There are now more than 13,600 known diseases, meaning doctors become specialists and ignore the medical system as a whole, Dr Atul Gawande told Stanford’s School of Medicine graduating class.
US healthcare
You can’t punish people who make poor health choices
Why should we pick up the tab for people who overeat and smoke? It’s a common argument for those against health care. But personal responsibility is a messy and tricky issue, writes cardiologist Sandeep Hauhar.
Blood, sweat and night shifts: the life of an ER nurse
From dealing with dead children, to aggressive gang members and the black humour that nurses have in droves, LA Times offers a fascinating look at a hospital’s ER nurses.
US health reform: what does it mean?
Yesterday, President Obama signed the health care reform bill in Washington. But what exactly does the bill entail and is it a crushing defeat for the conservatives? Dr Lesley Russell explains.
Your Say: Daily Mail readers' feedback: Crikey’s election coverage
Crikey readers blast Crikey over our SA election coverage. Will you be seeing articles by Bill O’Reilly next week in Crikey? asks one reader.
After a century of failure, Obama passes US health reform
It took 20 years, but the US has finally passed major healthcare reform. Michael Tomasky explains how the Democrats pulled it off, and what it means for the party and country going forward.
Video of the Day: The Mad Hatters at the Tea Party
A little chat with the protesting Tea Partiers in Washington, there to oppose Obama’s health care bill. It’s a happy collection of Fox News lovers, socialised medicine haters, people who haven’t actually read the bill and elephants.
The US healthcare bill for dummies
So you want to get all outraged about the US healthcare bill and whether it passes or not, but are perhaps slightly unsure of exactly what it means? Salon provides the ten facts you need to know.
must read NYT liveblogs the health reform vote
Health care reform in the US is looking like it just might happen, with Democratic leaders claiming they now have the 216 votes needed to pass the bill later today. The NYT has the all the latest as this historic moment unfolds.
Will US healthcare reform pass?
Reminiscent of the infamous Aussie election worm, Slate has created a fancy ‘whipometer’ with a quivering arrow to judge how likely it is that Barack Obama can get US health care reform passed.
Geraldine Brooks tells America: Australia’s “socialised medicine” saved my life
Australian-born Pulitzer Prize winning author Geraldine Brooks may have taken up US citizenship, but when she was diagnosed with cancer, she put her life back in the hands of her home country and its universal health care.
Video of the Day: Olbermann: “Last Friday night my father asked me to kill him”
“Last Friday night my father asked me to kill him” says MSNBC correspondent Keith Olbermann, in an emotional plea on the state of health care in the US and his experience with the controversial death panels.
What we can learn from the US on hospitals
Croakey’s correspondent on all matters North American, Dr Lesley Russell, reports on health initiatives in the US aimed at improving patient safety in the US that has some useful pointers for Australia.
Rush Limbaugh loves socialised medicine?
Conservative political commentator Rush Limbaugh has been outspoken in his repulsion of recent US health care reforms. But following a recent hospital visit of his own, did he enjoy the benefits of socialised medicine and unions without realising?
Limbaugh hospitalised and internet explodes
Rush Limbaugh, the notorious conservative US shock jock, is recovering after an emergency hospital visit in Hawaii hospital. The Atlantic Wire reports on the bitter internet battle between Limbaugh’s supporters and detractors.
Fascist, socialist and German: a history of US health care reform
US health care is not some newfangled plan, but rather a highly debated 100 year old issue which governments have slickly linked to political ideologies. The New Yorker puts together a brief — and depressing — health reform history.
Tiger: the wild distraction from our depressing lives
Why is the sex life of Tiger Woods so popular? We need something light hearted to take away from the bleak news of increased troops to Afghanistan and the sad state of US health care reform, writes Gail Collins.
leaked 
The Republican guide to blocking progress
Republican Senator Judd Gregg has penned a how-to manual for holding up health care reform in the US, and HuffPo has the full document. Someone please CC to Tony Abbott.
US edges closer to health reform
The US Senate has voted to begin debating Obama’s health care reforms. It’s another hurdle cleared, but there’s still a long road ahead, with the country — and even the Democratic Party itself — deeply divided over the issue.
How many calories would you like with that order?
Croakey’s North American correspondent, Dr Lesley Russell, investigates the effectiveness of “calorie-counting” menus, while a local obesity policy expert, Jane Martin, looks at whether such an option might be useful in Australia.
15 years later, can Clinton finally reform US health care?
Bill Clinton has paid a visit to Capitol Hill Democrats, urging them do what he never could: pass a health care reform bill. Don’t miss the audio of the speech: “It’s my Secretary of State calling!”
A lot to be said for socialism in an American ER …
The Democrats passed their health-care reform legislation in the House of Representatives over the weekend, though a Senate vote will be even tougher. The legislation may be imperfect, but it’s a start.
