Just Medicine

In this first episode of a 2-part series on Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) for mental health, I chatted with Dr. Diane McIntosh on the equity considerations that follow the legalization of MAiD for psychiatric conditions. Listen in as Dr. McIntosh shares her expertise and perspective on this issue, discussing the disproportionate impact MAiD might have on vulnerable populations, how a lack of access to care might drive individuals to seek MAiD, and some of the health equity concerns that are raised by the law. For more information on MAiD in Canada, check out the link below: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/cj-jp/ad-am/bk-di.html

We're back with another episode and this month we're focusing on one of the most important skills we learn in medicine, history taking! Specifically in this episode we focus on taking a good substance use history while remaining sensitive and providing patient-centred care. Please see below for the terms we discussed in episodes. Enjoy! Terminology (Terms can change over time and they are usually regionally specific, so this list is most specific to the West Coast) Substance names Up = Stimulants (Usually cocaine, in powder or crack form) Down = Opioids (Not specific to a single opioid, but usually in BC refers to fentanyl) Side = crystal methamphetamine (or crystal) Combinations: Speedball = cocaine and opioids Goofball = Crystal meth and opioids Quantity of substance A Point = 0.1 gram 8 ball/a ball = 1/8 of an ounce = 3.5 g Route of Injection Smashing = inject in any form (IV, IM, SC) Muscling = intramuscular injections Skin popping = subcutaneous injections Jugging = injection directly into the jugular vein

We are BACK! In this episode, I sat down with Dr. Maria Hubinette to chat about Trauma-Informed Care. Many of our patients have faced many forms of trauma and even had traumatic experiences in healthcare settings. It's important to recognize that health systems and healthcare workers can contribute to trauma and how we can alleviate some of the damage that can happen in health encounters through TIC.

In this month's episode, we're continuing our panel discussion with our 3 special guests. We delve deeper into what transitioning means and what are the different components of it. All of the resources mentioned in the podcast are as always listed in the show notes below. We highly recommend looking through Trans Care BC for any extra information! If you have any questions, want to suggest a topic for us to cover, or know of any experts in a particular field, please email us at justmedicinepod@gmail.com. Resources and References: Trans Care BC Primary Care Toolkit (Updated March 2023): http://www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/Documents/HealthProf/Primary-Care-Toolkit.pdf Trans Care BC Testosterone Consent: http://www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/Documents/HealthProf/pctoolkit-testosterone-consent.pdf Trans Care BC Estrogen/Testosterone Blocker Consent: http://www.phsa.ca/transcarebc/Documents/HealthProf/pctoolkit-estrogen-testosterone-blocker-consent.pdf

In the first episode of this special multi-part series on Gender Affirming Care, I chatted with 3 special guests who are advocates for inclusive trans care. Rae, Lucas, and Dr. Thompson all bring their own experiences and perspectives in how medical trainees can engender (pun intended) change in medical education with respective to gender affirming care. If you have any questions, want to suggest a topic for us to cover, or know of any experts in a particular field, please email us at justmedicinepod@gmail.com.  Resources and References:  Trans activist leaving Canada https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/london/sorrenti-trans-activist-leaving-canada-1.6559289 WHO definition of Gender Affirming Care https://www.who.int/standards/classifications/frequently-asked-questions/gender-incongruence-and-transgender-health-in-the-icd Trevor Project Youth Mental Health Survey https://www.thetrevorproject.org/survey-2020/?section=Introduction Mental Health Disparities Among Canadian transgender youth https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28007056/ Transgender Noninclusive Healthcare and Delaying Care Because of Fear: Connections to General Health and Mental Health Among Transgender Adults: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5436369/ Dr. Thompson’s article in Perspectives on Medical Education about teaching a Gender Affirming Care Framework https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8600495/ Broken Arm Syndrome https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36736052/ Injustice at Every Turn: A Report of the National Transgender Discrimination Survey https://transequality.org/sites/default/files/docs/resources/NTDS_Report.pdf Trans-misogyny https://www.juliaserano.com/av/TransmisogynyPrimer-Serano.pdf Racialized Equity Labor: https://academic.oup.com/socpro/article-abstract/67/2/286/5488730?redirectedFrom=fulltext Music by Lesfm from Pixabay.

Enjoy this bonus episode discussing some introductory terms and concepts to be familiar with as we kick off the Gender Affirming Care series! In the next few months, we will be exploring different facets of gender inclusive care with a variety guests from different backgrounds and lived experiences. Producer's note: the accompanying episode will be released on Thursday, Mar 9.  If you have any questions, want to suggest a topic for us to cover, or know of any experts in a particular field, please email us at justmedicinepod@gmail.com. Music by Lesfm from Pixabay.

Dr. Katerina Wind, a family physician and recent graduate, explores the flaws of BMI and its impact on healthcare. She shares her personal journey from facing an eating disorder to embracing Health at Every Size principles. The conversation dives into the stigma patients experience due to weight biases and the misdiagnoses that can arise. Katerina advocates for weight-inclusive care, offering practical advice for practitioners to shift from weight-centric approaches, ultimately enhancing patient rapport and encouraging sustainable health practices.

Dr. Marcus Greatheart is a family physician and social worker specializing in mental health and addiction, working with marginalized populations. He shares insights on the significance of recognizing privilege in healthcare and the necessity of building trust with underserved patients. Dr. Greatheart discusses the intricate challenges faced by individuals with complex needs and highlights the importance of trauma-informed care and compassionate communication. He also emphasizes the need for practical solutions to barriers that hinder access to care.

Welcome to Just Medicine! Here, we mean “just” in the fairness capacity and not in the “only” sense. In fact, this podcast is not “just” about medicine but how medicine is applied and adapted to the real-world conditions of our patients. This is a student-led podcast created by medical students for medical trainees. We will be bringing episodes to you monthly, where we sit down and chat with a guest about a social justice topic that they are passionate about. If you have any questions, want to suggest a topic for us to cover, or know of any experts in a particular field, please email us at justmedicinepod@gmail.com