Stanford Report, June 15, 2005

Media monitor

Many Americans tend to view health care as a commodity because they receive their health insurance as part of their employment benefits. But medical school dean Philip Pizzo wants to remind them that health care is "a professional service. As a physician, my obligation is to do the very best I can to take care of those who need my services." Pizzo made the comments June 7 while discussing a variety of health-care issues on KGO-AM's Gene Burns show. Pizzo also reiterated his support for moving the country to a single-payer health insurance system. "I think it will help to reduce and eliminate some of the excess overhead costs. So much of our health-care costs are wasted on administrative costs that never get to the patient in need."

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For Yasodha Natkunam, MD, assistant professor of pathology, being part of a relief team in Sri Lanka recently meant much more than bringing medications and surgical supplies to victims of poverty, war and the December tsunami. It was her first time back in the country she had left as a teenager. "I've been away so long. Things have gone back here. They're 50 years behind," she told the San Jose Mercury News in a June 12 profile. "But they said: 'Your coming is absolutely wonderful.' They thank me. They want it." Natkunam plans to return to Sri Lanka to help rebuild a medical system, and perhaps a network of pathology labs. "There is more work to do than I ever thought." In a separate article, the Mercury News also interviewed Rochelle Dicker, MD, assistant professor of surgery, who accompanied Natkunam to Sri Lanka as part of the relief team. She was struck by the devastation from the war and the tsunami, and hopes efforts will bring attention to the country's problems. "The people are very resilient," she said. "But chronic problems have gone neglected." http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/11876821.htm (registration required) http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/11876842.htm (registration required)

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National Public Radio reporters investigated whether Merck & Co. put pressure on physicians to keep them from discussing safety problems associated with the company's big-selling pain reliever Vioxx. James Fries, MD, professor of medicine, was mentioned during the reports, which aired June 10 during the "Morning Edition" segment. Fries discussed receiving a call from a medical director at Merck, stating that someone on Fries' staff had been making public statements about harmful cardiovascular side effects of Vioxx. "I don't usually receive phone calls on a Saturday at home from representatives of drug companies," he said in the report. "So it was definitely unusual." Fries also said that the director "hinted there would be repercussions" for Fries and Stanford if the statements didn't stop. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4696609 http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4696711