By Dr. David L. Katz

Election Day is imminent, and looks poised to be one of those “throw the bums out!” watershed moments. And, as you doubtless know, there is the dreadful if predictable outbreak of cholera in earthquake-ravaged Haiti. As I juxtapose the two, there is method in my apparent madness…

By Dr. David L. Katz

Last week, I argued the need to put a face on public health. This week, I make the reciprocal argument: at times, we need to face the fact that what’s best for one of us may diverge from what’s best for all of us. A college student, contemplating medical school, recently sent me a note expressing his concern about this, noting that an ever-growing human population seemed a threat to the health and perhaps viability of our species. So, he wondered if he might better ‘take care of people’ by doing something to protect the planet from our collective abuses, than by tending to patients one at a time.

By Dr. David L. Katz

At the horse farm where I ride, there was a dead shrew on the ground near one of the barns the other day. Clearly, not a matter of great consequence. Driving back home after my ride, I passed both a squirrel and opossum road kill. Regrettable, but not remarkable- or memorable….