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Author Archive: Jennifer Chevinsky

05/23/2013

Doctor, a Bitcoin for Your Two-Cents?

Jennifer Chevinsky, BS

When surfing online forums, I have become accustomed to expecting the unexpected; however, coming across a website about new economic currencies, I was surprised to find a forum entitled ‘Medical Consult for Bitcoins.’  On this forum, individuals have written about their medical problems, agreeing to pay for medical advice posted in a response by a fellow member of the anonymous online community.  Once receiving the advice, the ‘patient’ would then pay – not with Dollars, Euros, or even Groupons – but by ‘Bitcoin.’

‘Bitcoin’ is the name of the monetary unit within the world’s first fully online payment system or currency.…

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This entry was posted in Cultural, Featured Posts, Health Care. Posted by Jennifer Chevinsky. Bookmark the permalink.

03/05/2013

The Diabetes Challenge

Jennifer Chevinsky, B.S.

A recent study found a strong association between the number of test strips covered by insurance and better medical care in type 1 diabetics. Test strips are impregnated with chemicals that react with glucose when sensed within a drop of blood. Strips are disposable and cost from 40 cents to $1 each, although this cost is often defrayed to some extent by insurance.

Type 1 diabetes, previously called ‘juvenile onset,’ is a chronic illness that affects over three million Americans.  It was previously referred to as ‘juvenile diabetes’ because it was believed that this condition only developed in childhood, a theory that has been disproven.  Individuals of all ages can and do develop type 1 diabetes.…

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02/06/2013

Paging Dr. Howser

Jennifer Chevinsky, B.S.

Hospitals in Adelaide, Australia had seen a young man looking like a doctor wandering hospital halls. Was this a case of Doogie Howser, M.D. – a fictional teenage doctor on a 90s television show – or something less benign? On February 1st, a 17-year-old Australian was arrested for impersonating a physician. He was arrested after treating a 12-year-old girl for minor injuries related to a scooter accident. The charges against him include administering prescription drugs, assault, and identity theft. As early as October, the seventeen-year old ‘physician’ had been found in hospitals across Adelaide, wearing scrubs and a name badge while confidently reading patient files.…

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01/23/2013

Diagnosing the Famous Non-Patient

Jennifer Chevinksy, B.S.

The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) has recently denounced the actions of neurologist Dr. Rustico Jimenez who publicly commented on the health status of boxer and politician, Manny Pacquiao. If Dr. Jimenez had evaluated Mr. Pacquiao as a patient, performing a history and physical exam, certainly it would be inappropriate for him to share any related findings with the public since that would be a breach of the duty of confidentiality. However, Dr. Jimenez is not Mr. Pacquiao’s physician nor has Dr. Jimenez met or examined Mr. Pacquiao. Dr. Jimenez stated that from observing Mr. Pacquiao from afar and from his professional knowledge that boxers are more likely to suffer from neurological disease, the politician-boxer may be experiencing early signs of Parkinson’s disease.…

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01/17/2013

Twenty-Three-Year-Old Female

Jennifer Chevinsky, B.S.

On December 16th, a 23 year-old female physiotherapy student was raped by six men on a private bus in New Delhi, India, while returning home from a movie theater. She has recently died, after being transferred in critical condition to a hospital in Singapore. This incident is one of many that has been plaguing India in recent years. It seems natural for us to demonize the six men who perpetrated this crime and to feel safer when they have been caught and prosecuted. However, it is important to also recognize the larger systemic structural violence issues at play if there is to be any hope for resolution and change to prevent such crimes in the future.…

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