A 3-step analgesic ladder was introduced in 1986 and needs change. Surgical interventions could reduce opioid use and motivate expansion of current pain management approaches.

This third era of opioids ruining thousands of US lives follows a first era of iatrogenic addiction stemming from the Harrison Act of 1914, and a second was marked by changes in pain treatment attitudes between 1950 and 1970.

During medical school, mirroring how resident physicians spoke and behaved became part of a professional induction that even came with a uniform.

Humor studies have traditionally lived in the rather unfunny world of philosophy departments. Thankfully, psychologists and neuroscientists study mechanisms of humor and laughter, too.

A drawing explores equilibrium through music, medicine, and art.

Humor and laughter researchers at the Association for Applied and Therapeutic Humor (yep, that’s a thing) not only study why humor helps, but also how it can be skillfully applied.

The Second City collaborates with health care organizations to help clinicians navigate uncertainties of health care work. Insights and exercises are offered here that readers can use with their teams and students.

Debate continues on how to frame tobacco and nicotine product regulation from a children’s rights perspective.

This article considers that benefits of using humor in clinical settings come with risks of diminishing therapeutic capacity in patient-clinician relationships.

Because it affects collegiality, training, and patient care, callous humor should not be tolerated, especially when directed at patients.