Hsieh Forbes Column: Does Your Doctor Work For A Private Equity Company -- And Should You Care?

My latest Forbes column is now out: "Does Your Doctor Work For A Private Equity Company -- And Should You Care?"

Perverse incentives can exist in both private and government business models.

Hsieh Forbes Column: How Defying One's Boss Led To A New Medical Discovery

My latest Forbes column is now out: "How Defying One's Boss Led To A New Medical Discovery".

Sometimes innovation works in mysterious ways!

Hsieh Forbes Column: Some State Governments Are Banning Businesses From Asking Customers About Covid-19 Vaccination

My June 2021 Forbes piece is now out: "Some State Governments Are Banning Businesses From Asking Customers About Covid-19 Vaccination Status -- Why That's A Bad Idea".

This is a blatant violation of property rights of the businesses in question. 

Hsieh Forbes Column: Perks And Incentives For Covid-19 Vaccination May Backfire

My latest Forbes column is now out: "Perks And Incentives For Covid-19 Vaccination May Backfire".

I discuss the proliferation of prizes and incentives being offered to get people vaccinated, and how this can sometimes create the opposite effect of making people more suspicious of the vaccine.

Hsieh Forbes Column: Not Everyone Wants To Be Vaccinated. I'm OK With That

My latest Forbes column is now out: "Not Everyone Wants To Be Vaccinated. I'm OK With That".

I discuss how freedom of choice might impede the push to achieve "herd immunity", and how individual rights apply in this context.

Hsieh Forbes Column: To Improve Telemedicine, Reform Outdated State Medical Licensing Rules

My latest Forbes column is now out: "To Improve Telemedicine, Reform Outdated State Medical Licensing Rules".

I discuss some proposals to make it easier for physicians to practice telemedicine across state lines. I'm glad these ideas are getting more attention in outlets such as The New England Journal Of Medicine.

Hsieh Forbes Column: Relaxing Regulations During A Pandemic

[Off topic] My latest Forbes piece is now out: "The Case For Relaxing Regulations During A Pandemic".

Reducing regulations can help during a pandemic. And also not during a pandemic.

Pfizer Vaccine!

Thank you, Pfizer and the Medical Center of Aurora! I'm grateful to all the hard-working scientists and researchers who developed this innovative product. Your ingenuity and efforts will help millions of people around the world.

Hsieh Forbes Column: Why I Wear A Mask

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Why I Wear A Mask".

This is my response to a question I've frequently received from friends and readers.

 

Hsieh Forbes Column: "When The Doctor Becomes A Patient"

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "When The Doctor Becomes A Patient: My Thanks For US Health Care".

I offer some post-Thanksgiving gratitude for the many good things of the US health system that I experienced during my recent bout of septic olecranon bursitis.

 

Hsieh Forbes Column: Three Covid-19 Success Stories

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Three Covid-19 Success Stories".

We can learn from places and organizations that have been able to limit the spread of the virus.  

Of note: "[E]conomic self-interest dovetailed nicely with infection control for both Disney World and the NBA. Both organizations had strong economic reasons to make their endeavors successful for employees and customers alike."

Hsieh Forbes Column: Is It Safe To Crack Your Knuckles?

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Is It Safe To Crack Your Knees And Knuckles?"

And click through to learn why Dr. Donald Unger is the deserving recipient of an Ig Nobel Prize for research in this area! 

Hsieh Forbes Column: Could A ‘Morality Pill’ Help Stop The Covid-19 Pandemic?

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Could A ‘Morality Pill’ Help Stop The Covid-19 Pandemic?"

I make the following three points in response to this speculative proposal:

1) The science is still quite dubious.

2) The concept of a “morality pill” is pretty controversial amongst ethicists.

3) Even if a “morality pill” were fully safe and effective, the ethics of any mandatory “morality pill” basically reduces to the already existing ethics over mandating people wear masks. 

For more details, read the full piece at "Could A ‘Morality Pill’ Help Stop The Covid-19 Pandemic?"

Hsieh Forbes Column On Blood Type And Science Reporting

My latest July 2020 Forbes column is out: "Blood Type May Have Minimal Effect On Covid-19 Health Risk".

Beware early science reporting on "hot" topics.

Hsieh Forbes Column: Delayed Cancer Care Due To Covid-19 Could Cost Thousands Of Lives

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Delayed Cancer Care Due To Covid-19 Could Cost Thousands Of Lives".

I discuss the cost in lives due to the lockdowns, and how this illustrates Bastiat's principle of "the seen vs. the unseen". I also offer some practical suggestions for patients and for lawmakers.

Hsieh Forbes Column: 9 More Bizarre Consequences Of The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic

My latest Forbes piece is out: "9 More Bizarre Consequences Of The Covid-19 Coronavirus Pandemic".

My favorite:

A clever app developed by Japanese firm Yamaha allows fans to remotely cheer (or boo) players from home, played through the stadium speakers so that players can feel the energy of the online crowd.

The article wryly notes, “The app does not, as yet, allow fans to question the referee’s eyesight, or the eating habits of players who struggled to stay match-fit during the league’s virus-enforced break.”

Hsieh Forbes Column: Do Not Delay Urgent Medical Care Due To COVID-19

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Do Not Delay Urgent Medical Care Due To The COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic".

I'm glad to be able to discuss some practical information for patients, as well as to tie our current situation back to Bastiat's famous principle of "the seen vs. the unseen."

Hsieh Forbes Column: 11 Bizarre Consequences Of The COVID-19 Pandemic

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "11 Bizarre Consequences Of The COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic".  Here is the opening:

Imagine you had fallen into a coma a month ago and had just woken up. How much would the world have changed?

The COVID-19 virus has created enormous suffering and challenges for many around the world. I don’t wish to minimize the hardships everyone is enduring.

And yet, there have also been numerous bizarre, quirky, and sometimes even humorous twists, such as...

Hsieh Forbes Column: How Will Doctors Allocate Scarce Medical Resources?

My latest Forbes piece is on the difficult topic of rationing health care: "How Will Doctors Allocate Scarce Medical Resources During The COVID-19 Coronavirus Pandemic?"

Patients, family, and physicians may need to be prepared for some difficult conversations ahead.

Hsieh Forbes Column: Tips For Staying Out Of The ER

My latest Forbes piece is now out: "Tips For Staying Out Of The ER During The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic".

Here's the opening:

As case numbers increase during the current Coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, hospital emergency rooms are becoming more crowded. Patients showing up at the ER for possible COVID will add to usual load of patients already there for heart attacks, stroke, acute appendicitis, accidents, “normal” influenza, etc.

So anything you can do to keep yourself out of the ER helps everyone (yourself included).

In that spirit, I’d like to remind folks follow some simple old-fashioned prudent practices...

(Full text available at "Tips For Staying Out Of The ER During The Coronavirus COVID-19 Pandemic".)