Linkfest Today

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Before many outpatient procedures, such as bone marrow biopsies, IV sedation is often used.  However, is it really necessary all the time?  Or are doctors reflexively giving it to patients to make them more cooperative during a procedure?  Although many welcome it, the risk of side effects and longer recovery times complicate the use of IV anesthesia.  In this blog posting, physician Harriet Hall wonders whether the use of IV sedation is more for the patient's benefit, or the doctor's.

With H1N1 influenza dominating the news, one overlooked way that the virus is transmitted is through money.  Paper bills are one of the most common ways that the virus can be transmitted, where mucous found on the bills can "protect" the influenza virus for up to 17 days.  Needless to say, it's probably a good idea to wash your hands after sneezing, both before and after handling money