Category Archives: Joe Layon

Quora Query: What Would a Typical Day be in My Life as an Anesthesiologist?

[From 2013, slightly updated] A couple of things first. Medicine is the coolest job on the face of the earth, and every specialty has its own “coolness”. One of the questions you should ask is: “Do I want to be … Continue reading

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Quora Query: Why Do Many Americans Think That Healthcare is not a Right for its Own Taxpaying Citizens, and Should it not be Considered as, or More, Important by the American Public Than is Education?

[Originally from 2012, slightly updated] I think first of all one need ask if the premise is correct: DO MOST Americans think that health care is not a right? And then I would ask: From where did you come up … Continue reading

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Quora Query: What are the Advantages and Disadvantages of Warm Whole Blood vs. Component Blood Products in Treating Trauma Patients?

[Updated slightly from 2012] The essentials are as follows (and this is the SHORT answer !): Components come from whole blood that is split into, well, components…..so whole blood becomes Packed Red Blood Cells, Fresh Frozen Plasma, and Fibrinogen; this … Continue reading

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Quora Query: When a Hospital “Works Out a Payment Plan” for You to Pay Off a Large Bill Over Several Months, Does the Hospital Charge Interest?

[Originally answered 2012, slightly updated] A very cool and complex query. 1. First of all, it depends upon the hospital. My suspicion is that most charge some interest. 2. If you are obliged to pay ANY amount, you can and … Continue reading

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Quora Query: Who Should be in Charge of Administrating a Hospital?

The question is ( or should be): What does it take to administer a hospital and who should do it ? [In a previous comment] Doctor Ford is correct that much of care provision is performed by our nursing colleagues, … Continue reading

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Quora Query: What is One Thing That you Regret Learning in Medical School?

It isn’t what I regret learning; it is what I regret not learning. 1. That death is cruel, fickle, and unjust; 2. That families often have no idea of medical limitations; 3. That physicians are often afraid to address points … Continue reading

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Quora Query: How Can You Maximize Your Happiness in Life?

So the question is: How do you maximize your happiness in life. And there are thousands of words just in this [Quora] Blog trying to answer that. Here is my 2 cents and there are two parts to the answer; … Continue reading

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Quora Query: Why Do Homeless People Become More Mentally Ill?

I think [previous answers] have it pretty much [covered]. People often become homeless because of mental illness. But homelessness is a bit more complex. Homelessness can be acute or chronic. Acute is usually made up of women and children who … Continue reading

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Quora Query: What Does “Critical but Grave” Condition Mean?

Great query. I am going to give you a really poor answer, frankly because there aren’t any good ones. The entire way that we in the intensive care unit (ICU) classify a sick person’s condition is almost totally subjective. So, … Continue reading

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Quora Query: If I find Someone Shot with an Arrow, Should I pull the Arrow Out?

I think [the response give by] Dr. Davis is correct. In general, when you are in a place where you can obtain medical attention LEAVE THE ARROW ALONE (or the knife, or the ……). It could not only be tamponading … Continue reading

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