Narcotic Overdose Death After Tonsillectomy

This is a stock image. Here is a case  reported by media on 5/14/16 for which there is probably no right answer... The facts are not in dispute in which a 24 years old man underwent tonsillectomy 2/3/12 and died 9 days later from an overdose of narcotics, anti-anxiety meds, and cocaine. The main issue from an ENT perspective is whether the 145 narcotic pills that were prescribed for this patient was appropriate or not. You can read the media report here . Timeline: Feb 2, 2012:  Patient …

5/29/2016 0

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7 Signs of Helicopter Parenting in the Exam Room

Image courtesy of photostock at  FreeDigitalPhotos.net The Millennials are the primary beneficiaries (or victims) of parents who have the means and ability to obsessively guide, educate, and most importantly, over-protect them from the world/life. Such helicopter parents ultimately raise kids into adults who researchers feel at worst never learn to cope with adversity, lack the ability to make hard decisions, and are prone to anxiety disorders. It is from the education perspective that m…

10/04/2015 0

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Deaths Associated with Codeine Usage in Young Kids

For decades, surgeons have provided young children with prescriptions for pain control after tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy surgery, most commonly tylenol with codeine (otherwise known as tylenol #3), but also related narcotics including morphine, lortab, hydrocodone, etc. Millions upon millions of such prescriptions have been filled and taken without any problems, but there is now a growing concern that such narcotics may be causing more harm than good in a small percentage of kids a…

10/14/2012 0

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A Crime For Doctors to Ask About Guns?

When I saw this report on ABC about a Florida politician wanting to make it a crime if a physician asks about guns in the home or else face 5 years in jail and up to $5 million fine, I could not believe it. Who cares that more children die of accidents than of diseases. It is standard practice for pediatricians to provide guidance on a variety of unintentional injury-prevention counseling for infants, preschool-aged children, school-aged children, and adolescents as well as their parents…

1/30/2011 1

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