

Sawbones: A Marital Tour of Misguided Medicine
Justin McElroy, Dr. Sydnee McElroy
Join Dr. Sydnee McElroy and her husband Justin McElroy for a tour of all the dumb, bad, gross, weird and wrong ways we've tried to fix people.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jun 27, 2023 • 44min
Sawbones: What's the Point of Soup?
Start the summer off smarter with the answers to listener medical questions! What old-timey diseases should I worry about if I time travel? Are meat sweats a real thing? Is there any risk in being exposed to drugs in giving someone mouth-to-mouth? And why does Aleve get the short end of the stick when it comes to choice painkillers?Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jun 13, 2023 • 41min
Sawbones: Fournier's Gangrene
Most people have probably heard of gangrene, a condition that causes tissue to become necrotic. But Fournier’s Gangrene is a more . . . targeted version, specifically affecting the perineum, or taint. Justin and Dr. Sydnee discuss who Dr. Fournier was and how he (deservedly or not) put his name on this very specific infection.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Jun 6, 2023 • 39min
Sawbones: Xylazine
Sometimes Sawbones covers timely topics, like the latest adulterant in a substance people like to put in their bodies. Xylazine, or “tranq,” is the new one exacerbating the opioid crisis. Dr. Sydnee talks about the history of Xylazine and how to approach it now. But all in all, the best way to help would be to stop managing a medical condition with the justice system instead of health care.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

May 30, 2023 • 46min
Update: Blood Donation
Recently, the FDA has updated their guidelines on who can donate blood and when – an update that has long been demanded. So we bring the full episode about Dr. Charles Drew and the history of blood donation, along with the new guidelines and why these changes were finally made.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

5 snips
May 23, 2023 • 32min
Sawbones: King Tutankhamun
Live from Columbus, Ohio, home of the first Wendy's, and also COSI, the Center of Science and Industry! Justin and Dr. Sydnee bring forward one of the world's oldest medical mysteries: what happened to King Tut?Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

May 16, 2023 • 40min
Sawbones: Hepatitis C
The third Hepatitis to be discovered, appropriately named Hepatitis C, is an infection that primarily affects the liver, but often has non-specific symptoms. Dr. Sydnee and Justin trace the strange history of this virus, how it spreads, and why testing for it is more important than ever. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

May 9, 2023 • 39min
Sawbones: Marvel Anatomy: Infinity War
Justin takes the wheel as he once again brings out the official Marvel Anatomy book to discuss the science of comic book superpowers. He and Dr. Sydnee discuss the feasibility of abilities in characters like Daredevil, The Invisible Woman, Captain America, Spider Woman, and The Lizard. Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

May 2, 2023 • 45min
Sawbones: Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Recently a number of states have passed restrictions for gender-affirming care for those under 18, but shouldn't it be medical professionals, not states, whose expertise should be considered? Dr. Sydnee goes through what this medical treatment really is and the history of how we developed it, how it works, and the research that shows that yes, it does work to help save lives.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 25, 2023 • 37min
Sawbones: Going Grey
Why do people start losing the pigment in their hair as they grow older? Well, it might be one of those things that we don't entirely understand, though there are some new studies that offer some ideas. But that didn't stop people throughout history from trying to find ways to keep their hair from turning grey. Of course, Justin doesn't need any of these methods because he has surprisingly little grey hair for someone his age. As he points out. Repeatedly.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/

Apr 18, 2023 • 44min
Sawbones: The Abortion Pill
Mifepristone, known colloquially as the abortion pill, has recently been in the news as its future availability in the United States comes into question. Dr. Sydnee and Justin go through the history of the medicine, from how it was discovered to how it was approved to what happened over the summer to change that.Music: "Medicines" by The Taxpayers https://taxpayers.bandcamp.com/


