing high school and being on a professional golf tour.

Finally, how about this. What if an accurate study could be done seeing what percentage of adolescents in the United States take performance enhancing drugs? What do you think the numbers would be? I'm kind of frightened to find out.

Mars seeking applications

Want to feel like you're going to Mars? Live in Europe? Well, have I got a deal for you. On Tuesday, the European Space Agency announced that it is seeking applications for you to spend 17 months in an isolation tank, and this will simulate you going to Mars. (Yup, not kidding -- AFP)

Their spaceship will comprise a series of interlocked modules in an research institute in Moscow, and once the doors are closed tight, the volunteers will be cut off from all contact with the outside world except by a delayed radio link.

They will face simulated emergencies, daily work routines and experiments, as well as boredom and, no doubt, personal friction from confinement in just 550 cubic metres (19,250 cubic feet), the equivalent of nine truck containers.

Are you excited yet? Where do you sign up? Well, the application form can be downloaded from their website. When you download the application form, it's really weird. Here is just a sample of their questions:

Mac or PC?

Have you ever seen 2001: A Space Odyssey?

What's your opinion of John Gray? How about Lisa Nowak?

Are you a member of the mile-high club?

What did you think of The Soprano's final episode? Genius or fraud?

Do you think Rosie should be the new host of the Price is Right?

Then, after the initial screening is completed, the website says that there will be a Survivor-type elimination round that will be broadcast on European television where viewers will vote on who is in and who is out....

Ok, enough of that silliness. Is this thing real? It looks kind of like that tv show big brother, but for 17 months. What will probably happen is that this will end up being a hoax like that kidney donation tv show was. But, we'll see.

Post-Katrina deaths

The accusations of bad medical behavior following Hurricane Katrina are continuing to be played out. About a year ago, Dr. Anna Pou and two nurses were arrested be the Louisiana Attorney General and accused of murder of four patients at New Orleans' Memorial Medical Center after the storm.

According to this article from CNN.Com, the investigation continues with the above two nurses being given immunity thereby isolating the physician who has been "the main target of the investigation" according to the article.

The investigation determined that the four patients -- ages 63, 68, 91 and 93 -- were given a "lethal cocktail" of morphine and midazolam hydrochloride, both central nervous system depressants, [Lousiana Attorney General] Foti said.

None of the patients had been prescribed the drugs by their caregivers and none of the accused treated the four before the injections, Foti said. "This was not euthanasia," Foti said at a news conference last summer. "This was homicide."

This case brought a lot of headlines a year ago. I remember reading many news reports about it at the time. However, this article continues...

The case has languished since. Foti said he turned his findings over to Orleans Parish District Attorney Eddie Jordan, who by law must either file charges or reject the case.

Instead, Jordan impaneled a grand jury, and has vowed to let it decide what charges, if any, should be sought. Jordan also directed New Orleans Coroner Frank Minyard to hire outside forensic experts to review the case. But sources close to the investigation say the case has moved very slowly.

Remember after Katrina, there were lots of stories and rumors going around about what was happening down there after the storm. I remember hearing about alleged atrocities occurring at the Superdome (image credit). Months later, it was reported that these rumors were false.

Speaking of false accusations, Mike Nifong now knows the consequences of trumped up charges and running a poor investigation.

Now, don't get me wrong, I admit I don't know all the facts in the Dr. Pou case. All of my information is from the press (and you know how reliable they are). I am in no way defending what this physician is accused of doing.

However, there are a lot of politicians out there who are still using Hurricane Katrina to score political points for whatever reason. And, it's always politically popular to accuse physicians of wrong doing. It happens everyday in America.

With Louisiana investigators dragging their feet on this Dr. Poe investigation, this is making me very suspicious about the accuracy of the accusations. I have a gut feeling that this physician is being used to get someone down there re-elected.

I'll leave you with this scenario. Say, this physician is exonerated and all charges are dropped. Do you think we'll ever hear about it? Do you think that the press will report this? I think not. I think they'll move on to the next accusation of medical wrongdoing post-Katrina and talk about that....

The Ten Commandments

You're probably going to think I'm making these up, but I'm not. According to CNN.Com, the Vatican today issues a number of statements about issues like road rage (image credit) and safe driving. They are calling these "The Drivers' Ten Commandments" Yup, I'm not joking.

The "Drivers' Ten Commandments," as listed by the document, are:

1. You shall not kill.

2. The road shall be for you a means of communion between people and not of mortal harm.

3. Courtesy, uprightness and prudence will help you deal with unforeseen events.

4. Be charitable and help your neighbor in need, especially victims of accidents.

5. Cars shall not be for you an expression of power and domination, and an occasion of sin.

6. Charitably convince the young and not so young not to drive when they are not in a fitting condition to do so.

7. Support the families of accident victims.

8. Bring guilty motorists and their victims together, at the appropriate time, so that they can undergo the liberating experience of forgiveness.

9. On the road, protect the more vulnerable party.

10. Feel responsible toward others.

Don't get me wrong, these are not bad ideas. It's just kind of silly to think that the Vatican discussing travel and driving. What's next? I know the comedians out there will help me out on this.

Why are there Ten Commandments? I did some research on this, and I think George Carlin has the best theory on this. Enjoy this video clip - click here....

One Year Blogiversary!

365 days and 386 posts later, I'm still here. Can you believe it? Thanks to everyone out there in blog land for your assistance, advice, and support over the past year. I definitely couldn't have done any of this without you.

By the way, has anyone seen the blogiversary cake that goes with this candle? Maybe it can be found over here. Thanks again. I appreciate it more than you'll ever know...

Father's day memories

My dad and I always play golf on Father's Day. We usually begin the day with a family lunch, and then dad and I watch a little bit of the US Open golf tournament on television before going out to our local course.

I think I was about 10 years old when dad introduced me to the game of golf. I remember seeing Jack Nicklaus on television and asking my dad about the different shots that I was seeing on tv. I had no idea what he was talking about, but he was so happy trying to teach me.

As we went out to the practice range those first few times, it was kind funny trying to fit a 10 year old into adult golf clubs. I was lucky to just contact the ball. Dad was always patient with me, even when this snotty kid was throwing his clubs in frustration.

Through the years, golf has been a connecting point between me and my dad. We talked about golf and talked about life. He always managed to teach the lessons of life through golf - be patient, don't beat yourself up when you're frustrated, always remain optimistic, and shake off the bad shot because there's always another chance to do better.

In the last couple of years, I've come to the realization that dad is not going to be around forever. That's really a humbling thought. "Hey Dad! When can we play golf again?" As I said that today, I had a flashback to years ago when he was first teaching me the game. Happy Father's Day, Dad...

Revisited: Fireworks safety

When I was re-reading things from last year, I came across this one from June 30, 2006 which still cracks me up. It kind of goes with yesterday's post of Flag Day and with the Fourth of July coming up again in a few week, thought you may get a kick out of this one again. Have a great weekend everybody!

This is a public service announcement from Doctor Anonymous.

Since the Fourth of July is next week, I just wanted to review some important safety tips when it comes to fireworks. The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Council on Fireworks Safety offer these tips to help make your holiday a safe one.

In addition, please review the following educational video to see what could happen to loved ones when fireworks are used improperly. You may want to turn up the sound a bit to get the full effect. Click here for video. Remember, fireworks are not a toy, so use them wisely. (It's a tough day to be a stuffed animal -- HA!)

Happy Flag Day

The History of Flag Day

The Fourth of July was traditionally celebrated as America's birthday, but the idea of an annual day specifically celebrating the Flag is believed to have first originated in 1885. BJ Cigrand, a schoolteacher, arranged for the pupils in the Fredonia, Wisconsin Public School, District 6, to observe June 14 (the 108th anniversary of the official adoption of The Stars and Stripes) as 'Flag Birthday'. In numerous magazines and newspaper articles and public addresses over the following years, Cigrand continued to enthusiastically advocate the observance of June 14 as 'Flag Birthday', or 'Flag Day'.

The Kevin MD Top 8 List

Here's something interesting hot off the press over at Kevin, MD:

I am pleased to introduce the MedBlog Power 8.

I'm publishing a list of medical blogs that have had an exceptional week of blogging, similar to the "Power List" rankings you find on various sports websites - the so-called "Power 8" medical blogs.

Here is how it works:
* The list is revised every Wednesday and published every 2-3 days
* The blogs I choose to include, and subsequent rankings, is a purely subjective process. The decision is final and without debate.
* Kevin, M.D. is ineligible to be on the list.

This is an interesting concept. I wonder what the reaction will be out there in the medical blogosphere. There is no doubt that Kevin, MD is influential and being named to the Top Eight List is a recognition that most medbloggers will be shooting for (hint, hint).

I wonder why the number "eight" was chosen instead of a "top 10 list" or some other number. Curious. Plus, the "purely subjective" criteria will be interesting to see how that all plays out. You can kind of get some hints of Kevin, MD's interests by seeing what he highlights on a daily basis.

Kudos to the group from the Shrink Rap blog for making the very first Medblog Power Eight. Guess I have some work to do to try to make the list. I've always liked a challenge. We'll have to see how the concept of a top medblog list all plays out....

Revisited: Blogaholics Anonymous

Now, I realize that I'm not the first person to come up with the term "Blogaholics Anonymous." (Thanks Moof for the pic!) A quick google search finds about 30,000 results. Nonetheless, BA came along at the perfect time in the infancy of my blog.

Here's a little piece of the post from June 28, 2006 (day 9 of the blog):

I can hear the radio ads now, "Hi, I'm Dr. A, I'm not only a doctor, I'm also a client!" How about this as a slogan, "Join BA today! It's no BS!" Or, "Think you're addicted? Well, let's blog and find out!" There could be t-shirts, mugs, posters, mouse pads, key chains, etc --this could be HUGE!

And, HUGE it was. Little did I know how this thing would take off. I encourage you to check out the "minutes" of the BA meetings and see all the places that we have been to in the past. It was quite fun!

You know, I'm thinking about having a BA meeting next week. Hmmmm..... How would that go over? Would people show up? Would people have a good time? With everything going on in the medical blogosphere right now, it wouldn't hurt to try to have some levity. Interested? Check out I'm A Blogaholic for details....