Medicine and Science from The BMJ

David Navarro, a research fellow in generative AI, joins GP Marcus Lewis, participatory eHealth expert Charlotte Blease, orthopaedic professor Teppo Järvinen, and MSF clinician Dr. Shafal Tuyusul Abdelkadi. They discuss the unofficial rise of generative AI in clinics, shaping triadic care for clinicians, patients, and AI collaboration. Teppo reveals that a decade-long surgical trial showed no benefit over placebo, questioning ongoing practices. Meanwhile, Dr. Shafal highlights the urgent need for support in Nigeria’s cholera crisis.

There is an enormous amount of research on treatment for ADHD - pharmaceutical and otherwise. But not all of those trials, or meta-analyses, are of high quality; and not many compare the whole literature.  Now a new umbrella review - a review of reviews - tries to give a broad overview of the whole evidence base. Corentin Gosling, associate professor at the Université Paris Nanterre, joins us to set out the benefits and harms of ADHD therapies.   Also, the BMJ’s been investigating the employment of doctors on “local” contracts in the NHS - and our latest look at this exposes what some have described as a “gig economy”, with doctors plugging rota gaps but missing out on training, development, and salary progression. Rebecca Coombes, head of journalism at The BMJ explains more.   Finally, Tom Frieden is former head of the US Centers for Disease Control, and current CEO of Resolve to Save Lives - he’s written a new book on public health. He joins us to talk about what actually improves health at a population level, and why the current US administration’s approach to staffing the CDC is leaving the country open to danger.   Reading list Benefits and harms of ADHD interventions: umbrella review and platform for shared decision making Revealed: Thousands of NHS doctors are trapped in insecure “gig economy” contracts  

  "Damning” and “unforgivable failures” is how some papers headlines reacted to criticism of former UK prime minister Boris Johnson in the second of 10 reports from the UK Covid Inquiry. Under pressure, in 2001 Boris Johnson announced a covid inquiry led by a former judge, Baroness Hallett. Each report is examining a different area of the pandemic's impact, and module 2 is about decision making and political governance. The report describes inertia, toxic cultures, and an inability to learn lessons - disfunction that contributed to many extra deaths.  To dissect the report and discuss what needs to change, we're joined by; Rebecca Coombes - The BMJ’s head of journalism Kevin Fong - anaesthetist and lead for major incident planning at University College Hospital Matthew Flinders - Professor of Politics and Public Policy at the University of Sheffield  

It’s the BMJ’s annual climate issue - and in this episode, we’ll be hearing about more ways in which climate mitigation is good for health.   Firstly, climate change is fuelling conflict, and exacerbating the impact it has on fragile healthcare systems. Andy Haines, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, and Barbora Sedova, from Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, discuss how climate and conflict intersect, and what they think needs to be done to combat it.   “Car spreading”, the recent tendency for cars to become bigger and heavier is not only harming the climate, but it’s also harming pedestrians.  Anthony Laverty, associate professor of public health at Imperial College London, and trauma surgeon Cleo Kenington explain why SUVs are more lethal in accidents, and why France is bucking the trend in sales.   Finally, Jocalyn Clark, the BMJ’s international editor joins us to talk about women’s health innovation and why tech bros aren’t the people to be leading it.   Reading list:   The climate issue: Brazil and the climate crisis   Tackling the complex links between climate change, conflict, and health   Reducing the harms from ever larger cars   Transforming women’s health through innovation

Alistair Stewart, a consultant psychiatrist from Manchester, co-authored an open letter urging NHS staff to oppose the far-right's influence. Omnia Ahmed, a resident doctor in London, highlights the emotional toll of anti-migrant rhetoric on NHS workers and emphasizes the need for institutional support. Matthew Hutchinson, a rheumatologist and stand-up comedian, shares insights from his memoir about balancing healthcare and humor while navigating challenges in the medical field. Together, they discuss combating racism and advocating for solidarity among healthcare professionals.

Explore the Q-Collar, a device promoted for brain injury protection in sports, and the skepticism surrounding its scientific backing. Hear insights from former athlete Johnny Townsend on the search for concussion solutions. Discover a network meta-analysis revealing aerobic exercise as the top choice for knee osteoarthritis relief. Finally, delve into patient perspectives on choice in healthcare, emphasizing informed decision-making and the need to empower patients rather than merely offering options.

In this episode of the podcast; In July this year, the Government published their 10 year health plan for England - A new analysis just published on BMJ.com takes an in depth look at the chances of that plan succeeding, and where the government needs to focus time and resources. Bob Klaber, paediatrician and director of strategy, research and innovation at Imperial College Healthcare, and Helen Salisbury, GP and columnist for the BMJ join us to discuss. Journalist Chris Stoker-Walker's grandfather suffered from delirium at the end of his life, but the journey to that diagnosis was difficult - Chris joins us to talk about the impact that had on his family, and Elizabeth Sampson, professor of liaison psychiatry from Queen Mary University of London, explains why it's under-researched. Finally, we've been reporting from Gaza for 2 years, and it's been very difficult to get accurate information out of the region. However, new research published on bmj.com has surveyed medics there, to document the patterns of wounding in the civilian population - to improve the medical response to the conflict. Omar El-Taji and Ameer Ali, resident doctors in the NHS join us to explain what they found.   Reading list: Delivering on the 10 year health plan for England Why can’t we do anything about delirium? Patterns of war related trauma in Gaza during armed conflict  

Kim Leadbeater, a Labour MP and the driving force behind the UK’s Assisted Dying Bill, shares her insights on the proposed legislation and its parliamentary journey. Jamila Hussain, a palliative care consultant, discusses the potential impact on vulnerable groups, emphasizing the need for robust safeguards. Meanwhile, Tobias Good explains the intriguing concept of Target Trial Emulation, shedding light on how observational studies can reveal causal relationships. Tim Feeney offers further insights into evaluating these methods for better evidence synthesis.

Jocalyn Clark, the International editor at The BMJ, discusses the dire humanitarian crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the generational impact of starvation. The conversation explores the arms industry's role as a commercial determinant of health, urging a reevaluation of its effects on public well-being. Clark also highlights the need for preventive health measures in general practice to address the complex dynamics of warfare and welfare. The podcast reveals chilling insights into the long-lasting health ramifications of malnutrition in conflict zones.

Kenneth Charles, a consultant haematologist from the University of the West Indies, discusses the revolutionary CRISPR therapy approved by NICE for sickle cell disease and the challenges it presents. Investigative journalist Emma Wilkinson exposes misleading claims by companies offering to bank children's teeth for stem cells, revealing a lack of evidence behind their promises. Lastly, Jamie Thorogood, captain of the Great Britain men's medical football team, celebrates their recent victory at the Medics World Cup, highlighting the blend of sports and healthcare.