Author profile
George Szasz, CM, MD
Dr Mark Elliott’s article in the BCMJ’s January/February issue is an earnest, simplified, yet still confounding explanation of CRISPR,[1] an emerging genetic manipulation procedure for patients suffering from... Read More
A few weeks ago, while standing in a lineup for toilet tissue, my friend, standing 6 feet away, turned to me laughing, and said, “You know, in 1973 the comedian Johnny Carson read some false information about toilet... Read More
During my first few months of general practice in North Vancouver in the mid-1950s, one of the senior internal-medicine doctors asked me if I could make a daily short visit to one of his patients while he was away for... Read More
In the early 1970s I received a small grant to conduct a consultation on the air with a volunteer couple in Victoria. This was something very new. I was broadcasting from a room at the BC Tel (now Telus) office in... Read More
A few days ago we celebrated Queen Victoria’s Birthday, though she was actually born on 24 May 1819. She was a reigning monarch for 63 years, 7 months, and 2 days. When the Queen died in 1901 Canada’s parliament... Read More
Yesterday, a lovely couple landed in our swimming pool. After a few minutes of frolicking in the water they retired poolside, their heads lovingly intertwined. He was a beautiful Mallard duck, with shiny, virtually... Read More
We are living in a difficult time. It is wonderful to hear the heartfelt thanks for the heroism of our medical, nursing, and other health care colleagues, and the work of our health care system in the fight against our... Read More
The desperate requests for ventilators in today’s treatment of patients in the grasp of the novel coronavirus brought to mind my encounter with breathing machines in the early 1950s polio epidemic, when I signed up as a... Read More
Staying away from each other has become crucial to slowing the spread of the coronavirus. Public health officials have instructed us to practise social distancing, stay home, avoid crowds, and refraining from touching... Read More
In 165 AD an unknown condition (possibly small pox or measles) killed over 5 million people in Asia Minor, Egypt, Greece, and Italy. Roman soldiers brought the disease back to Rome and the Roman army itself was also... Read More