Tony Manoukian MD was a One in a Million Guy!
Anthony Manoukian, MD came to Maui in the early 1990s as the county medical examiner with a strong background in forensic pathology. His kind, intelligent, humble, warm and thoughtful personality made him a strong and very well-liked member of the Hawai‘i medical community. He performed about 200 post mortem exams each year on Maui and other islands, often to assist police investigations. When necessary he provided valuable testimony at trials and hearings to explain cause and/or mechanism of a questionable death. His skill as a medical expert was recognized by all and his lucid presentations at trial left little room for challenge. Jury members often remarked about his skill in simple direct testimony which made things clearer and easier to understand. Tony was admired and respected by all who knew him. When he became fatally ill about four months ago, diagnostic studies revealed spongiform encephalopathy, the hallmark of Jacob Creutzfeldt disease (CJD), an incurable and rapidly fatal illness. The frequency of CJD is one in one million. His departure is a great loss to our medical family, as well as the entire island ohana.
It is a Sin to Believe Evil of Others, but it is Seldom a Mistake.
Forty-two Republicans have signed a request for the White House to withdraw the appointment of Donald Berwick as head of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). President Obama delivered the job to Dr. Berwick during a Congressional recess when there was no opportunity for committee questions. Democratic chairman Max Baucus complained at the time because CMS commands massive power over medical care and government spending, and Senate evaluation is important. The 42 GOP senators object to the appointment claiming that Dr. Berwick is a Harvard trained think-tank wonk without broad experience and moreover he has authored radical proposals about medical care. Others have pointed out that his past record in quality assurance in hospitals and clinics has resulted in reduced accidents and malpractice claims. He is an advocate of the National Health Service in Great Britain. While it is true that the GOP can block the confirmation if they maintain unity, the White House is not giving in at this time.
Adam Asked Himself, “Should I Teach Her to Talk?”
No matter how you dice it, slice it or perfume it, the income gap between male and female doctors just isn't fair. Although women now make up nearly half of all medical school graduates, they are paid measurably lower salaries than their male counterparts. The data measured and reported in Health Affairs found that males are annually paid $17,000 more. The difference was 12.5% in 1999, but has increased to 17% in 2008. Lead researcher Professor Anthony Lo Sasso at the University of Illinois School of Public Health in Chicago postulated that the pay differential may be because women doctors are planning greater flexibility like family benefits and avoiding being on call. Still, it certainly looks like gender bias.
Please Remove Your Clothes and Plug This In.
At Northwestern University, tenured psychology Professor John Michael Bailey invited his class of 567 students to stay for an extracurricular demonstration of a sexual act involving a woman, a man and an electric-powered device. 100 students remained for the event and the campus newspaper published an article about the class. Defending his action, Professor Bailey issued a lengthy statement including, “thoughtful discussion of controversial topics is a cornerstone of learning.” Initially, Northwestern University supported the professor, but an outcry from alumni and other university people caused Northwestern to change their stance. Northwestern President Morton Schapiro said, “Many members of the Northwestern community are disturbed by what took place on our campus, and so am I.” He launched an investigation of this shocking episode.
The Devil Made Me Do It.
Toyota has recalled nearly eight million automobiles, paid a record $48.8 million in fines, defended hundreds of lawsuits and endured humiliating grilling before Congress. After ten months of studying complaints, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) investigation aided by NASA reached the conclusion that the problem was driver error. Like unexplainable aircraft crashes, the National Transportation Safety Administration likes to state simply “pilot error.” Department of Transportation Secretary Roy LaHood didn't want to use that language so the DOT came up with “pedal misapplications.” This Orwellian bit of newspeak is an apparent attempt to avoid saying the driver was too stupid to tell the difference between brake pedal and accelerator.
Puff Enough Pot to Become Schizophrenic and Get a Double Portion.
Although the relationship of cannabis use and psychosis is well established, the question has remained whether the cannabis triggered the psychosis or if people were taking pot for their symptoms. Researchers led by Professor Jim van Os of Maastricht University in Netherlands studied 1900 users, ages between 14 to 24, over a ten year period with evaluation at three, seven and ten years. Previous users of cannabis or those with a history of psychotic symptoms were excluded. Other research team members were from Germany, Switzerland and the U.K, with findings reported in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). The study found that cannabis “significantly” increased the risk of psychotic symptoms, such as schizophrenia, even when other factors such as socio-economic status, use of other drugs and history of other psychiatric symptoms were considered. Sir Robin Murray, Professor of Psychiatry at King's College, London, said the study added “a further brick in the wall of evidence that regular use of cannabis is a contributory cause of psychoses.”
Send a Volley Cheer on High. Shake Down the Thunder from the Skies.
Everyone knew the wind was blowing hard and gusts were reaching 60 mph. For some presumed to be very important reason, an unnamed athletic department supervisor directed a 20 year-old Notre Dame student to film football practice from on high. He went up in a scissor lift to 35 feet in howling winds, and sent Tweets to his friends expressing fear for his life. The lift blew over, and the student fell to his death. The Indiana Department of Labor spent four months investigating the incident, charged Notre Dame with six safety violations and levied fines up to $77,500. President John Jenkins issued a statement, “We failed to keep the student safe and for that we remain profoundly sorry.” He promised a thorough Notre Dame investigation and will issue a complete public report.
Everyone Seems Normal Until You Get to Know Them.
It may have seemed like a good idea at the time, but now many people want their tattoo gone. An article published in the Archives of Dermatology found that the main reasons are embarrassment, new job or career, and body-image issues. Others stated they were just tired of it and said they had grown up since getting labeled. Laser removal works but often takes from three to ten treatments and can run into thousands of dollars. At home removal using chemical skin-peeling kits, such as trichloroacetic acid and other exfoliation products, will slough off the layer of skin covering the tattoo but not remove it. Repeated use may cause the tattoo to fade. Dermatologists are skeptical of the home use products stating that they are less effective, may be risky and have caused serious skin injury, as in at least one known case which required a skin graft. Moreover, as skin ages with wrinkling and sagging, so does the tattoo. The black panther on my friend's shoulder gradually morphed into a gecko. The moral is: think before you ink, especially with peer pressure and after three shots of tequila.
Be Careful when Playing with Beach Balls.
Reuters reported that a man had been swimming in the nude at Valalta Beach in Croatia. When he got out of the water and sat in a beach chair his chilled testicles slipped through slats in the chair. Upon attempting to rise later, his now body-temperature testicles were snared between the slats. Ultimately, a saw was required to free the man.
Great Balls of Fire!
In Denmark, a man was in the operating room to have a pigmented lesion removed from one of his butt cheeks. When his surgeon used an electrocautery to stop a bleeder, the patient passed intestinal gas. The spark ignited the expelled methane gas which caused the spirit-soaked operative field to burst into flame. The patient suffered first and second degree burns of his genitals and surrounding skin. Talk about a hot piece of …!
Addenda
Weight an evangelist carries with God equals one Billigram.
If you are ill and can't afford a doctor, go to the airport. You will get a free x-ray and breast exam, and if you mention al Qaeda, you will get a colonoscopy.
Aloha and keep the faith — rts
(Editorial comment is strictly that of the writer.)