30 Stories That Frustrated, Inspired & Surprised Physicians Most In 2018

The opioid crisis, tuition handouts, flu severity, ACA battles and gun issues were the topics that resonated with the medical community most this year, according to a Medscape survey.



Medscape asked 1,789 readers — including 1,704 physicians — what stories or topics inspired, excited, frustrated or impacted them most.

Here are the topics that stuck with Medscape's audience:

Most inspiring

1. A physician defibrillated a juror in his own malpractice trial: 52 percent
2. Clinicians joined the March for Our Lives to protest gun violence and call for more research: 50 percent
3. Active NFL player for Kansas City Chiefs graduated from Montreal, Quebec-based McGill University medical school: 32 percent
4. Emergency room nurse mobilized during flight attendant's dramatic in-flight crisis: 23 percent
5. A nurse alone in clinic treated himself for a heart attack: 20 percent

Most exciting

6. New York City-based New York University offering free tuition to all current and future medical students: 54 percent
7. Chemotherapy found not to be needed for most early breast cancer: 30 percent
8. CDC recommends new, more effective shingles vaccine, Shingrix: 29 percent
9. Medicare deciding to pay physicians for telemedicine: 28 percent
10. FDA approves first cannabis-based drug for two of the most debilitating types of epilepsy: 21 percent

Most frustrating

11. U.S. suicide and overdose deaths rising at an alarming rate: 56 percent
12. Drug shortages called an urgent public health crisis: 40 percent
13. IV bag shortages forced hospitals to scramble: 29 percent
14. Three STDs hit all-time high in the United States: 24 percent
15. Widespread valsartan recall due to contamination with a probable human carcinogen: 21 percent

Most memorable

16. New legislation passed to combat the opioid crisis: 49 percent
17. Surgeon General urged everyone to carry overdose antidote naloxone: 33 percent
18. Record high number of hospitalizations due to influenza: 29 percent
19. Passage of ballot measures to limit or ban access to abortion in two states: 22 percent
20. New HHS Conscience and Religious Freedom Division created to protect clinicians with religious objections: 19 percent

Most surprising

21. Studies found aspirin not useful for primary cardiovascular disease prevention: 63 percent
22. Suggestion that even one alcoholic drink per day increases cancer risk: 41 percent
23. Finding that omega-3 fatty acids don't prevent cardiovascular disease: 35 percent
24. Acetaminophen use alters sex hormones: 25 percent
25. Little evidence shown to support use of the digital rectal exam: 22 percent

Most shocking

26. Mysterious symptoms in U.S. diplomats in Cuba deemed neurologic injury: 41 percent
27. Former CDC Director Tom Frieden arrested and charged with sexual assault: 40 percent
28. Endocrinologist allegedly ran pill mill with bike gang, murdered his wife: 35 percent
29. License suspended for physicians who danced, rapped in surgeries: 34 percent
30. CDC Director Fitzgerald resigned after reportedly purchasing tobacco stock: 25 percent

Source