White Coat, Black Art on CBC Radio

Prescription narcotics are increasingly popular with young people looking for a quick high. It's a huge concern since these painkillers can be highly addictive or even deadly. In Part One of this one hour public town hall from Brockville, Ontario called Generation R-x: The Use and Abuse of Prescription Pain Medication, Dr. Brian Goldman and an expert panel look at the use of prescription opioids.

On this holiday edition of White Coat, Black Art ... stories about how doctors were inspired to take the career path they chose. Including third year med student Erin Sullivan who shares the story of the gift of wisdom she received recently from her late grandfather -- a celebrated cardiologist in his day -- across two generations.

When a sudden health problem makes you head for the ER, most people stay no matter how long it takes to get seen. But for some, the waiting really is the hardest part and they don't stick around. In ER medicine, they're called patients who "left without being seen."

On this edition of White Coat Black Art we follow up on some stories and follow through on some others. We'll hear about personal support workers, hospital lotteries, and hear an excerpt from our town hall about prescription painkillers.

Prescription narcotics are increasingly popular with young people looking for a quick high. It's a huge concern since these painkillers can be highly addictive or even deadly. In this public town hall from Brockville, Ontario called Generation R-x: The Use and Abuse of Prescription Pain Medication, Dr. Brian Goldman and an expert panel look at the use of prescription opioids.

People who suffer with conditions like chronic fatigue and fibromyalgia have lots of symptoms, so why do many of those patients feel that their doctors fail to recognize they have a disease? We also share your response to our hospital parking show.

We all know Canada's population is aging. By 2019, one in four of us will be over the age of 65, and may have to be deal with everything from heart disease to dementia. And alongside these seniors will be a partner, a middle-aged child, a friend or even a neighbor -- taking them to appointments, advocating for them, sometimes cooking, cleaning and providing personal care. This week White Coat, Black Art looks at these unpaid caregivers.

When it comes to what goes right in modern medicine, doctors and nurses usually get much of the credit. This week White Coat, Black Art looks at some of the "unsung heroes" of health care.