There has recently been a lot of discussion in the news about the dangers of cosmetic surgery, sparked this time by the news that thousands of women had received faulty breast implants. However, the thing I have been even more surprised about is the huge number of people who undergo cosmetic treatments on their teeth without appearing to consider the risks. Perfectly (and, some would argue, unnaturally) straight and white teeth have now almost become the norm and going through cosmetic surgical procedures to obtain them has become so acceptable that people do not question parents organising these cosmetic procedures for their young children. Have they become so ubiquitous that many people with nothing wrong with their teeth feel they look unacceptable and unattractive without these interventions? However, thirty years ago these dental procedures were rare –in thirty years time from now will it be unusual to see someone with a normal, non-reconstructed body?

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"The most influential doctor in history was not Hippocrates, Jenner, or Osler; but a first century physician-turned-missionary called Luke. The Apostle Paul wrote thirteen books of the Bible, John another five, but Luke's writings make up more of the volume of the New Testament then either of ... Read More »

Whenever a radio or television announcer says we are about to hear an interview with Tony Blair, I turn off my ears. This may be an excessive response but many years ago our former prime minister lost my trust. For me, what was an exciting political prospect became a betrayal, and a warmongering one at that. He was, as it ... Read More »

I am in the process of moving house and have been looking round lots of furniture shops in the January sales for a bed, sofas and chairs.

 

In the last few weeks I have heard many extreme claims from sales advisors about the ‘health benefits’ of particular beds and chairs. I have been shown beds and mattresses that ‘improve circulation’ and ‘reduce asthma and lung problems’. I have been told that buying a foot stool with a sofa or upgrading to reclining sofa will ‘take the strain off your heart by using a pump in your heel’. These unsubstantiated and unlikely health claims are not limited to furniture – shoes and sportswear often come with promises of weight loss and muscle strengthening seemingly by simply wearing the items.

 

This blog asks why such sales pitches can be made for these items, but the same claims for a medicine, or even a food product, would rightly be subjected to far more rigorous analysis and asks if it is time that such claims should be backed up by scientific evidence?

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One man's meat is another's posion.  ... Read More »

“What do you think Ginger?” Silence …then.. “Ginger thinks your tie is very nice.” Nothing much wrong on the surface, but this was Alice, a family friend in her 70s, discussing my new tie with her cat. Alice was not mad, nothing ‘medically’ wrong, just quirky and a cat lover. I ... Read More »

Sharing public space can be difficult. Yes, when there is plenty of it around, problems are less likely to occur. But for town dwellers, manoeuvring where space is limited, things are different and negotiation is often needed. There are rules of conduct, such as “first-come-first-served” and the offer of ... Read More »

 
I was lucky enough recently to obtain 2 tickets to see the latest production of Othello. So on a Tuesday, after a busy day in the operating theatre (excuse the pun), my wife and I trotted off to the Crucible Theatre in Sheffield to see Dominic West and Clarke Peters play Iago and Othello in William Shakespeare's ... Read More »

The road between us and the neighbouring village – the strangely named Mejou Roz – has no frills. It runs around fields, through a hamlet and looks across to the sea. It has no markings, no kerb,  no street lamps and it is very winding – 4km for us, two for the crows. It is also bordered by the ... Read More »

Being undressed by a CT scanner.  ... Read More »