microbiology infectious disease 340
Antibiotics: Preserve the miracle?

The placebo effect is well-known in modern medicine. Unfortunately, the most effective medicines we’ve ever discovered are more often used as placebos rather than cures. What are these medicines? Antibiotics. They’ve added 20 years to the average human life expectancy,…

arcanum veritas LITFL 340
De testimonio

I recently discovered the online slideshow (with audio) version of Professor Sir Michael Rawlins' 2008 Harveian Oration titled "De testimonio: On the evidence for decisions about the use of therapeutic interventions".

The BIG Picture
The Big Picture

Do we accept our fate, knowing we – you and I – will be dead and decomposing by the time the real horror sets in? Or do we love the land under our feet enough, the sparkle of cool water, the colour of a billion birds and insects, and, of course, our fellow humans

Aequanimitas osler 340
Becoming an Oslerphile

Learning about the life of Sir William Osler (1849-1919) is perhaps the ultimate lesson in how to live life and practice medicine. Yet, he doesn’t go to war, he doesn’t fight or kill anyone, he doesn’t change the Fates of…